Human influences on tree diversity and composition of a coastal forest ecosystem: the case of Ngumburuni forest reserve, Rufiji, Tanzania
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Date
2013
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Hindawi
Abstract
This paper reports on the findings of an ecological survey conducted in Ngumburuni Forest Reserve, a biodiversity rich forest
reserve within the coastal forests of Tanzania. The main goal of this study was to determine the influence of uncontrolled
anthropogenic activities on tree species diversity and composition within the forest ecosystem. It was revealed that economic
activities including logging, charcoaling, and shifting cultivation were the most important disturbing activities affecting ecological
functioning and biodiversity integrity of the forest. Further to this, we noted that the values of species diversity, composition,
and regeneration potential within the undisturbed forest areas were significantly different from those in heavily disturbed areas.
These observations confirm that the ongoing human activities have already caused size quality degradation of useful plants,
enhanced species diversification impacts to the forest ecosystem, and possibly negatively affected the livelihoods of the adjacent
local communities. Despite these disturbances, Ngumburuni forest reserve still holds important proportions of both endemic and
threatened animal and plant species. The study suggests urgent implementation of several conservation measures in order to limit
accessibility to the forest resources so as to safeguard the richness and abundance of useful biodiversity stocks in the reserve.
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Journal Article
Keywords
Human influences, Diversity, Ecosystem, Forest Reserve