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Landscape Connectivity as a Strategy to solving Habitat
Fragmentationacross Borders: A case study of Nigeria
Fasona Michelle Iyabo
Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka,
Lagos, Nigeria
Email for correspondence: babsmichelle@yahoo.com
Abstract
The fragmentation of natural habitats for animal wildlife
population is a growing concern in nature conservation.
The concept of landscape connectivity is considered to
be useful in combating the challenge wildlife
populations’ face in isolated fragmented habitats.
Landscape connectivity has two main aspects; structural
and functional connectivity. The main aim of landscape
connectivity is to make connecting areas functional for
wildlife dispersing to other habitats. In Africa landscape
connectivity efforts have predominantly been directed
towards trans-boundary conservation practices which
focus on conservation of worthy lands across
international borders. The use of remote sensing,
Geographic Information System and spatial analysis
models in selected transboundary conservation studies
carried out in Africa are reviewed. Findings from the
studies revealed habitat suitable areas that can serve as
functional conduits for terrestrial mammals in
fragmented landscape. The paper made a case for
studies on landscape connectivity in Nigeria as a way of
conserving wildlife across borders.
Keywords: Fragmentation, wildlife, Landscape
connectivity and Transboundary conservation
Understanding Relationship between Stand Structure
and Carbon Stock in Nilo Nature Reserve, Tanzania
1 *Mwainunu, E.J., 2 Munishi, P.K.T. and 3 Nzunda, E.F.
1 Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, P. o. Box 30021,
Kibaha, Costal Region.
2 Department of Forest Biology, Sokoine University of
Agriculture, P. o. Box 3010, Morogoro.
3 Department of Forest Mensuration and Management,
Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3013,
Morogoro
Email for correspondence: emajaphet@yahoo.com
Abstract
Natural forests are characterized by high heterogeneity
in their stand structure. Understanding the relationship
between tree parameters and carbon stock is necessary
for predicting carbon storage in forests. Few studies
have estimated carbon storage in natural forests of the
Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania. The study therefore
assessed stand structure parameters and its relationship
with carbon storage. Additionally, the study assessed
the usefulness of the stand structure parameters for
estimating carbon stock in the Nature Reserve. The
forest was stratified into four elevation bands. Four
marked permanent sample plots of size 0.4 ha with 80
subplots of size 2010 m one in each elevation band
was established. In each plot, the following information
on diameter at breast height of trees with dbh ≥ 5 and
wood cores at dbh were collected. The data was used to
determine stand structure parameters (species richness,
diversity, stem density, average diameter, basal area
and volume) and biomass carbon stock. The coefficient
of correlation R 2 was employed to depict the
relationship of the stand parameters and carbon stock.
A total of 77 species of trees and shrubs belonging to 29
families were identified. Shannon index was 3.60
indicating high plant species diversity. The stand
density, average diameter, basal area and volume were
299 ± 26 stems ha -1 , 26.07 ± 2.88 cm, 38.08 ± 3.61 m 2 ha -
1 and 488.35 ± 56.32 m 3 ha -1, respectively. Above ground
carbon stocks was 291 ± 32.81t ha -1 . Volume, base area
and mean diameter were strongly positively related to
carbon storage (p = 0.001). Relationship between
volume and carbon stock has the highest R 2 (R 2 = 99%),
hence can be used adequately for estimation of carbon
stock in forests of the same type.
Keywords:Natural forest, parameters, Biomass, carbon,
Eastern Arc Mountains