International Journal of Environmental Sciences Borokini et. al., Vol.1 No.2 ISSN: 2277-1948 (A peer reviewed International Journal) Tropical Montane Forest Biodiversity in Nigeria – Case Study of Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve, Mambilla Plateau nternational Journal of Environmental Sciences, Vol. 1 No. 2. pp.95-104 2277-1948. 2012 ISSN 2277 – 1948 Article type Full Length Research Article Submission date 29 February 2012 Acceptance date 30 March 2012 Publication date 15 April 2012 Article URL http://www.crdeep.org/category/ijes Authors 1*Temitope I. Borokini, 2Fola D. Babalola, 3Tajudeen O. Amusa, 4Samuel T. Ivande, 4Zingfa J. Wala, 5Oluwabunmi O. Jegede, 6Dauda Tanko and 7Jerome O. Ihuma This peer-reviewed article was published immediately upon acceptance. It can be downloaded, printed and distributed freely for any purposes from CRDEEP website. Hard copy of Journal is also available on request. For information about publishing your research in CRDEEP International Journals please visit our website www.crdeep.org © 2012. All Rights Reserved by CRDEEP CRDEEP Head Office: 315/10, Kaulagarh Road, Rajendranagar, Indervihar, Dehradun, 248001, Uttrakhand, India. Online version is available at: www.crdeep.org International Journal of Environmental Sciences Borokini et. al., Vol.1 No.2 ISSN: 2277-1948 International Journal of Environmental Sciences Vol.1 No.2. 2012. Pp. 95-104 ©Copyright by CRDEEP. All Rights Reserved Full Length Research Paper Tropical Montane Forest Biodiversity in Nigeria – Case Study of Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve, Mambilla Plateau 1*Temitope I. Borokini, 2Fola D. Babalola, 3Tajudeen O. Amusa, 4Samuel T. Ivande, 4Zingfa J. Wala, 5Oluwabunmi O. Jegede, 6Dauda Tanko and 7Jerome O. Ihuma 1National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, P.M.B 5382, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria 2Department of Forest Management and Policy, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria 3Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), New Bussa, Nigeria 4AP Leventis Ornithological Research Insitute (APLORI), Jos, Nigeria 5Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), Lagos, Nigeria 6Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, 7Department of Biological Sciences, Bingham University, Nigeria *Corresponding Author: Temitope I. Borokini ABSTRACT In the recent years, attention has been drawn to montane vegetations due to their biodiversity, high level of endemics and very low range of climatic conditions in which they can survive. Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve is a tropical montane forest located on the Mambilla Plateau, Northeastern Nigeria. It was noted for its biodiversity and the significant number of highly endangered and endemic species. The authors explored the biodiversity of Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve and other fringing forests in Mambilla Plateau and this paper reported the biodiversity, climate, soil, anthropology, history of botanical collections and conservation status of Mambilla Plateau, with more focus on Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve. The economic and ecological significance of this forest reserve was also discussed. The success of community forestry through the establishment of Eucalyptus plantations in this area was also noted. The present threats to biodiversity conservation of Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve were discussed and immediate attention to these threats was advocated. Keywords: Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve, Mambilla Plateau, Biodiversity, Montane forest, conservation. INTRODUCTION MAMBILLA PLATEAU A large fraction of the world’s most precious gene pools (for Mambilla Plateau is the highest plateau in Nigeria, with a agriculture and medicine) are preserved in mountains (Spehn mean altitude of about 1524metres (5000 feet) above the sea et al. 2010). Major crops (maize, potatoes, barley, sorghum, level, but some hills are as high as 1828 metres (5997 feet) tomatoes, beans and apples) have been diversified in above the sea level and some mountains are even above mountains and an array of domestic animals (sheep, goats, 2000m (6562 feet) above sea level (asl), like Chappal Waddi yaks, Ilama and alpaca) have originated or diversified in mountain averaging about 2419m (7936 feet) asl, which is the mountains (Spehn et al. 2010). Other crops such as rye, wheat, highest mountain in Nigeria. The Plateau covers an area of rice, oats and grapes have found new homes in the mountains 9389 square kilometers (3625sq. miles), found in Southeastern and evolved into many varieties. Coffee and tea, with their part of Taraba state of Nigeria, under Sardauna Local roots in Ethiopia and the Himalayan region, are mountain Government Area; sharing border with Cameroon. It contains crops as well. Medicinal plants are one of the most valuable several afromontane forest fringes scattered spread across the resources from high altitudes. Mountains support about one plateau and also harbouring a lot of wild animals. Hepper quarter of terrestrial biological diversity, with nearly half of (1968) have emphasized the international significance of the the world’s biodiversity hotspots concentrated in mountains North Eastern Nigerian montane flora, when he noted a high (Spehn et al. 2010). However, A complete biological proportion of endemic species in the montane grassland. inventory of the world’s mountains does not exist yet, with a Several plant collectors have visited the plateau making a lot conservative estimate of the world’s mountain plant species is of collections, many of which are new to the already 50,000 species of flowering plants (out of total about 260,000) established Flora of Nigeria and West Africa. Figure 1 (Spehn et al. 2010). illustrates the location of Mambilla Plateau in Nigeria. Online version is available at: www.crdeep.org 95 International Journal of Environmental Sciences Borokini et. al., Vol.1 No.2 ISSN: 2277-1948 Figure 1. Map of Mambilla Plateau, Taraba State, Nigeria Climate Soil Mambilla Plateau has a comparatively cold climate. The The grassland soils of Mambilla are humid ferrisols (Mould climate on this Plateau is of the mountain climate type, which 1960). The soils derived from volcanic rocks are mainly silty is semi-temperate in nature. Day time temperature on the loams with acidity (pH 5.6 – 6.0, decreasing with depth) from Mambilla Plateau hardly exceeds 25°C (77°F), making it the those derived from basement rocks. The soils from the coldest Plateau region in Nigeria. Strong winds prevail basement rocks are a paler reddish brown with a relatively throughout the day, and the rainy season lasts from the middle high quartz content and correspondingly low Base Exchange of March until close on the end of December. The rainy Capacity and little ability to hold nutrients or moisture. On the season on the Mambilla Plateau is associated with heavy and contrary, the soils of volcanic rocks have a slightly better regular rains. This has been attributed to the relative steepness nutrient status and higher clay content with a greater ability to of the southwestern escarpment of the Plateau which comes in retain moisture. The soils are sandy loam in the hills and forest direct contact with the southwestern monsoonal winds from soils in the forest fringes. Furthermore, the topography of the the South Atlantic Ocean in southern Nigeria during the rainy site is characterized by hills covered by montane grasslands season from March to mid-December. The winds are forced to and very steep slopes, interlocking spurs and valleys rise on coming in contact with the South Western escarpment characterized by the forest fringes and fragments. In addition, of the Plateau which rises from a height of 200 metres (656 some large boulders are found on the hills, while some of the feet) in the nearby plains to over 1524 metres (5000 feet) at hills are rocky. the top of the Plateau resulting in heavy rainfalls experienced on the Plateau during the rainy season. Rainfall is excess on At Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve, there are some large rocks the plateau and over 3000 mm (118.1 in) is thought to fall in inside the forests which are catchment areas for close to ten the contiguous Chappal Waddi mountain area part of the spring water that run as streams and rivers within the forests Mambilla Plateau mountain chain. Rainy season lasts for an and across the valleys. Owing to the cold weather of the place, average of 250 days, from March to October (Iyamabo et al. the spring water is always very cold. 1972). Mean annual rainfall exceeds 1780mm with peaks in June/July and September. The dry season lasts for about three Anthropology of Mambilla Plateau months between November and February. The area is populated by Mambilla people and Fulani herders. The Mambilla People are primarily farmers. Yelwa village Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve shares similar climatic conditions appears to be the closest to the Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve, a with other areas of the Plateau, having a very cold weather for distance of about 40 minutes trekking. They cultivate maize greater part of the year, often worse in the rainy season. Dry for corn flour meal (tuwo). Mairiga (pers. comm.) stated that season is characterized by cold morning and evening with ‘Nyaki’ means ‘bean’, suggesting that they might have been mild afternoon sunshine and winds. Rainy season is often cultivating beans in the past. The major agricultural crops here characterized by torrential rains, very cold weather and less are coffee and tea, which are cultivated and sold in large sunshine. quantities. Mambilla Plateau is the home to Nigeria and West Africa’s only highland tea plantations. Towns on the Mambilla Plateau are small with populations