Forest Structure and Climate Change Mitigation Potential: A Case of Wilolesi and Ikonongo Forested Hills in Iringa Municipality, Tanzania

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorFundisha, Evarist
dc.date.accessioned2021-02-17T08:03:40Z
dc.date.available2021-02-17T08:03:40Z
dc.date.issued2021-02
dc.description.abstractVegetation plays major roles in carbon storage and ecosystem functioning by modifying the rate of carbon fluxes thereby mitigating climate change. However, the focus of assessing the potentials for different vegetation on climate change mitigation has for so long been conducted outside cities, towns and municipalities. This study was conducted in Wilolesi and Ikonongo hills located in Iringa as representative of the Municipality forested hills in Tanzania to assess vegetation structure and their potential for climate change mitigation. Random sampling technique was employed to establish 20 rectangular plots of 20 m x 40 m (0.08 ha) in each hill to determine plant species composition, richness, diversity, vegetation structure and above ground carbon (AGC). R-statistical software was used to compute Shannon-Wiener diversity indices, species richness and the above ground carbon. Results indicated high species diversity ranging from 3.5 to 4.1 for Ikonongo and Willolesi hills, respectively based on Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H’). We recorded 255 plant species (114 tree species, 51 shrub species, 2 sedge species, 66 herb species, 15 grass species and 7 climbers) in 60 families. Based on Important Value Index (IVI), Brachystegia spiciformis Benth (10.435) and Julbernardia globiflora Benth (4.555) were important species in Wilolesi and Ikonongo forested hills. There was a significant difference on the AGC between Ikonongo (3.12 t/ha) and Wilolesi (8.33 t/ha) (t = 1.83, p = < 0.004). Results have an implication for dedicating more efforts on the management of forest landscapes for biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and provision of other ecosystem services. It is recommended that there should be detailed study for all forested hills in Iringa Municipality for proper forest management initiatives.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipMUCEen_US
dc.identifier.issn0856-1761
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/5538
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.subjectClimate change mitigation potential; forest structure; forested hillsen_US
dc.titleForest Structure and Climate Change Mitigation Potential: A Case of Wilolesi and Ikonongo Forested Hills in Iringa Municipality, Tanzaniaen_US
dc.typeJournal Article, Peer Revieweden_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Fundisha et al., 2021.pdf
Size:
553.32 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Main article
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Department of Geography