%0 Journal Article
%T The Impacts of Land Use and Forest Activities on Tree Species Composition and Structure on the Edges of Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda
%A Jacob Godfrey Agea
%A Clement Akais Okia
%A Refaat Atalla Ahmed Abohassan
%A James Munga Kimondo
%A Susan B. Tumwebaze
%A Peter Ndemere
%A Patrick Buyinza
%A Joseph Obua
%J Botany Research Journal
%D 2011
%I 
%R 10.3923/brj.2010.7.13
%X The impact of land use activities on tree species composition, structure and diversity in and around Budongo Forest Reserve was assessed in August and September 2000. Forty plots measuring 50x50 m were laid at 100 m intervals along 1,000 m transects originating from each land use type activity and the number, species, diameter at breast height (dbh) and height of trees ¡Ý10 cm recorded. The land use/forest activities considered were farming, settlement, charcoal production and harvesting of timber, firewood and building poles. One way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test and Shannon-Weaner diversity index were used to analyse the data. It was found that different land use activities have affected forest tree species abundance (H = 24.77, p = 0.001), composition (F = 2.87, p = 0.047) and structure (dbh: F = 3.82, p = 0.018 and height: F = 1.63, p = 0.039). Timber harvesting had the least negative effect on tree species diversity (H  = 2.8016) and the highest negative effect on forest structure (average dbh = 33.06 cm; average height = 22.06 m). Farming had the highest negative effect on tree species diversity (H  = 2.57) and the lowest negative effect on forest structure (average dbh = 39.11 cm; average height = 25.18 m). It is recommended that the effect of land use practices on the forest fringes should be monitored and a methodology for an integrated land use-forest management plan developed.
%U http://www.medwellonline.net/abstract/?doi=brj.2010.7.13