The increasing demands for land and wood resources is threatening the existence of many species both flora and fauna, causing massive loss of biodiversity in many countries including Tanzania. This study assessed the effects of anthropogenic activities on woody species richness, diversity, and structure in Mbiwe forest reserve located in Chunya district, Tanzania. Specifically, the study i) compare species composition and diversity as well as ii) structural attributes between disturbed and undisturbed areas. Vegetation data for adult trees (Dbh ≥ 4 cm), saplings (Dbh 1 4 cm), regenerants (Dbh 1 cm), and stumps were collected from 50 rectangular sample plots (50 m × 20 m) established in the forest area of 49,147.7 ha. The results indicate that undisturbed areas exhibited higher values as compared to disturbed areas. In undisturbed areas, species richness was 71, Hʹ = 3.68, density = 868 ± 588 stem/ha, basal area =8.75 ± 4.95 m²/ha, and volume = 73.61 ± 44.68 msup3/sup/ha. The area registered only 13 ± 10 stem/ha for stumps unlike 263 ± 88 stem/ha in the disturbed areas. Areas close to the town centers shows high rate of degradation than those found away from the centers. Law enforcement among other protection measures is recommended to safeguard the existing biodiversity in the reserve.
Mwangosi et al. (Mon,) studied this question.