Forest Structure and Soil Properties in Bagale Forest Reserve, Nigeria | Chapter 5 | Geography, Earth Science and Environment: Research Highlights Vol. 10

In order to study the relationship between forest structure and edaphic characteristics of Bagalle Forest Reserve an in-depth soil survey was conducted. Five fragments, Tudun Wada, Holin, Modire, Lugga and Wuro dole in altitudes, <200 m, 200-300 m, 300-400 m, 400-500 m and >750 m above sea level respectively were selected along a section line from Southwest to North-east using LANDSAT ETM +satellite imagery from Google Earth. Composite soil samples were systematically collected at four points each in the fifteen sample plots each measuring 100 by 100 meters that were laid in the fragments at 0-20 cm, and 20-40 cm depths and their physico-chemical analysis was done in the laboratory. Height, DBH, Volume, Basal area and crown area of trees in the plots were measured. Results revealed negative and positive associations between forest structure and the soil elements. Sand, texture, and bulk density had negative relationships with forest structure while clay and porosity had relatively strong positive relationships with height, DBH, Volume and Basal area. Height, DBH, Volume, Basak area and the crown area had a negative relationship with PH, EC, Phosphorus, Na, AVP, and K but positive correlations with OC, OM, TN, Ca, Mg, TEB, and TEA. Salinization is not a significant pedogenic process in the soil which also does not contain a concentration of soluble salt that may hamper the growth of plants. This reserve requires strategic interventions to ensure its long-term sustainability and development. There is a need to educate the people especially those proximal to the reserve through extension programmes and capacity building to avoid the illegal felling of trees and practice of harmful anthropogenic activities such as wrong farming techniques, and bush burning which are all detrimental to the soil and trees. This study could be used as a template to evaluate the current edaphic status and performance of trees in the forest reserves in the sub-region. This work is not conclusive and opens the window for further researches in this field.

 

Author (s) Details

 

J. E. Omijeh
Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria.

 

I. O. Tella
Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/geserh/v10/5095

Emphasizing the Forest Biomass Management Challenges in Commercially Exotic Tree Plantation Areas: A Case Study from the Rungwe Volcanic Province (Southern Highlands of Tanzania) | Chapter 5 | International Research in Environment, Geography and Earth Science Vol. 4

 The carbon (C) stored in the living biomass of trees is typically the largest C pool of the forest

ecosystem which is directly impacted by deforestation and degradation. With the global efforts to
combat climate change through afore-station and reforestation to reduce carbon emissions in the
atmosphere, natural forests conservation and tree planting programmes are highly emphasized in
developing countries for both commercial purposes and carbon emissions reduction. Though most of
the trees planted are exotic trees especially Pinus patula, Eucalyptus saligina and partly Cypress sp.
with some fruit and shade trees in towns. Hence embarking on clearance of forest’s indigenous trees
for plantation of commercial exotic trees slightly slows down the efforts of carbon emission reduction
and mitigation of climate change through enhancement of carbon sequesters. The study was
conducted at Mbeya One ward lying between Mporoto and Rungwe forest re-serves in Mbeya rural
district, in the Southern highlands of Tanzania. The main objective was 1) to assess the indigenous
tree biomass variation between Mporoto and Rungwe forest reserves; 2) to assess the exotic tree
biomass variation between the two forest reserves; and 3) to assess the human implication on
aboveground biomass variation between the two forest reserves. The results of this study indicated
significant decrease in indigenous trees biomass in residential and crop land areas with a hasty
increase in biomass when just reaching Mporoto forest reserve indicating little human encroachment
in the forest reserve. There was the same trend towards Rungwe forest reserve; however, there was
a slight increase in indigenous tree biomass when reaching forest reserve signing presence of human
encroachment in the forest reserve. The main human activities observed in the reserve were: Timber
harvesting and commercial exotic trees planting (especially the commercial trees, Pinus patula).
There is also a massive human encroachment for indigenous trees clearance in expense of exotic
trees plantations towards and in Rungwe forest reserve. Therefore, the study would like to call for an
urgent intervention especially in the east side of the study area (Rungwe forest reserve) stopping
exotic tree plantation penetrating into the forest re-serve which intensifies cutting down of indigenous
trees in the forest reserves plummeting above ground biomass and escalating carbon emissions in
the atmosphere while jeopardizing the natural forest ecosystem services to the communities.

Author (s) Details

Benard Mwakisunga
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Ruaha Catholic University, Iringa, Tanzania.

View Book :- https://bp.bookpi.org/index.php/bpi/catalog/book/249