Abstract
A 5 x 4 – factorial study design in a randomized complete block (RCB) with 4 replications was used to analyze the population of emergent timber trees species (ETTs) of Iko Esai Community Forest Reserve in Akamkpa, Cross River State, Nigeria. Six ETTs were encountered in the Forest Reserve. These trees species were Piptadeniastrum africanum (30 trees), Pycnanthus angolense (12 trees), Ricinodendron heudelotii (3 trees), Khaya grandifoliola (4 trees), and Irvingia gabonensis (1 tree). The mean numbers of the ETTs per transect ranged between 0.855 and 1.145, that of sampling points ranged from 0.9942 to 1.204. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) amongst transects and sampling points in terms of mean numbers of ETTs encountered. The density of all ETTs in Iko Esai Community Forest Reserve was 15.7 trees per hectare. Their average diameter at breast height (dbh) ranged between 76.2cm and 84.0cm, basal area (m2/ha) ranged from 0.8 to 20.0, relative dominance ranged between 2.0% and 48.0%, and relative density ranged from 1.8 to 52.7%. In almost all the population parameters mentioned above, Piptadeniastrum africanum ranked first while Irvingia gabonensis took the last position out of six ETTs encountered in the Forest Reserve. Four diameter classes: 0.2m – 0.6m, 0.6m – 1.0m, 1.0m – 1.4m and 1.4m – 1.8m were established and the ETTs of Iko Esai Forest Reserve were clustered around diameter classes 0.6m – 1.0m. In view of the high mortality of ETTs brought about by over storey competition, insect and disease attacks, senescence, high rate of exploitation by man etc, it is recommended that the seeds of ETTs should be collected from time to time for the purpose of raising nurseries for pure forest plantation establishment using ETTs seeds. Keywords: Emergent trees, forest reserve, Iko Esai, NigeriaGlobal Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 7 (1) 2008: pp. 39-43
Highlights
The survival of the human race on earth is dependent on the continued presence of the forests which are the store houses for all the things needed by man for daily living
Six emergent timber trees species (ETTs) were encountered in Iko Esai Community Forest Reserve
The following description given in this study for six ETTs of Iko Esai Community Forest Reverse do not differ from that of keay (1989)
Summary
The survival of the human race on earth is dependent on the continued presence of the forests which are the store houses for all the things needed by man for daily living. Kershaw (1973) and Hopkins (1979) have stressed the uniqueness and complexity in stratification of the tropical rain forest including that of Nigeria According to these authors, three main layers of trees are generally discernible. To avoid extinction of ETTs, there is the need for their sustainable management to ensure their continued existence and supply for use in the household and industry To this end, Okojie et al (1988) aver that to ensure sustainable management of a forest and its resources including timber, quantitative information which include the abundance/density of each species, stem diameter distribution, basal area, population per unit area of each species etc are indispensable. DIED IN 2008 needed as a base-line data which could be used to effectively plan for the sustainable management of ETTs of the Forest Reserve
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