Abstract
Tree species composition and diversity were assessed in Agoro-Agu Central Forest Reserve located in Lamwo district-Northern Uganda. Fifteen transects, each 2 km long, were established in the reserve. A procedure of nested quadrats was employed for a systematic sampling of mature trees, saplings and seedlings at 100 m interval(s). Vegetation analysis was conducted in Species Diversity and Richness (SDRiv) software. A total of 100 species of trees belonging to 36 families were recorded. The dominant tree species, also with high Importance Value Indices were Combretum molle G. Don, Albizia grandibracteata Taub. and Vachellia hockii De Wild. Tree species diversity was higher in the intact part (H’=3.46) than in the degraded part (H’=2.86). Lower diversity in the degraded part of the reserve could be due to human disturbance and resulting conducive condition for the early establishment of pioneer species during succession. The occurrence of mixed species with indicator species for both savannah woodlands and Afromontane tree species indicates that Agoro-Agu is an enriched forest for enhanced conservation. Management options that limit continuous degradations such as the enforcement of environmental laws, tree enrichment planting, and ex-situ conservation should be undertaken to restore the status of trees in the degraded part of the reserve. Key words: Afromontane, biodiversity, East Africa, forest conservation, national forestry authority and species richness.
Highlights
Afromontane forests are forests that occupy the mountainous landscapes of East and West Africa (Mairal et al, 2017)
The results suggest that the species having low Importance Value Index (IVI) value should be prioritized for conservation
The tree composition consisting of mixed species with indicator species for both savannah woodlands (C. molle, G. mollis, A. grandibracteata and T. glaucescens) and Afromontane/medium altitude tree species (Podocarpus spp., L. trichilioides (African Walnut) and L. swynnertonii) is an indication that Agoro-Agu Central Forest Reserve is an enriched forest reserve with a mixture of medium altitude Afromontane and savannah woodland trees
Summary
Afromontane forests are forests that occupy the mountainous landscapes of East and West Africa (Mairal et al, 2017). In East Africa, Afromontane forests are widely scattered but geographically similar. Such forests often share similar features of mixed trees and plant species which are distinct from the surrounding lowlands.
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