Tree species composition and regeneration potential of Onigambari Forest Reserve, Oyo State

Abstract

Natural regeneration status and other related parameters, such as stem densities of woody plant and size-class distribution of high forest species were studied in Onigambari forest reserve Oyo state. Data were collected along the Point Centre Quadrants (PCQ) of the plot-less method of Cortam and Curtis (1956) 10 m apart. At each PCQ along the transect, the points were divided into four quadrants where wildlings were enumerated to species levels, the nearest woody plant in each quadrant was measured for girth at breast height for the calculation of size-classes, while the distance of the plant to the centre point was recorded for calculations of stem densities. The high forest was found to be dominated by members of the families of Apocynaceae, Papilionidaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae, Meliaceae and Sterculiaceae. The regeneration potential of this area was poor, dominated by Angylocalyx oligophllus, Sphenocentrum jollyanum, Psychotria spp, Strombosia pustulata. Therefore, there is need to apply Sivilcultural treatment that will enhance growth and survival of both dominant and rare species.