%0 Journal Article
%T Human Influences on Tree Diversity and Composition of a Coastal Forest Ecosystem: The Case of Ngumburuni Forest Reserve, Rufiji, Tanzania
%A J. Kimaro
%A L. Lulandala
%J International Journal of Forestry Research
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/305874
%X This paper reports on the findings of an ecological survey conducted in Ngumburuni Forest Reserve, a biodiversity rich forest reserve within the coastal forests of Tanzania. The main goal of this study was to determine the influence of uncontrolled anthropogenic activities on tree species diversity and composition within the forest ecosystem. It was revealed that economic activities including logging, charcoaling, and shifting cultivation were the most important disturbing activities affecting ecological functioning and biodiversity integrity of the forest. Further to this, we noted that the values of species diversity, composition, and regeneration potential within the undisturbed forest areas were significantly different from those in heavily disturbed areas. These observations confirm that the ongoing human activities have already caused size quality degradation of useful plants, enhanced species diversification impacts to the forest ecosystem, and possibly negatively affected the livelihoods of the adjacent local communities. Despite these disturbances, Ngumburuni forest reserve still holds important proportions of both endemic and threatened animal and plant species. The study suggests urgent implementation of several conservation measures in order to limit accessibility to the forest resources so as to safeguard the richness and abundance of useful biodiversity stocks in the reserve. 1. Introduction Habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation are currently the most important threats to biodiversity conservation worldwide [1]. Human activities have been widely reported to contribute more to this problem compared to natural factors [2]. Tropical forests especially those located in developing countries are more vulnerable following the fact that the majority of forest adjacent communities are poor and depend directly on the forest resources to sustain their livelihood [3]. Unsustainable use of forest resources, for example, through logging and shifting cultivation, has potential impact on its ecological functioning due to sudden changes on their structure and composition [4]. Emergence of invasive species and loss of ecosystem services resulting from the occurrence of many woody pioneers and herbaceous species have been observed in several disturbed forest ecosystems [1, 5]. Opening of forest canopies in the logged or burnt forests increases light levels which in some cases positively influences diversity indices [6]. Understanding the factors related to human disturbance that affect the tree biodiversity and forest vegetation structure can help
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfr/2013/305874/