Regeneration status of indigenous forest tree species of Mt. Otzi Forest Reserve, Moyo District

Abstract

This study examines the regeneration status of indigenous forest tree species of Mt. Otzi Forest Reserve, Moyo District Uganda. Mt. Otzi Forest Reserve was established because of its rich biodiversity, but over the years it has been affected by anthropogenic and natural disturbances. The objectives of this study were to determine the species diversity, dominant trees and population structure of trees of Mt. Otzi forest reserve. I determined species diversity using Simpson diversity index and compared the different diversities using Jaccard’s similarity index. Indigenous vegetation were sampled by establishment of quadrats along transect lines. All tree species encountered in the study plots were identified, counted and their DBH measured. The vegetative conditions within the plots were recorded. Species richness was high in the forest reserve with 103 species recorded. Species diversity was high ranging from 0.91 to 0.95. McIntosh’s measure of evenness showed that species evenness was high ranging from 0.79 to 0.91. The forest population structure indicated an ecologically stable forest population. Many tree species had a high IVI that range from 33.69 to 0.11. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) showed that Altitude, Fire, Farm lands, Fallow and Felling by cutting greatly influenced tree species distribution in the Forest Reserve. Species diversity and distribution of some trees were affected by environmental stresses therefore strategies that take account of fires, felling by cutting and species with poor stem density, especially saplings are required to conserve tree species in Mt. Otzi Forest Reserve.