A preliminary study on natural regeneration of savanna tree species

Abstract

Forest reserve areas can sustain themselves of their valuable species through an effective regeneration system. At present, most of the preserved woodland areas are being vandalized and valuable species illegally removed. Based on the desertification problem, which leads to the extinction of important plant species, it became necessary to study natural regeneration potential in Ribako Woodland Reserve of Kaduna State.An inventory of natural regeneration was conducted on Savanna tree species available in Ribako Woodland Reserve of Kaduna State. The survey indicated that 31 savanna parent trees, Isolberlina doka 159, Danielia oliveri 26, Hymenocardia acida and Lannea acida having 19 stands each, formed most abundant tree species in the reserve. Both Danielia oliveri and Hymenocardia acida accounted for 46% and 23% of the seedlings respectively and these formed the largest amount of seedlings encountered. Generally, the natural regeneration of all tree species in the woodland is low. Application of good management and adoption of in-situ and ex-situ conservation will ensure successful natural regeneration of woodland areas of Ribako.

Keywords: Woodland, In-situ, ex-situ, Inventory, natural regeneration

JOAFSS Vol. 4 (1) 2006: pp. 143-149