Abundance and Density Distribution of Trees in Intact and Disturbed Parts of Agoro‐Agu Central Forest Reserve, Lamwo District, Northern Uganda

Knowledge of the abundance and density distribution of trees is critical for sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation. The study aimed to assess the abundance and density distribution of trees in the intact and disturbed portions of Agoro‐Agu Central Forest Reserve (AACFR), Lamwo District, Northern Uganda. Fifteen 2‐km‐long transects were laid: nine in the intact part and six in the disturbed part of AACFR. Nested quadrats of 25 × 25 m, 10 × 10 m, and 5 × 5 m were laid out systematically at 100‐m intervals for the enumeration of mature trees (dbh ≥ 10 cm), saplings (dbh 3–9.9 cm), and seedlings (rcd = 1–2.9 cm). Soil samples were collected from each plot at 10‐cm depth and mixed thoroughly to form a composite sample for laboratory analysis, and the basal area was calculated for each tree species encountered. The results indicated a reverse J–shaped decline in the number of trees with increasing size classes for the intact part and a lack of a smooth reverse J–shaped curve for the disturbed part. The basal area was high (96 m 2 /ha) in the intact part of the reserve, with size classes 10–19.9 cm and 20–29.9 cm contributing more on the midslope. The average stand density was 370–603 trees ha −1 , with Combretum molle , Vachellia hockii , and Albizia grandibracteata being the most abundant in both parts of the reserve. The population stability and natural regeneration were promising enough for future conservation planning of AACFR, indicating that the observed differences in species and their abundance were largely due to the anthropogenic disturbances. There is a need for constant monitoring of the population dynamics of tree species that either appear to have low regeneration potential or are not represented in the disturbed part of the reserve as a way of maintaining the natural stability of tree species in AACFR.