Estimation of Population of Ten Selected Forest Tree Species Used by Communities around Kalinzu Forest Reserve, South-Western Uganda

Abstract

Local communities depend on Kalinzu Forest Reserve (KFR) for plant resources. This resource utilization affects the population of tree species in the forest. This study set out to estimate the population of ten tree species in the forest. Results of this study are hoped to provide a basis for studying future changes in population dynamics of the species. The ten species selected were: Newtonia buchananii, Cynometra al exandrei, Teclea nobilis, Prunus africana, Entandrophragma exelsum, Sapium ellipticum, Diospyros abyssinica, Zanthoxylum gilletii, Rytiginia kigeziensis and Spathodea nilotica. Their selection was based on the results of a study (Aine-Omucunguzi et al., 2010) about utilization of plant resources by the local people around KFR. Species with high demand from the local people were selected. Alternate nested quadrants along five line transects, were used to estimate the population. The plants were categorized into three classes as trees (>5 cm diameter at breast height), saplings (2 cm root collar diameter - 5 cm diame ter at breast height) and wildings.