Article Dans Une Revue Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry Année : 2025

Logging Impact on Tree Species Diversity and Forest Structure in Nigerian Tropical Forests

Résumé

This study assessed logging impacts on tree species diversity in the tropical rainforest ecosystems, southwest Nigeria. Here, we compared tree species diversity between forest reserves (undisturbed) and free areas (disturbed). A systematic line transect was used for data collection. Our results revealed a significant reduction in species richness and diversity in the disturbed areas compared to undisturbed forests. In Oluwa Forest Reserve, the undisturbed site had a Shannon-Wiener index of 3.47, while we recorded 2.97 for the disturbed site. The undisturbed site of Akure Forest Reserve had an index of 3.00 compared to 2.67 recorded in the disturbed site. In Akure Forest Reserve, the undisturbed site recorded a higher mean Dbh (34.75 cm) and height (14.98 m) compared to the disturbed site (24.42 cm, with lower height classes dominating). Similarly, in Oluwa Forest Reserve, the undisturbed site showed a mean Dbh of 33.50 cm and height of 13.07 m, while the disturbed site recorded 25.34 cm and lower height dominance. Height class distribution showed that trees in undisturbed sites were predominantly in the 11–20 m range, with very few in the <5 m class, while disturbed sites had a higher proportion of trees in the 5–10 m range. The findings from our study highlight the ecological consequences of unsustainable logging and the need for improved forest management, stricter enforcement of logging regulations, and active restoration strategies to safeguard biodiversity and forest structure in Nigeria’s tropical ecosystems.

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Dates et versions

hal-05178116 , version 1 (23-07-2025)

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  • HAL Id : hal-05178116 , version 1

Citer

O.J Adeyekun, V.A.J Adekunle, O.V Oyerinde. Logging Impact on Tree Species Diversity and Forest Structure in Nigerian Tropical Forests. Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry, 2025, 11 (3), pp.209-231. ⟨hal-05178116⟩
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