Effect of Human Activities on Woody Species Diversity, Composition, Structure, and Carbon Storage in a Dry Miombo Woodland Site, Tanzania
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The effects of human activities on forest conditions in many forest reserves in Tanzania are well-acknowledged but inadequately studied. The absence of this information creates a challenge in planning for proper management and conservation of these reserves. This study assessed the effect of human activities on woody species composition, diversity, structure, and carbon stocks of Kitulanghalo catchment forest reserve managed by the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS), located in Morogoro district, Tanzania. Data were collected from 30 concentric sample plots of 0.071 ha established systematically in the forest area of 2,038 ha at the distance of 800 m and 800 m between transects. Species diversity was analysed using the Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H’) while wood volume and biomass were calculated using developed allometric equations for Miombo woodlands. The effect of human activities on species diversity was determined using linear regression models. Results show that trees and shrubs with Dbh ≥1cm comprise 80 plant species and those with <1cm Dbh consist of 34 plant species. Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H’) for <1cm Dbh was 3.35 and for ≥1cm Dbh was 3.73, indicating the forest has high species diversity. Stem density for trees and shrubs with ≥1cm Dbh was 2 199 ± 1 325 stemsha-1, basal area of 7.61 ± 4.47 m2ha-1, standing volume of 56.25 ± 35.03 m3ha-1, above ground carbon stocks of 18.97±11.84 MgCha-1 and below ground carbon stocks of 9.81 ± 5.71 MgCha-1. Four major human disturbances namely charcoal making, fire, illegal logging, grazing, and erosion were identified in the study area. The harvested stems composed of 21 species with an estimated lost volume of 5.94 ± 4.47 m3ha-1 equivalent to the loss of above-ground biomass of 4.60 ± 3.43 Mgha-1 and carbon stocks of 2.30 ± 1.72 MgCha-1. Among the human disturbances found in the reserve, grazing activities were found to significantly lower the tree species diversity with a p-value <0.05. Preparation of plans to promote the management and conservation of biodiversity and carbon stocks found in the reserve is recommended
Authors: Jofrey Julius Jacob, Hadija Ahmad Mchelu, Ezekiel Edward Mwakalukwa
Institution: Sokoine University of Agriculture
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Climate action
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4408908312