A nursery experiment was conducted to determine the effects of seed pretreatment methods on the germination of Faidherbia albida at ICRAF, Nairobi from six provenances consisting of Awassa, Taveta, Lake Koka, Maseno, Chinzombo and Wagingombe. Seeds were subjected to five pretreatment methods namely nicking, soaking in acid, hot water, cold water and control. Germination percentages (GP), mean germination time (MGT) and germination index (GI) were calculated and the data was subjected to ANOVA. The study revealed significant (p B 0.05) differences in seed treatments among provenances in all studied parameters. Highest germination among pretreatments in Awassa (99 %) and Wagingombe (80 %) was observed in nicked seeds, Chinzombo (81 %) in nicked and acid treated seeds, Lake Koka (90 %) in acid treated seeds and Taveta (28 %) and Maseno (64 %) in cold water treated seeds. Nicking gave the highest cumulative GP (69.67) while lowest GP was observed in hot water treated seeds (23.17). Acid treatment exhibited lowest MGT (8.85 days) and highest GI (2.29) while highest MGT (24.35 days) and lowest GI (0.31) were observed in control and hot water treatment respectively. Although acid treatment gave a high GP and lowest MGT and GI, nicking and soaking in cold water for 24 h is being recommended as cheaper and less hazardous pretreatment methods to improve germination in F. albida since sulphuric acid is expensive and requires proper handling techniques. Significant correlation between geo-climatic data and germination parameters of seeds subjected to different pretreatments indicates that provenances are as important as pretreatments in germination of the species.

Vulnerability to climate change and variability impacts has been identified as a major cog in the wheel of both livelihood and resilience, particularly in vulnerable groups in rural areas. This study aims to assess genders’ vulnerability dimension to climate change and variability in REDD + (Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation+) piloted site/clusters, Cross River State, Nigeria. Data were proportionately collected from selected 200 respondents on gender disaggregated level using questionnaires. The assessment adopted the sustainable livelihood approach (livelihood vulnerability index) and compared the results with the IPCC vulnerability standard of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity weighted mean. The results revealed a significant difference in the vulnerability dimension of both women and men disaggregated levels (LVI: men 0.509, women 0.618). The women category was more vulnerable to six out of seven major components of LVI assessed: (livelihood strategies (0.646), social networks (0.364), water (0.559), health (0.379), food and nutrition (0.507), and natural hazards and climate variability (0.482), while men only vulnerable to socio-demographic major component (0.346). Vulnerability indices also showed women to be more exposed (0.482), and sensitive (0.489) with the least adaptive capacities (0.462) to the climate change and variability impacts. Overall, on the IPCC-LVI index, women are more vulnerable (0.0098) to climate change and variability impacts than men (−0.0093). The study recommends that the women's category resilience and adaptive capacity should be empowered in adaptation projects in climate change such as REDD + (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation+) to reduce their vulnerability to impacts of climate change and variability in the context of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacities. This will be instrumental in formulating policies to address the specific needs of gender categories in reducing vulnerability to climate change and variability. This pragmatic approach may be used to monitor gender vulnerability dimension, and livelihood enhancement and evaluate potential climate change adaptation programs. Additionally, the introduction of IPCC-LVI as a baseline instrument will enhance information on gender resilience and adaptive capacity for policy effectiveness in a data-scarce region particularly Africa.

Aims: This study evaluated the effect of cutting lengths on sprouts and seedling growth of P. santalinoides. Study Design: The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomised Design (CRD). Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management Nursery, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, between April 2019 and March 2020. Methodology: Ten (10) cuttings per cutting length were planted in a polybag filled with forest topsoil. The treatments are; 13, 20, 25 and 33 cm cutting lengths. Five seedlings per treatment were randomly selected and dried for biomass. Emergence of sprouts, number of leaves and branches, survival rate, number of cuttings that sprouted, sprout length, root length and biomass were determined and subjected to analysis of variance. Results: Sprouts emergence occurred earliest in 25 cm cuttings (7 days) and latest in 13 and 20 cm cuttings (12 days). There were significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in leaf number at month 1, number of branches at months 1, 3, 5 and 9, cutting length at month 2 and root to shoot ratio and non-significant differences (P > 0.05) in leaf number at months 3,5,7,9 and 11, number of branches at months 7 and 11, number of sprouts, cutting length at month 12, root length, shoot biomass, root biomass and total fresh and dry weight. Twenty five (25) cm long cutting enhanced sprout parameters while 33 cm long cutting enhanced root parameters. Conclusion: The result showed that 25 and 33 cm long cuttings are most suitable cutting lengths and are therefore recommended for growth of the species.

Aims: This study evaluated the influence of 11 potting media compositions on seedling growth and development of Tectona grandis. Study Design: The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design involving ten replicates. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management Nursery, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, between April 2019 and April 2020. Methodology: Ten (10) seedlings per sowing media including topsoil, topsoil and cow dung (2:1, 3:1), topsoil and poultry dung (2:1, 3:1), topsoil and pig dung (2.1, 3:1), topsoil and sawdust (2.1, 3:1), topsoil and mushroom substrate (2.1, 3:1) were selected and transplanted into polybags. Growth parameters (seedling height, root collar diameter, leaf number and biomass (shoot dry weight (SDW), root dry weight (RDW) and total dry weight (TDW)) were determined and subjected to analysis of variance. Results: Seedlings of T. grandis displayed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in height, root collar diameter, leaf number and biomass. Among treatments, tallest seedlings were observed in mixture of topsoil and poultry dung (3:1), at months 1 to 3 and in mixture of topsoil and cow dung (3:1) at months 4 and 5, highest root collar diameter was observed in mixture of topsoil and poultry dung (3:1) and highest leaf number was recorded in mixture of topsoil and poultry dung (2:1 and 3:1) and topsoil and cow dung (2:1 and 3:1) at months 1 to 5. The highest SDW was evident in mixture of topsoil and poultry dung (2:1) while highest RDW and TDW were observed in mixture of topsoil and cow dung (3:1). Lowest height, diameter, leaf number and biomass were recorded in topsoil (control) at months 1 to 5. Conclusion: The results revealed that among the tested mixtures, topsoil and poultry dung and topsoil and cow dung mixtures were the best for seedlings growth of T. grandis.