Diversity of tree species in Kafanchan area of Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

This research assessed the diversity of trees in Kafanchan environs and investigated the perception of inhabitants to land use change and  use of trees in Kafanchan environs, Kaduna State. Primary data on the field was collected by employing the plot count techniques by  systematically and randomly selecting eleven plots within the study area, measuring a 100 by 100 meters plot (1.0 hectare) of each plot.  All the trees species on the selected plots were enumerated. A total of 28 species were identified with 1851 number of individual of trees.  Newbouldia laevis species had the highest number of stand (415) and a percentage composition of 22.4%. Family Aracaceae has the most  count of species in the area while other families had a two and single species within the family. Species diversity, evenness and  relative density were determined between plots for the identified trees. Shannon -Wiener diversity values (H) for the eleven plots were  recorded for trees, Plot 10 had the highest diversity of 4.54 and Plot 5 with the least diversity of 0.703, the study recorded 1.56 as the  highest diversity and 0.65 as the least diversity respectively.