Abstract:
Forests globally are known to be critically important habitats for the biodiversity they
contain and for the ecological functions they serve. The study was conducted to assess the
floristic composition, population structure, and regeneration status of woody plant species
in the study area. Systematic sampling method was used to collect vegetation data.
Accordingly, 40 sampling plots of 20m x 20m (400m2
) were established systematically at
every 200m interval along three (3) transect lines which are 300m apart to sample woody
species. In each plots all woody species were recorded with their number counted and DBH
measured for those with DBH>2cm. The collected data analysis was performed on the
bases of height, DBH and basal area per hectare by computing the density of individuals
with DBH>2cm, 10cm and 20cm. Fifty four woody species belonging to 24 families and 42
genera were recorded in the forest. The collected specimens were composed of 72% of
trees, 26% shrub and 2% liana. The most dominant families were Fabaceae,
Euphorbiaceae, Moraceae and Tiliaceae. The study forest has 3.73 and 0.94 Shannon weiner diversity index value and evenness value respectively. The total stem density of
woody species whose DBH>2cm recorded in study forest was 603.03 individuals/ha. The
total basal area of woody species in the study area was 38.785m2
/ha. The dominant and
ecologically most important tree species in study forest on the basis of their importance
value index (IVI) value were Maesa lanceolata, Combretum molle, Syzygium guineense,
Ficus sur, Ficus sycomorus, Dodonea viscosa, Trichalia emetica and Maruwa
(unidentified). The cumulative DBH class distribution showed that large number of
individuals fall in lower DBH classes, which shows that this vegetation is in a good
regeneration status. However, grazing by domestic livestock, cultivation and cutting of
trees for fuel and construction purpose retard regeneration processes of trees and shrubs.
These factors impose rapid degenerative changes on the forest. By taking this issue into
action as possible future scenario underlines the need for management intervention to
increase the quality of regeneration of the forest
