article · Ecosystem Health and Sustainability
An ecological assessment evaluated the species composition, stand structure, and regeneration status of tree species across five dry Afromontane forests subjected to varying levels of disturbance. Measurements across 80 quadrats revealed a total of 1,655 individual trees belonging to 38 species and 28 families. Stand densities ranged between 364.1 and 664.1 stems per hectare, accompanied by an average basal area of 20.7 square metres per hectare. Harvesting indices varied from 13.3 percent in the least disturbed sites to 22.5 percent in highly disturbed areas, which correlated with significant differences in basal areas. Regeneration counts showed seedling densities between 2,000 and 8,162.5 stems per hectare and sapling densities from 512.5 to 2,562.5 stems per hectare. Overall, anthropogenic disturbances caused considerable degradation to tree population structures and regeneration, providing essential baseline data required to design effective rehabilitation strategies.
Dry Afromontane forests provide critical ecosystem services but face pressure from human disturbance. By documenting how harvesting and habitat degradation affect tree population dynamics, dominance, and regeneration, this baseline evidence helps environmental practitioners and forestry authorities design targeted rehabilitation interventions to prevent biodiversity loss and restore degraded forest ecosystems effectively.
This research provides early-stage ecological baseline data intended to inform the development of forest rehabilitation strategies. Potential users include forestry managers, conservation organisations, and environmental policy planners seeking empirical metrics to guide habitat restoration programmes. The abstract does not indicate a commercial product, intellectual property, or immediate commercialisation pathway.
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ABSTRACT Species composition, structure, and regeneration status of trees were assessed in five dry Afromontane forests. In each of the forests, trees having ≥5 cm diameter at breast height were identified and measured in 80 quadrats (20 × 20 m 2 ). We compared tree species composition and similarities, stem densities, frequencies, basal area and importance value index of trees. Harvesting index was calculated to 13.3% in the least disturbed and 22.5% in highly disturbed forests. A total of 1,655 individuals representing 38 species and 28 families were recorded. The tree densities varied from 364.1 to 664.1stem ha −1 with an average basal area of 20.7 m 2 ha −1 . The analysis showed significant differences in basal areas of tree species between the least and highly disturbed forests. Seedling densities ranged from 2000 to 8162.5 stem ha −1 and sapling densities ranged from 512.5 to 2562.5 stem ha −1 . The anthropogenic disturbances revealed high degradation of population structure and regeneration statutes of the trees in the studied forest ecosystem. In conclusion, the study provided empirical results on the dominance, population structure, importance value and regeneration status of tree species, which would be instrumental for the development of successful rehabilitation strategies for the studied forests.
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DOI: 10.1080/20964129.2019.1664938
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