Tree Species Diversity and Structure of Illo-Kaoje Forest Reserve, Kebbi State, Nigeria
Abubakar Idris Zagga
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to examine tree species diversity and structure of Illo-Kaoje Forest Reserve. Twenty sample plots (20m×25m) were laid at random within the forest reserve. In each plots, the number and type of tree species were identified and recorded. Diameter at breath height (dbh) and Tree height of each stand was also measured. A total of 568 tree species distributed in 13 families, 27 genera and 31 species were recorded. Vitaleria paradoxa had the highest number of trees (91) followed by Daniellia oliveri (76) while Strichnos spinosa and Nauclea diderrichii had 3 stand each. Shannon Wiener diversity index was 2.92; Species richness 1.30; Evenness 0.85 while Hmax and Density stood as 0.85 and 0.06 respectively. Illo-Kaoje Forest Reserve has a moderate diversity and therefore, the need to manage the existing forest resources for continual production of goods and services is hereby recommended.
Keywords: Diversity, forest reserve, Dbh, tree height and density