Dynamic Patterns of Trees Species in Miombo Forest and Management Perspectives for Sustainable Production—Case Study in Huambo Province, Angola

Vasco Chiteculo,Peter Surovy

doi:10.3390/f9060321

Abstract

This paper aims to assess important forest parameters, including tree density, diameter at breast height (DBH), and age distribution, investigate the dynamic growth of miombo tree species, and employ this information to design a management framework in miombo forests. The delineation of the management zones was based on unsupervised land cover classification that began with three zones where ground data was collected and increased to five zones. Eighteen circular plots (25.2 m radius) were randomly distributed over the study areas to assess the current situation and potential growth patterns for each species. The patterns of the six most representative tree species of miombo in Angola were described and we used KORFiT 2.4 software to fit data and develop growth curves for at least three miombo species. Growth function fitness was evaluated by root mean squared error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R2), significance of the parameters (p < 0.05), and Akaike’s information criterion (AIC). The diameter distribution of miombo tree species resembled a typical distribution of uneven-aged forest stands; higher DBH classes had lower abundances of tree species. Logistic and Gompertz growth functions were the best fits for miombo tree species. Brachystegia spiciformis Benth., is suggested as a potential species for timber management in the region because they displayed high growth potential to more quickly reach an assumed minimum DBH of 20 cm. This study concluded that miombo forest stands present an irregular structure in which DBH distribution illustrated only two patterns: many small stems and a bimodal forest structure.

Highlights

In Africa, concerns regarding forest management have led to widespread information regarding the negative aspects of forest cover by degradation and deforestation [1,2,3]
The finding of our studies suggest that models should focus on the development of management approaches tailored to each management zone based on actual tree species presence, abundances, and its importance to local communities
Miombo forest stands presented an irregular structure where diameter at breast height (DBH) distribution primarily illustrated two patterns: forests dominated by smaller trees and bimodal forest structures

Summary

Introduction

In Africa, concerns regarding forest management have led to widespread information regarding the negative aspects of forest cover by degradation and deforestation [1,2,3]. Abundant information regarding certain aspects of African forests is available, including forest cover change [4,5,6,7,8], forest gains, and forest management guidelines, there is little information available on forest stand structures and dynamics. The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) addresses the gap concerning the knowledge of forests in Africa [9,10]. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is dedicated to assisting developing countries with developing national forest monitoring systems and providing relieve forest resource information for national forest policy development, planning, and sustainable management [13]

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Discussion

Conclusion