Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Greener Journal of  Agricultural Sciences Vol. 2 (8), pp.406-411, December 2012

 ISSN: 2276-7770 

Research Paper

Manuscript Number:110912243

 

Key livelihood tree species in Omo Biosphere Reserve: a preliminary documentation towards the investigation of land use change impact on key livelihood tree populations  

Chima, U.D., Adedire, M.O., Aduradola, A.M., and Agboola, D.A.  

 

Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture,

University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, College of Environmental Resources Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria  

Corresponding Author’s email: punditzum @ yahoo.ca; Mobile phone:

 +234-803-812-1887

Abstract: 

The study documented and prioritized key livelihood tree species in Omo Biosphere Reserve, Nigeria as a preliminary step towards the evaluation of land use change impact on key livelihood tree populations. Data were collected using structured questionnaire administered to two hundred randomly selected adults resident in the reserve. A total of thirty-eight key livelihood tree species were documented and prioritized. The highly ranked among the species include Khaya ivorensis (1st), Nauclea diderrichii (2nd), Terminalia ivorensis (3rd), Cordia millenii (4th), and Alstonia boonei (5th). The lowly ranked include Daniella ogea (33rd), Cleistopholis patens and Tectona grandis (34th), Terminalia catappa (36th), and Parinari sp. /Chrysophyllum albidum (37th). These species were prominent because of their usefulness in various aspects of rural livelihood including food, shelter, medicine, fuel-wood for cooking, and income generation. Given the high spate of deforestation and land conversion in the reserve, the need for further studies to ascertain the impact of land use change on the populations of the key livelihood tree species and probable consequences for their conservation, is emphasized.
 
Keywords: Rural livelihood, trees, land use change, biosphere reserve

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