ECOLOGY, COMPOSITION AND POPULATION STRUCTURE OF PARADOXA SUBSPECIES NILOTICA (KOTSCHY), A.N. HENRY ET.AL.), IN : IMPLICATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY OF PRODUCTION

Paper Presented On Naturally African : In support of African natural products development and marketing Sub-regional Consultative workshop For Eastern Nairobi, , 18 - 20 May 2009

By

Deribe Gurmu Benti (PhD)

May 18, 2009 Table of content

1. INTRODUCTION

2. OBJETIVOS

3. MATERIAL AND METHODS

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

5. CONCLUSIONES AND RECOMMENDTION IntroductionIntroduction

n Vitellaria paradoxa belongs to: order ebenales, family Sapotaceae, genus vitellaria n The genus contains two subspecies: n ssp. paradoxa n ssp. nilotica n in the dry seasons n Medium-sized, 12-15 meters (rarely up to 25 meters high) It has poor Vitellaria paradoxa ssp. nilotica stem forms with various :Gambella Region forms of crowns and is deep rooted Introduction Contd………………………. The tree has gnarled growth with umbellate to multiple flabellate and cauliflower crowns

Cauliflower Umbellate multiple flabellate Introduction Contd……………………………………………………………………………….

It has conspicuously thick, It exhibits pale, pink to red corky, horizontally colour, when slashed and longitudinally deeply fissured barked stem

Leaves in large, dense fascicles, spirally arranged Secrets white at the end of the stout latex, as do broken twigs/ branches twigs or petioles

Juvenile are rust- red and pubescent

The leaves are oblong Introduction Contd……………………………….

At the time of peak flowering (January to February), the tree is Immature nearly covered with green-yellowish in terminal cluster of containing 30-40 each at the generally leafless tips only one oval or round red- brown fruit/nut (the ‘shea nut’) Seeds have white rarely more scar down one than one side. They are surrounded by a fragile, shining shell with a large round rough helium on a broad base ReproductiveReproductive BiologyBiology andand MorphologyMorphology

n Loses it leaves from December through January to February n flushes during the month of March to April n Flowering lasts for about five to seven months (November to the late April or early May) n Flowers are cross-pollinated by insects and wind n A variety of birds, ungulates and primates, including humans, eat the fruit dispersing the seed in the process Reproductive Biology and Morphology Cont…….

n Fruiting starts at the end of the dry seasons (December-January) and peaks from February-April

n Seeds mature during the rainy seasons (March- May). Harvesting occurs mainly from May-August

n the seeds of Vitellaria are recalcitrant

n the viability falls rapidly after the removal of the fruit from its mother tree and is lost completely within 3-6 weeks requiring an immediate seeding Propagation and Management

n Direct seeding or seedlings propagate vitellaria n Germination is cryptogeal that is, the shoots arise from below ground even though the seeds germinate on the surface n Growing the species directly, in- situ, is sometimes recommended because of the long taproot n Transplanting is difficult n Seedlings raised in pots should be out-planted after 14-24 weeks and be planted after 12 months as balled planting stock n The trees start bearing fruit in 12- 15 years Propagation and Management Contd.……….

n Wide spacing n Good site preparation n Weeding n protection against fire and browsing are essential management activities for the species n the trees grow relatively slowly at first, but the growth rates can be accelerated by adding compost and fertilizer n Successful cultivation of the species can be attempted only on well drained sites with a good water supply, such as along seasonal water courses, but avoids flooding Ecological Distribution Of Vitellaria n Vitellaria occurs in a belt stretching across Africa, from to , marginally extending to Ethiopia (Hall et al., 1996) n The ssp. paradoxa occurs in Africa Senegal and stretches to the

n The ssp. nilotica mostly occurs in and Sudan, marginally extends to Zaire and Ethiopia,

n The ssp. nilotica has a much more compact range (1600 km from north to south) than the ssp. paradoxa which extends to about 4700 km between the western and eastern limits covering 18 West Ethiopia Gambella African countries (Hall et al., 1996).

n the distribution of the species as a whole is within the belt some 500- 750 km wide running 5000 km from west to east in areas receiving 600-1400mm of rainfall. n In Ethiopia, the ssp. nilotica occurs at an altitude of ≤600 m.a.s.l, growing on very poor soil types, in pocket areas of Abobo, Itang, Gambella and Gog Woredas (Districts) of the Gambella National Regional state NamingNaming n The ssp.paradoxa is commonly known as Karite (Francophone) n the sheanut or shea tree (Anglophone) n Schibutterbaum or Sheabutterbaum (German) n Tango (Spanish) n Lulu (Arabic) n Balire or kareje (Mali) n man ka’danya (), in n while the ssp.nilotica of the East is known by different local names. For instance, it is known as Waedo, in Ethiopia, Yao, in Uganda, Lulu, in Sudan etc. Economic Uses and Environmental Services

n Uses n The wood is used for: n Engineering structures, house posts and support poles

n Ship building, for shingles, stakes and fencing, sleepers, medium and heavy-duty flooring, joinery, seats, household utensils, durable platters and bowls, pestles and mortars and tool handles

n It makes good charcoal and fuelwood

n Ash produced from the wood is used as a dying material n The Oil/butter produced from the seeds/kernels is used as: n cooking oil medicinal ointment n soap making n skin moisturizer n illuminant/candles n cosmetics n consumed fresh Uses Contd…………………………... n The bark extracts are taken as n a drink or bath as antimicrobial to (Sarcina lutea and Staphyllococus aureus) n a bark infusion is used as an eyewash § a footbath to help extract jiggers § to neutralize the venom of the spitting Cobra § Infusions to treat leprosy in -Bissau § To cure gastric problems § Macerated with the bark of Ceiba pentandra and salt § infusions have been used to treat cattle with worms in Senegal and Guinea § Decoction serve as a bath to facilitate childbirth in Cote d’Ivoire § drunk to encourage lactation after delivery n Leave decoction/seething are used n for toothache n for headaches n an eye-lotion n Serve as bee-forage and animal fodder Uses Contd…………………………... Roots and root bark are ground to paste and taken n orally to cure jaundice n are boiled and pounded to treat chronic sores and girth sores in horses n The latex is heated and mixed with palm oil to n make glue n sap has been used traditionally to repair n punctured drums n useful ingredient in n sun-protection or post-sun-exposure products n encourages wound healing, dislocations, swelling, bruises, soothes skin irritation n treats diarrhea, dysentery and stomach-ache, inflammation, rashes in children, dermatitis, sunburn, chapping, irritation, ulcers n Serve as a base for suppositories n serves as a rub for rheumatism n Other uses include: n waterproofing of house wall n as well as religious rituals n Ameliorates the climate n Of all these, the oil/butter produced out of the kernels/nuts is the most important; which in West Africa is, second in importance only to palm The Unique Products Of The African ‘Cinderella’ By Source

Oil

Fruit Butter

Kernel Chopstick

Moisturizers kernel The Unique Products Of The African ‘Cinderella’ Contd…………...

Latex

Fodder

Leaves Stump

Forage

Flower Tree

Food Medicine

Fruit Bark Variations In Oil and Butter

n The West African species ssp. paradoxa provides solid butter

n The East African species, ssp, nilotica, gives liquid oil due to the different proportions of stearin (solid) and olein (liquid) fraction Oil/Butter Processing Loop (clockwise)

Seed De-pulping collection

Drying Fractional or Distillation Oil/Butter Roasting

Boiling Pounding

Oil/butter processing entails kernel/seed collection, de-pulping, roasting, pounding, boiling and fractional distillation The Shea kernels/ Oil/Butter as an Export Commodity n Since 14th century in west Africa

n Since 18th century in Zaire

n Since 1910 in Sudan and Uganda

n the Agnuak ethnic groups of the Gambella National regional State

n may have began producing oil from the ssp. nilotica about the same time

n But, over all oil from the ssp. nilotica has so far had negligible commercial impact internationally compared to the ssp. Paradoxa as the oil extracted from the ssp. nilotica is exclusively used domestically The study n Despite the multiple uses it provides this ‘Cinderella’ tree species is given less attention. Thus the objective of this study was to analyze the ecological distribution, composition and population structure of Vitellaria paradoxa and to offer a practicable solution to help informed n Description of the Study Sites § This study was carried out in four representative Woredas (Districts) namely: § Abobo, Itang, Gambella, and Gog, of the Gambella Region some 780 km to the south-western part of the capital city, Addis Ababa. 1. Abobo Woreda (District) § is located 70:38’-80:07’ N latitude and 330:56’- 340:35’ E longitude. It has altitudes less than 500 m.a.s.l. § It has a total land area of about 329,700 ha of which about § 19,798 ha are cultivated lands § 143, 086 ha are forests of varying types § 75,227 ha are woodlands § 5,793 ha are shrub lands § 62,996 ha are grass lands § 20, 876 ha are swamps § 1,944 ha are classified as others (GNRS-BOA, 2001, WBISPP, 2001) The study contd….. n The soils of the area are mainly of nitosols, fluvisols, vertisols and acrisols n The area receives mean annual rainfall of about 1000-1600 mm n It is mono-modal n It has a mean minimum temperature of about 17.90C and a mean maximum temperature of about 35.30 C. n It has a potential evapo-transpiration of about 1500 mm. It has four dry and two moisture deficit months in a year. The six months out of the twelve are wet (EMA, 2003). The inventory was carried out at a site called Abbot . n The dominant tree species growing in the woreda are: Acacia polyacantha, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Combretum collinum, Combretum adenogonium, Commiphora confusa, Entada africana, Gardenia ternifolia, Grewia tenax, Grewia ferruginea, Lannea tripyhlla, Lannea acida, laxiflorus, Maytenus senegalensis, macroptera, Terminalia schimperiana and Tamarindus indica. Vitellaria paradoxa mainly grows in close association with tree species such as Anogeissus leiocarpus, Terminalia macroptera, Terminalia schimperiana, , and shrubs like Flueggea virosa, Teclea nobilis and Ximenia americana. Herbs, such as Aspilia sp., Commelina diffusa, Justica ladanoides and grass such as Andropogon schirensis, Cyperus amabilis, and Panicum comorense Description of the Study Sites ontd………………………………......

2. Itang Woreda (District) is located 80:05’- 80:05’ N latitude and 340:24’-340:04’ E longitude • It has altitudes less than 500 m.a.s.l. It has a total land area of about 178,448 ha of which about: • 288 ha are cultivated lands, • 782 ha are forests of varying categories • 71,312 ha are woodlands • 2848 ha are shrub lands • 46,502 ha are grass lands • 55,032 ha are swamps • 1,684 ha are classified as others (WBISPP, 2001) • The soils of the area are mainly of eutric fluvisols, eutric vertisols and dystric leptosols • The area receives mean annual rainfall of about 1200-1400 mm and it is mono-modal Description of the Study Sites Contd………………...... It has a mean minimum temperature of about 220 C and a mean maximum temperature of about 35.30 C. It has a potential evapo-transpiration of about 1500 mm. It has one dry and two moisture deficit months in a year. The nine months out of the twelve are wet (EMA, 2003). The inventory was carried out at a site called Agnota. •The dominant tree species growing in this Wereda are Combretum collinum, Ficus sur, Grewia ferruginea, Grewia tenax, Lannea triphylla, Lannea acida, Lonchocarpus laxiflorus, Maytenus senegalensis, Maytenus sp., Pterocarpus lucens, Sterculia setigera, kunthianum, Tamarindus indica, Terminalia macroptera, Vitex doniana, Terminalia schimperiana and Vitellaria paradoxa. Vitellaria paradoxa mainly grows in close association with tree species such as Terminalia macroptera, Terminalia schimperiana, Lonchocarpus laxiflorus, and shrubs such as Teclea nobilis, herbs, such as Aspilia sp., Commelina diffusa, Justica ladanoides and grasses like Andropogon schirensis, Cyperus amabilis, hyparrhenia confinis, hyparrhenia rufa and Panicum comorense. Description of the Study Sites Cont……………………………….. n The Gambella Woreda (Districts) is located 80:00’-80:15’ N latitude and 340:21’-340:35’ E longitude. n It has altitudes ranging between 500-1500 m.a.s.l n It has an area of about 294,000 ha of which about

n 2,276 ha is cultivated land

n 24,664 ha is covered with forests of different categories

n 166,998 ha is woodland

n 37,655 ha is shrub land

n 43,538 ha is grassland

n 10,112 ha is swamp and the rest

n 8,757 ha is classified as others (GNRS-BOA, 2001)

n The soils of the area are also dominated by nitosols, fluvisols, vertisols and acrisols soil types Description of the Study Sites Cont………………………..

0 n It has a mean minimum temperature of about 17.2 C and mean maximum temperature of about 37.50 C

n It has a potential evapo-transpiration of about 1560 mm. It also has four dry, two moisture deficit and six wet months in a year (EMA, 2003). The survey was done at a site called Elia

n The trees species growing in this Woreda include Combretum collinum, Ficus sur, Grewia ferruginea, Grewia tenax, Lannea triphylla, Lannea acida, Lonchocarpus laxiflorus, Maytenus senegalensis, Tamarindus indica, Pterocarpus lucens, Sterculia setigera, Maytenus sp., , Terminalia macroptera, Terminalia schimperiana etc. Vitellaria paradoxa mainly grows in close association with tree species like Grewia ferruginea, Grewia tenax, Lannea triphylla, Pterocarpus lucens, Sterculia setigera, Maytenus senegalensis, Stereospermum kunthianum, Terminalia macroptera and Terminalia schimperiana. Shrubs such as Flueggea virosa, Teclea nobilis, Ximenia americana, herbs such as Aspilia sp., Commelina diffusa, Justica ladanoides and grasses such as Andropogon schirensis, Cyperus amabilis, Hyparrhenia confinis etc. Description of the Study Sites Contd...... n Gog Woreda (District) is located 60:59’-70::43’ N latitude and 330::54’-350::02’ E longitude, bordering Sudan n It has alttudes less than 500 m.a.s.l n It has a total land area of about 701,752 ha, of which about: n 7180 ha are cultivated lands n 45,467 ha are forests of varying types n 381,836 ha are woodlands n 93,829 ha are shrub lands n 147,602 ha are grass lands n 16,932 ha are swamps n 8,906 ha are classified as others (WBISPP,2001) n The soils of the area are of nitosols, fluvisols, and vertisols and acrisols soil types Description of the Study Sites Contd…………......

n The area receives mean annual rainfall of about 1200-1600 mm and it is mono-modal n It has a mean minimum temperature of about 17.90C and a mean maximum temperature of about 35.30 C n It has a potential evapo-transpiration of about 1500-1560 mm. n It also experiences four dry, two moisture deficit months in a year. The rest six months are wet (EMA, 2003) n trees population survey was done at a place called Phugnido. n The dominant tree species growing in this Woreda are, Annona senegalensis, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Berberis holstii, Combretum adenogonium, Combretum collinum, Combretum molle, Delonix elata, Entada abyssinica, Gardenia ternifolia, Grewia bicolor, Grewia ferruginea, Grewia tenax, Lannea acida, Lannea triphylla, Lonchocarpus laxiflorus, Mitragyna inermis etc. Vitellaria paradoxa mainly grows in close association with tree species such as Anogeissus leiocarpus, Combretum collinum, Grewia tenax, Lannea acida, Lonchocarpus laxiflorus, Mitragyna inermis, Pterocarpus lucens, Sterculia setigera, Terminalia macroptera, Terminalia schimperiana. Shrubs like Flueggea virosa, Teclea nobilis, Ximenia americana, herbs such as Aspilia sp., Commelina diffusa, Justica ladanoides and grass like Andropogon schirensis, Cyperus amabilis, Hyparrhenia sp. and Panicum comorense occupy a proportion of the forest floor Ethiopia Gambella

Location of the study sites (map not to scale) Data assessment n The preliminary reconnaissance survey was done in the: n 75,227 ha woodland of Abobo n 71,312 ha woodland of Itang n 166,998 ha woodland of Gambella n 38,836 ha woodland of Gog Woredas (Districts) n The representative: n vegetation types n similar contour lines were considered as criteria for the laying of the transect lines § The direction § number of transects which were made proportional to size of each site § distance between two parallel transect lines § quadrat size § intervals between the sampling quadrats and net areas of the woodland to be surveyed were determined during the reconnaissance Data assessment

§Then, systematic sampling with random start was employed to establish the sample quadrats meant for the data collection. §23 transect lines; four at Abbot (Abobo Woreda), two at Agnota (Itang Woreda), eight at Elia (Gambella Woreda) and nine at Phugnido (Gog Woreda) were laid § The length of each transect line was maintained at 2 km §Ten sample quadrats, at an interval of hundred meters apart, having an area of 100 m x 20 m (0.2 ha.) were laid on each transect line, producing 230 effective sample quadrats, representing 46 ha of the total wood land of the four Woredas, which is about 695433 ha (Table 1). §The transect lines were kept at 1.5 km apart. A 100 m x 20 m quadrat was selected since this is the quadrat sufficient to the type of the vegetation (woodland/forest) to be surveyed and is easier to enumerate such quadrat size (Whittaker, 1978, Lim, pers. comm.). § One advantage of such small quadrat sizes is that they have usually smallest variance (Kershaw, 1973, Razali, 1980). §The transect lines were laid with the help of global positioning system (GPS), meter tape and a compass §Distances between the initial start of all transect lines and successive quadrats were logged into the GPS for further information and rechecking. Table 1:Proportion of the Woodland Areas Surveyed

Woreda Woodland Potential % Site Net % (District) (ha) area (ha) areas surveye d (ha) Abobo 75227 15000 19.9 Abbot 1532 10.2

Itang 71312 2960 4.2 Agnota 1480 50.0

Gambella 166998 22700 13.6 Elia 3052 13.4

381896 12150 3.2 Phugnido 6736 55.5 Gog Total 695433 52810 7.6 12800 24.2 Measurements n Diameter n Height n basal areas § of all woody species at breast height (dbh) ³ 3 cm (considered as trees) were undertaken in each quadrat § The dbh was taken at 1.3 meters tree height above the ground § The diameters were measured using diameter tape § The heights were measured using Sunto hypsometer § The basal areas with Spiegel Relascope § All seedlings attaining ≥1.5 -3 m in height were classified as saplings/recruits § seedlings attaining £1.5 m in height were categorized as seedlings § Eye and a meter stick, on the alternate sides of the tape, every other meter, bounded the quadrats, while taking the measurements Data Analysis n The data on the:

n estimation of the diameter

n Height

n basal area classes

n regeneration status

n abundance and the species importance value (IV) (sum of the relative abundance/density

n the relative frequency

n the relative dominance (expressed in percent) were analyzed using MS-Excel and SPSS, version 10 for Windows n The composition of the woodland was analyzed as proportion in percent of the various species in relation to the total .The percentage contribution of Vitellaria paradoxa compared to the other species was estimated as the total basal area (BA) ha-1 of each species divided by the total BA ha-1 of all species using the following formula:

n BA [m2 ha-1] = Π (dbh in cm2/200) 2*10000/plot size in m2, (WBISSP, 2000, Lovett, 2000, Palmer, 2004) n of seedlings and samplings. Data Analysis n The population structure of Vitellaria paradoxa and the other species was examined by plotting histograms for frequency distribution of the diameter, height and basal area classes of all trees occurring in the sites, each in ≥3 cm dbh size class.

n Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also used to compare the mean differences based on these quantitative variables (DBH, height and basal area) between the sites (populations)

n The comparisons were performed using Tukey’s honestly significant test (HSD) to check where the significant differences lie between the sites (populations) of both Vitellaria paradoxa and the other species n The regeneration (seedling and sapling) trend of Vitellaria paradoxa with respect to the other species and the proportion in percent of Vitellaria paradoxa composition was estimated based on the counts n Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also performed to see whether there are differences in terms of seedlings and saplings of Vitellaria paradoxa and the other species between the sites (populations)

n Comparisons were performed using Tukey’s honestly significant test (HSD) to check where the significant differences lie between the sites (populations) in terms of seedlings and samplings. Results

1. The Woodland Community Composition n A total of 5447 specimens of woody belonging to 58 species and 27 families were encountered over the 230 quadrats of the actual inventory sites (Table.2)

n Out of these, 857 specimens belonged to the species Vitellaria § 129 Vitellaria trees were counted at Abbot § 339 at Agnota § 141 at Elia § 247 at Phugnido site

n 4590 specimens belonged to the other tree species n The distribution of the other tree species encountered were:

n 823 at Abbot

n 497 at Agnota

n 1655 at Elia

n 1616 at Phugnido n The proportion (%) of all the species encountered in relation to the total, in terms of their: n relative density/abundance n relative frequency n relative dominance including their importance value (IV), expressed in percentages was as indicated in table 3. n Table 2: Woody Plants Encountered During the Inventory (page 9)

Results.doc Table 3: The Proportion of Species Encountered In Percent (page 9)

Table 3.doc n The result showed that the most dominant tree species growing in the area were: n Vitellaria paradoxa 9.9% n Anogeissus leiocarpus 9.3% n Combretum adenogonium 7.7% n Grewia tenax 6.8% n Combretum collinum 6.5% n Terminalia schimperiana 5.8% n Pterocarpus lucens 5.7% n Grewia ferruginea 4.8% n Lonchocarpus laxiflorus 4.0% n Bersema abyssinica 2.1% 1.2. The Woodland Community Structure n Size class frequency histograms of the diameter, height, and basal area per tree of Vitellaria paradoxa were also developed to examine its stand structure with respect to other woody communities. The result showed that the diameter class distribution of Vitellaria paradoxa was positively skewed. 48.54% of the trees had diameters lying above the mean, which was 31.4 cm±14.56 SD. (Figure 2). Histogram 100

80

60

40 Number of trees Number

20 Std. Dev = 14.56 Mean = 31.4 0 N = 857.00 2.5 7.5 12.5 17.5 22.5 27.5 32.5 37.5 42.5 47.5 52.5 57.5 62.5 67.5 72.5 77.5

Size class (dbh, cm)

Figure 2: Diameter Class Distribution of Vitellaria paradoxa 1.2. The Woodland Community Structure contd….. n The height class distribution of this species was also positively skewed. 40.02% of the trees had heights lying above the mean, which was 11.3 m ±3.51 SD. (Figure 3)

Histogram 300

200

100 Number of trees Number

Std. Dev = 3.51 Mean = 11.3 0 N = 857.00 2.0 6.0 10.0 14.0 18.0 22.0 26.0 30.0 4.0 8.0 12.0 16.0 20.0 24.0 28.0 32.0

Size class (Height, m) Figure 3: Height Class Distribution of Vitellaria paradoxa. 1.2. The Woodland Community Structure contd…………… n The diameter class distribution of the other species was also positively skewed. 41.30% of the trees had diameters lying above the mean, which was 21.00 cm ±11.46Histogram SD (Figure 4) 1400

1200

1000

800

600 Number of trees Number 400

Std. Dev = 11.46 200 Mean = 21.0

0 N = 4468.00 0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 5.0 15.0 25.0 35.0 45.0 55.0 65.0 75.0 85.0

Size Class (dbh, cm)

Figure 4: Diameter Class Distribution of the Other Species 1.2. The Woodland Community Structure contd……. n The height class distribution of the other species was also positively skewed. 57.36% of the trees had heights lying above the mean, which was 9.2 m ±3.50 SD (Figure 5)

Histogram 1400

1200

1000

800

600 Number of trees Number 400

Std. Dev = 3.50 200 Mean = 9.2 0 N = 4468.00 2.5 7.5 12.5 17.5 22.5 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0

Size class (Height, m)

Figure 5: Height Class Distribution of the Other Species 1.2. The Woodland Community Structure contd…………..

n The 857 trees of Vitellaria paradoxa had a mean basal area of 0.09 cm2±0.08 SD. The basal area class distribution was positively skewed. 52.27% of the trees had basal area lying above the mean (Figure 6) Histogram 300

200

Number of trees Number 100

Std. Dev = .08 Mean = .09 0 N = 857.00 0.00 .05 .10 .15 .20 .25 .30 .35 .40 .45 .50

Size class (Basal area, m2) Figure 6: Basal Area Class Distribution of Vitellaria paradoxa 1.2. The Woodland Community Structure contd…….

n The other 4468 tree species had a mean basal area of 0.04 m2 ±0.05 SD. It was positively skewed. 61.21% of the trees had basal area lying below the mean (Figure 7)

Histogram 3000

2000

1000 Number of trees of trees Number

Std. Dev = .05 Mean = .04 0 N = 4468.00 0.00 .06 .13 .19 .25 .31 .38 .44 .50 .56 .63

Size class (Basal area, m2) Figure 7: Basal Area Class Distribution of the Other Species 1.2. The Woodland Community Structure contd n The total mean basal area of the 857 trees of Vitellaria paradoxa was estimated at

n about 77.13 m2 (1.68 m2 ha-1)

n it was about 178.72 m2 (3.89 m2 ha-1) for the 4468 trees species of the other categories n Vitellaria paradoxa constituting

n 30.15% n trees species of the other categories constituting

n 69.85% of the total stand of the surveyed areas, respectively 1.3 Analysis of variance (ANOVA) n Analysis of variance (ANOVA) n ANOVA on the diameter, height and basal area of Vitellaria paradoxa showed that there were significant differences at P<0.01, in means, in terms of diameter at breast height, height and basal areas between the sites (populations) (Table 4) Table 4: ANOVA on the mean Diameter, Height and Basal Area of Vitellaria paradoxa

Population Dbh Ht Ba Population Df MS F MS F MS F

Population 3 5004.3 25.63* 241.04 20.91** 1267246.9 21.45** 2 *

Trees 854 195.24 11.48 589483.5 21.45** Total 21.45**

**Mean values are significantly different at p<0.01, HSD Mean separation n Figures 8, 9 and 10 show the results of the mean separations between the sites (populations) in terms of diameter at breast height, height and basal areas, respectively. The error bars show ± SD.

16.00 45.00 14.00 A 40.00 B 35.00 A A A 12.00 B C ) 30.00 10.00 B 25.00 8.00 20.00 Height (m) Height 6.00

Diameter (cm Diameter 15.00 4.00 10.00 2.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 Abbot Agnota Elia Phugnido Abbot Agnota Elia Phugnido Sites Sites

*Means with the same letter are not significantly *Means with the same letter are not significantly different at p<0.05, HSD different at p<0.05, HSD Figure 8:Mean Values on the DBH V. paradoxa of the Four Figure 9: Mean Values on the Height of V. paradoxa of the Four Sites (Populations Sites (Populations)

1600.00

1400.00

1200.00 A A A 1000.00

800.00 B 600.00 Basal area Basal(cm2) area Figure 10: Mean Values on the Basal 400.00 Area of V. paradoxa of the Four Sites 200.00 (Populations) 0.00 Abbot Agnota Elia Phugnido Sites

*Means with the same letter are not significantly different at p<0.05, HSD Analysis of variance (ANOVA)

n The ANOVA on the diameter at breast height, height and basal area of the other tree species also showed that there were significant differences at P< 0.01, in means, in terms of diameter at breast height, height and basal areas between the four sites (populations) (Table 5)

Table 5: ANOVA on the Diameter, Height and Basal Areas of the Other Species Population Dbh Ht Ba Population Df MS F MS F MS F

Population 3 7817.64 58.12** 1074.43 8.21** 9896597 37.93**

Trees 4465 134.52 130.89 260889

Total 4468 *Means with the same letter are not significantly different at P<0.05, HSD Mean separation

n The mean separation test of Dbh, Ht and Ba of the Other Species also showed that the differences were significant, P<0.05. Figures 11, 12 & 13 show the results of the mean separations between the sites (populations)

14.00

30 12.00 A 10.00 B 25 A C C B 8.00 20 C D 6.00 15 (m) Height 4.00

Diameter(cm) 10 2.00

5 0.00 Abbot Agnota Elia Phugnido 0 Sites Abbot Agnota Elia Phugnido Sites *Means are significantly different at P<0.05, HSD *Means with the same letter are not significantly different at P<0.05, HSD Figure 11:Mean Values on the Figure 12:Mean Values on the Height of the Other Diameter at Breast Height of the Species of the Four Sites (populations) Other Species of the fou sites

(populations) 700.00

600.00 A B ) 500.00 2

400.00 C D 300.00

Basalarea (cm 200.00

100.00

0.00 Abbot Agnota Elia Phugnido Sites

*Means are significantly different at P<0.05, HSD Figure 13:Mean Values on the Basal Area of the Other Species of the Four sites (Populations) 2. The Regeneration Trend of Vitellaria paradoxa n A total of 6814 seedlings belonging to: n 27 species and 17 families

n Comprising of 823 germinant (532 seedlings & 291 saplings) of Vitellaria paradoxa n 5991 germinant (2210 seedlings & 3781 saplings) of the other tree species were encountered

n over a total of 188 quadrats of 0.2 ha each, distributed in the four sites (populations) (Abbot, Agnota, Elia and Phugnido (Table 6).

Table 6.doc Seedlings and Saplings Encountered Within the Four Sites (Populations) (page 20-21) 2. The Regeneration Trend of Vitellaria paradoxa

This sum indicated that 64.6% of the germinant of V.paradoxa were

n at seedling stage

n 35.4% of the recruits were at sapling

n 36.8% of the germinant of the other tree species were at seedling stage

n 63.2% were at sapling

n This in turn represented a distribution of 14 & 8 seedlings and saplings of V.paradoxa ha-1 respectively

n It was 58 & 100 seedling and saplings ha-1 for the other trees species respectively

n The percentage contribution of these recruitments to the total woody species was estimated at about 12.08% for V. paradoxa

n at 87.92% for the other species Table 7: Distribution of Seedlings and Sapling of V. Paradoxa and the Other species in the Four Sites

Vitellaria paradoxa Other Species Categor Number Total Seedlings Saplings Seedlings Saplings y/Sites of plots number counted counted counted counted (0.2 ha) (ha) Abbot 27 5.4 76 42 317 543

Agnota 16 3.2 45 25 188 322

Elia 72 14.4 204 111 846 1448

Phugnid 73 14.6 207 113 858 1468 o Total 188 37.6 532 291 2210 3781 DISCUSSION n The proportion of V. paradoxa was only about 9.9% of the total stands, while n 90.1% of the stands belonged to the other species n The dbh class distribution of V.paradoxa also showed that 48.54% of the trees had diameters above the mean, belonging to the larger/older dbh class, while the dbh class distribution of the other species was only 41.30% n only 40.02% of the V,paradoxa tree species had heights above the mean, whereas 57.36% of the other tree species had crown emergence above the mean. Showing the gradual replacement of V.paradoxa by other tree species n The total mean basal area for the 857 trees of V. paradoxa was estimated at about 77.13 m2 (1.68 m2 ha-1) and the total mean basal area for the 4468 other trees species was estimated at about 178.72 m2 (3.89 m2 ha-1), constituting 30.15% and 69.85% cover of the total inventoried areas respectively DISCUSSION contd… n The seedlings and the saplings of V. paradoxa were at an approximate ratio of 2:1, suggesting that the seedling and sapling population demography of V.paradoxa is at a fairly better state, compared to the other tree species which was in the ratio of 1:2 (Table 6). This renders V. paradoxa stands to improve with a fairly small management However, the approximate estimate of the 1:1 between the encountered trees (857) and the regeneration (832) of V. paradoxa indicated that the regeneration of this species is very low n The stocking rate of the populations also showed that there were only 18 trees ha-1 compared to 20-25 ha-1, for Uganda (Master, 1992). CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS n The assessment result showed that: n The proportion of the relative density of V.paradoxa was only 9.9% of the total woody species n Closer to 50% of the trees were dominant/aged n The regeneration status of the species was also very compared to the other species n There are many observable causes for the low population of V.paradoxa But: n , human pressure n wildfire n agriculture n settlement n draught are by far the most important n Given the environmental and anthropological constraints observed, it is unlikely that the demographic nature of V.paradoxa will be reversed shortly n Thus, it is recommended: n that the viable alternative of improvement to V.paradoxa development will come only from optimizing the opportunities available with the beneficiaries living around the forest, and initiating a thorough domestication and propagation programs complimenting the farmers’ own way of managing the trees together with the two complimentary strategies viz in-situ and ex-situ conservation approaches