Disturbance indicators and population decline of logged species in Mt. Elgon Forest, Kenya

Abstract

Mount (Mt) Elgon forest in western Kenya is important for biodiversity, environmental protection and socio‐economic development. Characterizing forest conditions is essential for evaluation of sustainable management and conservation activities. This paper covers findings of a study which determined and analysed indicators useful in monitoring disturbance levels in the Mt Elgon Forest. A systematic survey was carried out and covered 305 plots of 0.02 ha and 250 smaller nested regeneration plots along 10 belt transects that were distributed in five blocks within the moist lower montane forest type. Collected and analysed data include types of disturbance, tree species composition, abundance and logged species. Correlation breakdown among disturbance types revealed that, paths were indicators of the number of tree harvesting sites (rs =1.00, P < 0.01) and of de‐vegetated areas through grass harvesting (rs = 0.90, P = 0.04). Solanum mauritianum Scop. was an indicator of old‐charcoal production sites. Logging targeted 13 tree species and harvested trees with diameter at breast height above 20 cm. The most exploited species were Olea capensis L. and Deinbolia kilimandscharica Taub. All exploited species had low regeneration but tree regeneration was not an effective indicator of logging.

Fuelwood collection and its impacts on a protected tropical mountain forest in Uganda

“…Some species were particularly preferred and affected, especially slow growing hardwood species that are also valued for timber, e.g. P. africana, Podocarpus milianjianus, Aningeria spp., O. chrysophylla and O. welwitschii (Scott, 1994;Hitimana et al, 2010). Often they still occurred further inside the park (>2000 m inside the boundary), but they had become difficult to access.…”

Comparison of acoustic and traditional point count methods to assess bird diversity and composition in the Aberdare National Park, Kenya

“…Afromontane forests are biodiversity hotspots (Mittermeier et al, ) and host many species threatened on global and national scales. However, these habitats are threatened by a range of anthropogenic pressures, including logging and expansion of agriculture (Hitimana, Kiyiapi, Njunge, & Bargerei, ; Willcock et al, ). Conservation of these forests is vital to preserve forest specialist fauna (Fanshawe & Bennun, ), but better knowledge of their biodiversity value is needed in order to identify priority areas for protection (Brooks & Thompson, ).…”

Anthropogenic Disturbances and the Natural Vegetation Regeneration: A Case Study of a Forest Fragment Located in a Cuesta Relief Area, State of S&#227;o Paulo, Brazil

“…Local anthropogenic effects on tropical forests include land-cover change, invasive species and timber extraction (Wright, 2005). Some studies have assessed the impact of different degrees of disturbance on the species composition, structure and dynamics (Sagar et al, 2003;Hitimana et al, 2009). Secondary forests resulted from these disturbances have rapid rates of aboveground production, especially during the early stages of succession.…”