Woody species diversity, composition, structure and carbon storage of Esilalei village land forest reserve in North - Eastern Tanzania
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation
Abstract
The biodiversity status of most forests
found in village land area is lacking. This
creates challenges in planning for
sustainable management of these forests.
This study therefore assessed woody species
diversity, composition, structure and carbon
stocks of Esilalei Village Land Forest
Reserve located in Monduli district in the
North-Eastern Tanzania. Vegetation data
was collected from 20 concentric sample
plots of 5m, 15m, and 20m radius laid out
systematically in the forest of 2,800 ha. A
total of 29 plant species were identified.
Diversity indices indicated the forest to
have moderate diversity of woody species.
Stand structure comprised 77 ± 52 stems ha -
1
, basal area of 1.82 ± 1.42 m 2 ha -1 and
volume of 8.42 ± 6.96 m 3 ha -1 while the
mean above ground and below ground
carbon stocks were 9.71 ± 8.03 Mg C ha -1
and 0.98 ± 0.79 Mg C ha -1 respectively.
Despite the observed low structural
attributes including carbon density, it is very
important to legally protect this area as
village land forest reserve to serve as a
corridor and dispersal area for wild animals
when moving between the surrounding
national parks. Quantification of other
carbon pools such as soil, dead wood and
surface litter should be considered.
Description
Journal article
Keywords
Acacia-Commifora woodlands, Community forest, Climate change, REDD+, Monduli district, Overgrazing, Wildlife corridors