Abstract
Kiang'ombe hilltop forest is overexploited for fuel wood, charcoal, timber and non-wood forest products, thus threatening its biodiversity conservation role. The extent of forest degradation is not yet quantified and this impedes rehabilitation interventions. This study was conducted to evaluate the status of Kiang'ombe forest resources to initiate rehabilitation interventions and to support sustainable forest management. Remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) were used to determine trends of spatial and temporal vegetation changes over 25 years. Image analysis revealed high, moderate and low categories of forest degradation over the assessment period. Thirty two nested sample plots were used for vegetation inventory in the three degradation gradient clusters. Additional data was obtained from local informants through focused discussions and field observations. A total of 155 plant species belonging to 58 families were identified. Shannon Weiner diversity index of seedling and sapling were higher in low and moderate than in high degraded areas. Based on species importance values, the candidate trees for rehabilitation of degraded areas were Croton macrostachyus, Acacia hockii, Combretum molle and Faurea saligna whereas Enteropogon macrostachys, Cymbopogon sp., Eragrostis superba and Hyparrhenia rufa were the most suitable grass species for reseeding expansive glades. The recommended rehabilitation techniques are enrichment tree planting in water catchments areas, enhancing natural regeneration through protection and grazing management, gully healing at the hill slopes and establishment of woodlots plantations and boundary planting in the surrounding farmlands. Key words: Hilltop forest, geographic information systems (GIS), vegetation inventory, rehabilitation techniques.
Highlights
In Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), hilltop forests play a significant biodiversity conservation role as their microclimate is ameliorated by altitude, their vegetation differs from that of their surroundings
Participatory forest management can limit encroachment into forests in areas where local human populations are heavily dependent on agriculture and extraction of non-timber forest products from indigenous forests (Blomley et al, 2008; PorterBolland et al, 2012)
A lot of dynamics occurred in the periphery of the hill-slopes, some spots experiencing moderate to severe decimation of woody vegetation while others showed some recovery
Summary
Since the hilltop forests are the most suitable areas in ASALs for human activities such as farming, grazing and harvesting non-timber forest products, their conservation role is either compromised or at crossroad (Kirubi et al, 2000). Formal management is often inadequate as evident from poor forest condition of state managed forests ecosystems whereas forest adjacent local communities cannot adhere to prescribed government regulations because of their overexploitation of forest resources for their basic needs (Kirubi et al, 2000; Stave et al, 2001; Aerts et al, 2011). Participatory forest management can limit encroachment into forests in areas where local human populations are heavily dependent on agriculture and extraction of non-timber forest products from indigenous forests (Blomley et al, 2008; PorterBolland et al, 2012). Participatory forest management and rehabilitation of degraded areas through proven technologies can mitigate further degradation of hilltop forests but this would require baseline data on forest’s ecological condition and resources to guide appropriate interventions
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