Assessing forest structure and regeneration in Budongo Central Forest Reserve, Western Uganda.

Abstract

Tropical forests are important ecosystems that are currently facing a change in structure, diversity and abundance. Forest ecosystems have greatly been altered as a result of natural and human disturbances, most especially logging. This study investigated the impact of selective logging on forest structure and regeneration in Budongo Central Forest Reserve (CFR). Selective logging, while considered a more sustainable alternative to clear-cutting, has been widely practiced in tropical forests, including Budongo CFR, and is known to cause changes in species composition, canopy structure, and regeneration patterns. Data was collected from a total of 60 plots with each compartment having 30 plots. Each plot measured 20 x 20 meters, with subplots of 1 x 1 meters and 5 x 5 meters nested within the main plots to assess seedlings and saplings respectively, Key parameters assessed included diameter at breast height (DBH), bole height, species identification, seedling and sapling counts, and canopy openness. The results of this study indicated no significant difference (p=0.2415) in the canopy structure between the two compartments, the mean bole height across the diameter classes in the logged compartment was higher compared to the unlogged compartment, there was a significance difference (p=0.0161) in regeneration between compartments and species richness was higher in the logged compartment. There should be a focus on balancing structural stability and ecological functionality with deliberate interventions to support regeneration due to the weak regeneration signals that could affect the future.