No abstract

No abstract

Recently, sustainable forest management has been the top priority for many international forest conservation organizations, governing authorities, and interest groups. Forest conversion to farmland for fuel wood removal, charcoal production, and woodland grazing is the principal mechanism of forest degradation, habitat change, and loss of biodiversity. Despite the increasing acknowledgment of conservation values of savanna, our understanding of the factors affecting species diversity and composition for the African savanna remains limited. This chapter provides a systematic review of the factors affecting species diversity and composition in an African savanna. However, in order to reduce this inadequacy, a careful examination of the existing literature was conducted. After a thorough review, it was revealed that species diversity and composition in savanna are significantly shaped by grazing, fire, and resource availability, that is, rainfall and soil nutrients, as well as anthropogenic activities. Understanding the diversity and composition of tree species is vital since they provide resources and habitats for several other species. Botanical assessments, such as floristic composition, species diversity, and structural analysis studies, are significant for providing accurate information on species richness, which is valuable for sustainable forest management and helps to understand forest ecology and ecosystem functions.

This work studied the diversity, abundance, and distribution of 25 most suitable indigenous tropical hardwood tree species for value-added renewable energy production. The study aimed to assess relative abundance, diversity, distribution, current status, and uses by local communities of these species which are still poorly known. The study is based on data from nationwide remeasured permanent sample plots for Zambia covering different types of forests in agro-ecological zones 1 and 2. Diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥2.5 cm was collected and analyzed in all plots. The study approach included informant interviews that focused on species’ uses and their availability in the surrounding forests and woodlands and species population inventory of the natural forests and woodlands. The tree species for renewable energy production were determined. The species were identified on the basis of abundance, diversity, regeneration status, and perceived utilization. The study observed the need to manage hardwood supply sustainably, promote lesser-known hardwood tree species, and diversify their use in the wood industry. The intervention of government and other stakeholders to tackle wood fuel production problem using collaborative approach is emphasized.

No abstract