Abstrato

Tree Regeneration after Logging in Rain-forest Ecosystem

Edward D. Wiafe

Successful forest regeneration is critical for the sustainable management of natural forests. This study assessed natural regeneration capacity of a logged tropical forest by comparing the species composition, diversity, density and basal area at varied levels of disturbance after logging operations. The regeneration capacities of trees were analysed at three levels of disturbances: heavily disturbed, partially disturbed and undisturbed in the Asenanyo Forest Reserve in moist forest reserve in Africa. Sixty sampled plots of 25m by 25m were equally distributed randomly in each of the stratified areas. A significant difference in abundance of naturally regenerated tree species in the partially disturbed, undisturbed areas and heavily disturbed areas was observed. The density of naturally regenerated tree species in the slightly disturbed was higher than the undisturbed areas while the later recorded higher density than heavily disturbed areas. The diversity of naturally regenerated trees in the undisturbed area differed from the slightly disturbed area and heavily disturbed area while slightly disturbed and heavily disturbed areas also differed. The high density of young trees in the slightly disturbed area might be enhanced by providing conditions that promote seed germination than the undisturbed areas. However, the activities of the logging might have also destroyed seeds and cause soil compaction which might have accounted for the less number of trees as well as diversity in the heavily disturbed area. It was concluded that natural regeneration are most favored when induced slightly. It is therefore recommended that there should be a limit to the total number of trees felled in a compartment as well as the size of loading bays and the width of forest roads.