Floristic structure and phytosanitary condition of woody species in Razoutenga forest in Burkina Faso

The dry land forest of Ethiopia possesses diverse tree species that are known for their ecological and economic values. Despite growing recognition of environmental and economic benefits of these species, the woodland harbouring these species is degrading. Adequate knowledge on the resource base including the current status of its population is crucial for sustainable management of the forest resource. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the diversity and composition of woody species in Kara dry lands forest. A total of 90 quadrants were established along transect lines. A 400 m² quadrants was used, distance between quadrants and transecting lines were 200 m and 500 m respectively. Species diversity and evenness, density, frequency, important value and regeneration status were assessed. This study reveals total of 48 woody species representing 23 families and 31 genera’s were found. Out of that, 13 woody species were identified as gum and resin bearing species. The genus of Commiphora and Acacia species were found to be the dominant gum and resin bearing species at the study area. Diversity of the entire woody species assemblage and of the gum- and resin-bearing species was H= 3.47 and H= 2.3 respectively. The evenness values of entire and gum and resin producing woody species were 0.67 and 0.77 respectively. The gum and resin producing woody species accounted for 44.56% of the density, 49.87% of the basal area and 45.49% of the Importance Value Index. However, we recorded the declining natural regeneration of most gum- and resin-bearing woody species except for a small number of species, which exhibited signs of healthy populations. Generally, the results of the present study highlighted the absence of conservation actions that will probably be subject to a progressive decline of gum and resin bearing species because of uncontrolled grazing, charcoal production and shifting cultivation. Therefore, proper management plan and domestication of the species through artificial regeneration and area closure are urgently needed.

In our forest science and forest operations, the tree species richness and diversity of woody species in forest stands are most often evaluated based on the total number of tree species, which is a methodologically partly inadequate approach. For this reason, the quantification and the evaluation of diversity of woody species in mixed forests of beech with valuable broadleaves in the area of the National Park ?Djerdap? were analyzed by five different indices of tree species richness: number of species (S index), two indices of the species richness (R1 and R2), expected number of species in the sample with equal numbers of trees (E(S84)), and expected number of species in the sample with equal areas (E(S0,25ha)). The results showed that the level of woody species diversity in forest stands depended on the applied index characterizing the tree species richness. It was concluded that the tree species richness and diversity were the highest in the stands of ecological unit B (E(S84)=8.6 species) and in the stands of ecological unit G (E(S0,25ha)=9.4 species), and they were the lowest in the stands of ecological unit V (E(S84)=5.8 species, E(S0,25ha)=5.5 species).

Loss of biodiversity has been recognized as one of the main threats to the forest ecosystem. This study examined the diversity and conservation status of woody species in the secondary forest of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria using six permanent plots. All woody species were completely enumerated, and identified; their girths at breast height were measured at 1.3 m above buttress. Biodiversity status was assessed using Shannon-Wiener diversity, evenness of distribution, Sorrenson index of similarity and species importance value index. There were 77 tree species distributed into 62 genera and 30 families. The most abundant species were Celtis zenkeri and Lecaniodiscus cupanioides, while the most abundant families were Moraceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Fabaceae. The tree species density ranged from 508 – 1132 plants per hectare. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index (1.83 to 3.50), evenness (0.483 – 0.741) and the basal area (6.06 – 25.73 m2 ha-1) were high in the forest. However, Celtis mildbraedii is critically endangered, while Garcina kola, Mallotus oppositifolus and Ricinodendron heudelotii are vulnerable. This study provides baseline diversity data for the conservation of woody species in the forest and concludes that this secondary forest is a potential biodiversity hub if properly managed. It will also play a key role in fashioning out realistic, appropriate, and effective conservation strategies that will enhance the restoration and management of the floristic composition of the secondary forest.

Beyond the boundaries: Do spatio-temporal trajectories of land-use change and cross boundary effects shape the diversity of woody species in Uruguayan native forests?

To understand the impacts of reforestation on woody species composition, species diversity and community structure, seven plantation forests in dry-hot valley of the Jinsha River in Southwest China were investigated, with adjacent wastelands, natural shrub grassland and a natural forest as references. Species importance value, species richness, species heterogeneity and Sorenson similarity index between plantations and the natural forest were analyzed. Results indicated that compared to wastelands and natural shrub grassland, reforestation improved species diversity and community structure, and more forest woody species found suitable habitats in plantations. Species diversity in understory of plantations and Sorenson similarity index were significantly negatively correlated with stem density in mature plantations (26-31 years old). Higher species diversity and Sorenson similarity index existed in mature sparse plantations due to lower stem density and more tree species planted initially. In contrast, reference natural forest, with species heterogeneity of 2.28 for shrub layer, showed the highest species diversity. It would take a long time for species composition and diversity to recover through reforestation in a dry-hot valley. Therefore, it was essential to protect remnant natural forests strictly and reforest with suitable management such as lower stem density and increasing genetic diversity of trees planted.

Dry forests are potentially contributed for the local community livelihood, microclimate stability and biodiversity conservation. However, appropriate emphasis has not given for its sustainability management. Our study aims to study the woody species diversity, vegetation structure, and recruitment and regeneration status in Higelely dry forest of Somali National Regional State of Ethiopia for the purpose of conservation priority. Systematic sampling following the transect lines and sample plots employed to collect all necessary data. Data were analyzed using access software which was designed for the purpose of forest genetic resource conservation database and data analysis tool. Forty two woody species belongs to 21 genera and 15 families were recorded. The richest families were Fabaceae and Burseraceae (represented by 11 and 7 species each). 1112.97 individuals of woody species per ha was recorded in Higelely forest. <i>Acacia oerfota</i> and <i>Acacia mellifera</i> were the top specie with higher stem numbers per ha. More than 67% of the individuals in the forest had DBH/DSH ≤ 7.5 cm and 90% of the individuals had a height ≤ 5 m. The most ecologically important species in Higelely forest were <i>Acacia oerfota</i>, <i>Acacia mellifera</i>, and <i>Acacia bussie</i>. Whereas, <i>Ipomoea donaldsonii</i>, <i>Commiphora africana</i>, and<i> Acacia drepanolobium</i> were the most threatened species in all criteria’s of IVI, population structure and regeneration status and are the first prioritized for conservation measures. The total density of 1047.3 seedling and 3033.77 sapling individuals per ha was recorded in Higelely forest. In general, the vegetation structure, population recruitment and regeneration status of some species indicates, Higelely forest is under poor conservation status. Therefore, for the conservation of woody species in Higelely dry forest, appropriate conservation measures such as <i>in-situ</i> (to allow natural regeneration) and cold room seed storage methods are recommended.

This study was conducted to investigate the floristic composition of woody species in Lammo natural Forest, Tembaro woreda, Kembata-Tembaro zone, Southern Ethiopia. 52 quadrants, each with 20 m x 20 m (400 m2) were systematically laid to collect vegetation data along line transects at the distance of 60m from each other. Vegetation structures such as DBH, basal area, height, frequency, IVI and Species population structure were computed. Specimens were collected, pressed, dried and taken to Ethiopian National Herbarium for identification. Data analysis was carried out using Shannon-Wiener Diversity index, Microsoft Excel, R-package, past and Sorensen’s similarity index. 54 woody species belonging to 46 genera from 29 families were identified. The dominant family was Myrtaceae followed by Euphorbiaceae. The vegetation cluster classification resulted in three plant communities. Most of the species in the study area fall under middle diameter and height classes. The results of population structure for the forest, revealed the signs of some disturbances and hence some management and conservation practices need to be in place.

Population structure and regeneration status of woody species in a remnant tropical forest: A case study of South Nandi forest, Kenya

The floristic composition, diversity, and conservation status of woody plant species in Ethiopia are determined in this study. Data on vegetation are collected using a systematic random sampling method from 45 20 m × 20 m (400m2) plots laid every 100 m along four parallel transect lines running from south to north. The Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea identification key (Volume I–VIII) is used to identify the scientific names of all woody plant species. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index is used to calculate species diversity, whereas Sorensen's similarity coefficient is used to assess similarities and differences among plant communities. The studied forest contains 44 plant species from 29 families and 40 genera. The Fabaceae is the most dominant family, followed by the Rubiaceae and Combretaceae. In terms of habit, the collected woody species consisted of 30 (68.2%) trees and 14 (31.8%) shrubs. The two most frequent species are Syzygium guineense (51.11%) and Maytenus gracilipes (46.66%). Three plant community types are identified using Agglomerative Hierarchical Cluster Analysis. Most species (Calpurnia aurea-Combretum molle) are observed in community type two. The study is generally limited to the floristic and diversity of woody plant species. Therefore, a thorough investigation of all species' floristic composition, population structure, regeneration status, and ecological aspects is recommended.

Composition and richness of woody species in riparian forests in urban areas of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Dry Afromontane forests in Ethiopia are vital for the conservation of plant diversity and climate change mitigation. However, these forest resources are rapidly degrading and shrinking, necessitating empirical scientific investigations to ensure their successful conservation and long-term management. As a result, this study was conducted to evaluate the composition, plant communities, and environmental determinants of woody species in the Gennemar dry Afromontane forest of southern Ethiopia. Environmental variables such as altitude, aspect, and geographical location were recorded from 46 plots of 20 × 20 m for trees and 92 subplots of 10 × 10 m for shrubs were laid along 10 transect lines. Vegetation structure, diversity, vegetation classification, importance value index (IVI) and correlation with environmental parameters were analyzed. A total of 55 woody species belonging to 51 genera and 34 families were identified. Among the species identified, Jasminum stans, Maytenus addat, and Pittosporum abyssinicum were endemic to Ethiopia. Celastraceae (with 659 individuals) was the most dominant family, followed by Cupressaceae (268 individuals) and Myrsinaceae (222 individuals). Four plant communities were identified: Syzygium guineense-Mystroxylon aethiopicum, Maytenus arbutifolia-Podocarpus falcatus, Myrsine africana-Erica arborea, and Juniperus procera-Carissa spinarum. Juniperus procera, Podocarpus falcatus, and Maytenus arbutifolia were species with the highest IVI, while Maesa lanceolata, Rhamnus prinoides, and Gnidia glauca had the lowest. The DBH class distribution shows an inverted J-shaped distribution. As DBH increases, the number of individuals decreases in the higher DBH class. The distribution of plant communities and the composition of the species depend on altitude and topographic aspects. The study found that the dry Afromontane Forest is rich in species and that it should be prioritized for conservation to protect endemic and native species. Decisive elements such as the type of species, altitude, and topographic aspects must be considered for forestry activities.

The effects of human activities on forest conditions in many forest reserves in Tanzania are well-acknowledged but inadequately studied. The absence of this information creates a challenge in planning for proper management and conservation of these reserves. This study assessed the effect of human activities on woody species composition, diversity, structure, and carbon stocks of Kitulanghalo catchment forest reserve managed by the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS), located in Morogoro district, Tanzania. Data were collected from 30 concentric sample plots of 0.071 ha established systematically in the forest area of 2,038 ha at the distance of 800 m and 800 m between transects. Species diversity was analysed using the Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H’) while wood volume and biomass were calculated using developed allometric equations for Miombo woodlands. The effect of human activities on species diversity was determined using linear regression models. Results show that trees and shrubs with Dbh ≥1cm comprise 80 plant species and those with &lt;1cm Dbh consist of 34 plant species. Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H’) for &lt;1cm Dbh was 3.35 and for ≥1cm Dbh was 3.73, indicating the forest has high species diversity. Stem density for trees and shrubs with ≥1cm Dbh was 2 199 ± 1 325 stemsha-1, basal area of 7.61 ± 4.47 m2ha-1, standing volume of 56.25 ± 35.03 m3ha-1, above ground carbon stocks of 18.97±11.84 MgCha-1 and below ground carbon stocks of 9.81 ± 5.71 MgCha-1. Four major human disturbances namely charcoal making, fire, illegal logging, grazing, and erosion were identified in the study area. The harvested stems composed of 21 species with an estimated lost volume of 5.94 ± 4.47 m3ha-1 equivalent to the loss of above-ground biomass of 4.60 ± 3.43 Mgha-1 and carbon stocks of 2.30 ± 1.72 MgCha-1. Among the human disturbances found in the reserve, grazing activities were found to significantly lower the tree species diversity with a p-value &lt;0.05. Preparation of plans to promote the management and conservation of biodiversity and carbon stocks found in the reserve is recommended

In Laos, there are extensive shifting cultivation areas and regrowth forests spontaneously established on fallow lands. The aims of the study were to conduct a comparative study of old-growth and regrowth forests in terms of structure, woody species diversity and composition as well as to investigate the potential role of regrowth forests in the conservation and restoration of degraded forest lands in Laos and the tropics in general. Systematic plot sampling was used to survey the floristic diversity, species composition and structure of old-growth and regrowth forests. Concentric circular plots with an area of 200 m2 and 500 m2 were laid on line transects. A total of 24 plots were sampled from two sites. In comparison to regrowth forests, old-growth forests had higher structural heterogeneity because of higher canopy height variations, vertical stratification, and tree sizes and their variations. Species richness and diversity indices values were similar, but abundance and species composition were significantly different between old-growth and regrowth forests. It appears that species richness recovers first followed by forest structure and species composition. Regrowth forests are important for in situ conservation of tropical biodiversity and they can also serve as a conduit for the restoration of degraded lands and forests. Regrowth forests provide habitats, serve as buffer zones around the fragmented old-growth forests, function as source of propagules, and enhance landscape connectivity. Utilization of regrowth forests for restoration purposes is comparatively inexpensive. Regrowth forests should be given the due considerations in the national forest conservation and restoration policy of Laos.

Introduction.- Dynamics in natural mixed-beech forest of the Upper Vosges D. Closset-Kopp et al.- The effects of climate change on the long-term conservation of Fagus grandifolia var. mexicana, an important species of the Cloud Forest in Eastern Mexico O. Tellez-Valdes et al.- Genetic diversity of Dalbergia monticola (Fabaceae) an endangered tree species in the fragmented oriental forest of Madagascar O. Andrianoelina et al.- Forest management and plant species diversity in chestnut stands of three Mediterranean areas H. Gonard et al.- Spatial diversity of dry savanna woodlands: Assessing the spatial diversity of a dry savanna woodland stand in northern Namibia using neighbourhood-based measures F.P. Graz.- Assessment of threat status and management effectiveness in Kakamega Forest, Kenya B. Bleher et al.- Influence of forest types and effects of forestry activities on species richness and composition of Chrysomelidae in the central mountainous region of Japan M. Ohsawa, T. Nagaike.- The banana forests of Kilimanjaro: biodiversity and conservation of the Chagga homegardens A. Hemp.- Biodiversity hotspots and conservation priorities in the Campo-Ma'an rain forests, Cameroon M.G.P. Tchouto et al.- Tree diversity in western Kenya: using profiles to characterise richness and evenness R. Kindt et al.- Vascular plant species inventory of a Philippine lowland rain forest and its conservation value G. Langenberger et al.- Status and conservation of Trigonobalanus doichangensis (Fagaceae) W. Sun et al.- Ghyll woodlands of the Weald: characterisation and conservation N.G. Burnside et al.- Effects of fragmentation of evergreen broad-leaved forests on genetic diversity of Ardisia crenata var. bicolor (Myrsinaceae) A.-L. Zhao et al.- Diversity patterns in theflora of the Campo-Ma'an rain forest, Cameroon: do tree species tell it all? M.G.P. Tchouto et al.- Impacts of selective logging and agricultural clearing on forest structure, floristic composition and diversity, and timber tree regeneration in the Ituri Forest, Democratic Republic of Congo J.-R. Makana, S.C. Thomas.- Forest management considerations for conservation of Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius and White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos populations in Quinto Real (Spanish Western Pyrenees) A. Garmendia et al.- A reconsideration of the reproductive biology of the Atlantic forest in the Volta Velha Reserve S.M. Vamosi.- Patterns of rodent species diversity and abundance in a Kenyan relict tropical rainforest A. Mortelliti, L. Boitani.- The role of landscape patterns of habitat types on plant species diversity of a tropical forest in Mexico J.L. Hernandez-Stefanoni.-Distribution, habitat and Red List status of the New Caledonian endemic tree Canacomyrica monticola (Myricaceae) J. Herbert.- Composition of woody species in a dynamic forest-woodland-savannah mosaic in Uganda: implications for conservation and management G. Nangendo et al.- Do Orthoptera need human land use in Central Europe? The role of habitat patch size and linear corridors in the Bialowieza Forest, Poland J. Theuerkauf, S. Rouys.- Species composition, diversity and local uses of tropical dry deciduous and gallery forests in Nicaragua B. Gonzalez-Rivas et al.- Identifying conservation priority zones for effective management of tropical forests in Eastern Ghats of India B. Balaguru et al.- Comparison of bird communities in primary vs. young secondary tropical montane cloud forest in Guatemala S.C. Renner et al.- Effects of habitat structure and adjacent habitats on birds in tropical rainforest fragments and shaded

We investigated the flowering phenology, pollinator visitation, and fruit set of 25 animal‐pollinated woody species in a warm temperate secondary forest in Japan. Various species flowered sequentially from February to October. The principal pollinators were bumblebees, honey‐bees, flies and/or beetles and birds; bumblebees and flies/beetles pollinated most trees. The duration of flowering was shorter for species that bloomed in the middle of the season than it was for species that bloomed earlier or later in the season. The timing of flowering was more synchronous within species that had a shorter flowering duration; this was also detected when phylogenetically independent contrasts were calculated. This could be important for the effective pollination of species with a short flowering duration because such species bloom sequentially over a short period of less than 1 month around May. Fruit set was related not to pollinator type, sex expression, flowering sequence (in order of the date of peak flowering) or flowering duration, but to the relative abundance of the species in the forest. This correlation was detected for fly‐ and beetle‐pollinated species but not for bumblebee‐pollinated species. Thus, relatively rare plant species with opportunistic pollinators might experience limited fruit set because of insufficient pollinator services. Bagging experiments conducted on eight hermaphrodite species revealed that the fruit set of bagged flowers was nearly zero, lower than that of control flowers. These results indicate the importance of pollinators for successful reproduction and thus for the coexistence of plants in this secondary forest.