Greener
Journal of  Agricultural Sciences
Vol. 2 (8), pp.406-411,
December
2012

 ISSN: 2276-7770 

Research
Paper

Manuscript Number:110912243

 

Key livelihood tree species in Omo Biosphere Reserve: a
preliminary documentation towards the investigation of
land use change impact on key livelihood tree
populations

 

Chima, U.D., Adedire, M.O., Aduradola, A.M., and Agboola,
D.A.

 

 

Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty
of Agriculture,

University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, College
of Environmental Resources Management, Federal
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural
Sciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta,
Nigeria  

Corresponding Author’s email: punditzum @ yahoo.ca;
Mobile phone:

 +234-803-812-1887

Abstract: 

The study documented and prioritized key livelihood tree
species in Omo Biosphere Reserve, Nigeria as a preliminary
step towards the evaluation of land use change impact on key
livelihood tree populations. Data were collected using
structured questionnaire administered to two hundred
randomly selected adults resident in the reserve. A total of
thirty-eight key livelihood tree species were documented and
prioritized. The highly ranked among the species include
Khaya ivorensis (1st), Nauclea diderrichii (2nd), Terminalia
ivorensis (3rd), Cordia millenii (4th), and Alstonia boonei
(5th). The lowly ranked include Daniella ogea (33rd),
Cleistopholis patens and Tectona grandis (34th), Terminalia
catappa (36th), and Parinari sp. /Chrysophyllum albidum
(37th). These species were prominent because of their
usefulness in various aspects of rural livelihood including
food, shelter, medicine, fuel-wood for cooking, and income
generation. Given the high spate of deforestation and land
conversion in the reserve, the need for further studies to
ascertain the impact of land use change on the populations
of the key livelihood tree species and probable consequences
for their conservation, is emphasized.
 
Keywords: Rural livelihood, trees, land use change,
biosphere reserve

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