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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Efforts towards species conservation are focused on declining populations with less emphasis on dominant species. This has resulted to a once dominant species in forest ecosystem becoming endangered or at the verge of extinction. The study examined woody plants composition and stand structure of Detarium woodland to ascertain the conservation need of the species and other woody plants in Pandam wildlife Park, Plateau State, Nigeria. Four sample plots (250x10m each) were randomly established across the Daterium woodland. Total enumeration of woody plants of dbh 10cm and above at breast height (dbh 1.4 m) and height of trees were measured. Girth at breast height was measured using a meter tape. Tree height was measured by angular pace method. Descriptive statistics and Simpson Index of Diversity was used in analyzing the data. Results show that the woodland composed of 11 species belonging to six botanical families. The studied samples contained 173 individuals which is 245 trees/ha with Detarium microcapium having 56.65% total species percentage. The most diverse plant families were Leguminosea (3 species) and Combretaceae (3 species). Vitellaria paradoxa has the largest mean girth (76.6cm) and also recorded the tallest with mean height of 23.1m. Detarium microcapium and Vitellaria paradoxa are currently undergoing cutting pressure in the woodland due to their use values by the communities. Conservation strategies should be vigorously pursued by the Park management to protect these species.