ABSTRACT

Assessment ofthe sustainability status and community participation in the management of Ukpom Bcnde Forest Reserve, Abia State, Nigeria was carried out. The specific objectives were (i) to determine the density and composition of naturally regenerated plant species under the canopies oftree plantations, (ii) to determine the mean annual increment and diameter class distribution ofthe tree species; and (iii) to assess the role of soil seedbank in the regeneration in the Forest Reserve. Line transects and quadrat methods were used to determine the density and composition of plant species. Mean annual increment was computed from data obtained from tree diameter, heights and volume measurements. Seedling emergence from soil seed bank was used to estimate seed distribution across soil depths and seasons in a 2 x 2 factorial experiment in Randomized Complete Block Design. Other objectives of study were to determine (iv) the level of community participation in the management of the Reserve, (v) the stakeholders’ perception of the Forest Reserve and (vi) the socioeconomic factors that influence illegal encroachments into the Forest Reserve.'i Focused group discussion and structured questionnaire were used to obtain relevant information on the level of community participation in the management of the Forest Reserve, while a composite index was used to determine stakeholders’ perception of the Reserve. Chi-square analysis was used to determine' the socioeconomic factors which show significant association with community participation. The results showed that the planted species fostered conducive environment for the existence of native species such as Alchornea codifolia, Mallolus oppositifolia, Cnestisferugenea and Icacina trichantha with relaive abundance of 7.72%, .78%, 5.42% and 5.08% respectively. The Simpson Diversity Index was high, 0.88 recorded in Gmelina arborea plot, 0.86 for Termialia ivorensis while Tectona grandis had 0.70. The mean annual increments were 49.41, 38.10 and 31.33m3 ha’1 yr 4 for Gmelina arborea, Tectona grandis and Termialia ivorensis respectively. The total number ofindividuals per plant species (182 seedlings m’2) that sprouted from 0-5om soil depth was significantly higher than that obtained from 5- 10cm soil depth (86.38 seedling m'2). Sprouted seedlings from dry season soil collection was also significantly higher (175.92 seedling m’2) than the rainy season (92.75 seedling m’2) soil collection. Herbaceous species dominated the seed bank, constituting 82% of the total seedlings that sprouted from the seedbank of both depths and season soil collections. Thus the species compositions of sprouted seedlings suggest that the soil seed bank is not critical for the restoration of woody plant species especially the economic trees in the forest reserve. The local communities had no participation in planning, but had limited participation in implementation and monitoring of forest reserve activities, and great participation in benefits derivation. The stakeholders opined that the Forest Reserve was moderately sustainable (Composite index mean 19.7). Some socioeconomic factors that influence the illegal encroachment into the Forest Reserve included poverty (87%), absence of buffer zone (72%), and existence of fertile land for arable farming (65 %), while the Chi-square analysis indicate that expectation of returned benefits from Forest Reserve showed significant association with community participation in the protection of the Forest Reserve. The sustainability of the Forest Reserve can only be guaranteed iftimber exploitation is controlled relative to the mean annual increment in adherence to sustainable yield principle. The sustainability strategies identified by the stakeholders included full implementation of the xvi management plan which specify among other things the rotation policy for planted species and reintroduction the taungya for the regeneration of the heavily logged areas and portions lost to arable farming considering that natural regeneration process is slow and unsatisfactory. Also the communities should be granted voice in future planning and decision making about the Forest Reserve since lack of community participation, has been blamed for the failure of most forest policies.