Kacholi, David Sylvester2021-03-172021-03-172020-09-30http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/5546Kimboza forest reserve is recognized as an IUCN category IV-habitat and species management area, but the information on population structure, harvesting rate and regeneration status of four commercial woody species, namely; Khaya anthotheca, Milicia excelsa, Pterocarpus angolensis and Dalbergia melanoxylon in the forest are lacking. This study, therefore, aims to fill this gap. A total of five transects were established in the forest whereby within each transect, five nested quadrats of 20 m × 20 m were placed at 200 m distance for sampling stems with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 10 cm and stumps of the target species. Stems with DBH <10 cm were counted in a quadrat of 5 m × 5 m placed within the big quadrat. The findings show that density of stems & harvesting rate for Khaya anthotheca, Milicia excelsa, Pterocarpus angolensis and Dalbergia melanoxylon were 4.8 stems/ha & 6.6 stumps/ha, 12.6 stems/ha & 3.4 stumps/ha, 16.0 stems/ha & 2.8 stumps/ha, and 5.6 stems/ha & 1.2 stumps/ha, respectively. The DBH class distribution for Khaya anthotheca, Milicia excelsa and Pterocarpus angolensis displayed a good regeneration pattern, however, the last two were interrupted in high size classes. The Dalbergia melanoxylon revealed a poor regeneration pattern. The study recommends that illegal harvest of the species should be controlled, environmental education be provided to locals, and stringent measures be institutionalized against illegal loggers.DBH classesExploitation rateKimbozaStand densityTropical forestsJournal Article, Peer Reviewedhttps://doi.org/10.22271/2582-3744.2020.sep.94