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Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Human-Induced Changes in Woody Plant Diversity and Structure in Mbiwe Forest Reserve, Tanzania: Implications for Forest Quality and Conservation

Robert Gordon Mwangosi*,  Japhet Noah Mwambusi,  Elifuraha Elisha Njoghomi,  Ezekiel Edward Mwakalukwa
Published in American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 14, Issue 1)
Received: 23 December 2025     Accepted: 7 January 2026     Published: 2 February 2026
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Abstract

The increasing demands for land and wood resources is threatening the existence of many species both flora and fauna, causing massive loss of biodiversity in many countries including Tanzania. This study assessed the effects of anthropogenic activities on woody species richness, diversity, and structure in Mbiwe forest reserve located in Chunya district, Tanzania. Specifically, the study i) compare species composition and diversity as well as ii) structural attributes between disturbed and undisturbed areas. Vegetation data for adult trees (Dbh ≥ 4 cm), saplings (Dbh 1< 4 cm), regenerants (Dbh < 1 cm), and stumps were collected from 50 rectangular sample plots (50 m × 20  m) established in the forest area of 49,147.7 ha. The results indicate that undisturbed areas exhibited higher values as compared to disturbed areas. In undisturbed areas, species richness was 71, Hʹ = 3.68, density = 868 ± 588 stem/ha, basal area =8.75 ± 4.95 m²/ha, and volume = 73.61 ± 44.68 m3/ha. The area registered only 13 ± 10 stem/ha for stumps unlike 263 ± 88 stem/ha in the disturbed areas. Areas close to the town centers shows high rate of degradation than those found away from the centers. Law enforcement among other protection measures is recommended to safeguard the existing biodiversity in the reserve.

Published in American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 14, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajaf.20261401.15
Page(s) 39-50
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group
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Keywords

Anthropogenic Activities, Biodiversity Loss, Miombo Woodland, Town Centers, Wood Volume Removal

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    Mwangosi, R. G., Mwambusi, J. N., Njoghomi, E. E., Mwakalukwa, E. E. (2026). Human-Induced Changes in Woody Plant Diversity and Structure in Mbiwe Forest Reserve, Tanzania: Implications for Forest Quality and Conservation. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 14(1), 39-50. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20261401.15

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    ACS Style

    Mwangosi, R. G.; Mwambusi, J. N.; Njoghomi, E. E.; Mwakalukwa, E. E. Human-Induced Changes in Woody Plant Diversity and Structure in Mbiwe Forest Reserve, Tanzania: Implications for Forest Quality and Conservation. Am. J. Agric. For. 2026, 14(1), 39-50. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20261401.15

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    AMA Style

    Mwangosi RG, Mwambusi JN, Njoghomi EE, Mwakalukwa EE. Human-Induced Changes in Woody Plant Diversity and Structure in Mbiwe Forest Reserve, Tanzania: Implications for Forest Quality and Conservation. Am J Agric For. 2026;14(1):39-50. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20261401.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajaf.20261401.15,
  author = {Robert Gordon Mwangosi and Japhet Noah Mwambusi and Elifuraha Elisha Njoghomi and Ezekiel Edward Mwakalukwa},
  title = {Human-Induced Changes in Woody Plant Diversity and Structure in Mbiwe Forest Reserve, Tanzania: Implications for Forest Quality and Conservation},
  journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
  volume = {14},
  number = {1},
  pages = {39-50},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20261401.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20261401.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20261401.15},
  abstract = {The increasing demands for land and wood resources is threatening the existence of many species both flora and fauna, causing massive loss of biodiversity in many countries including Tanzania. This study assessed the effects of anthropogenic activities on woody species richness, diversity, and structure in Mbiwe forest reserve located in Chunya district, Tanzania. Specifically, the study i) compare species composition and diversity as well as ii) structural attributes between disturbed and undisturbed areas. Vegetation data for adult trees (Dbh ≥ 4 cm), saplings (Dbh 13/ha. The area registered only 13 ± 10 stem/ha for stumps unlike 263 ± 88 stem/ha in the disturbed areas. Areas close to the town centers shows high rate of degradation than those found away from the centers. Law enforcement among other protection measures is recommended to safeguard the existing biodiversity in the reserve.},
 year = {2026}
}

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  • TY  - JOUR
T1  - Human-Induced Changes in Woody Plant Diversity and Structure in Mbiwe Forest Reserve, Tanzania: Implications for Forest Quality and Conservation
AU  - Robert Gordon Mwangosi
AU  - Japhet Noah Mwambusi
AU  - Elifuraha Elisha Njoghomi
AU  - Ezekiel Edward Mwakalukwa
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PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20261401.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajaf.20261401.15
T2  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
JF  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
JO  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
SP  - 39
EP  - 50
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8591
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20261401.15
AB  - The increasing demands for land and wood resources is threatening the existence of many species both flora and fauna, causing massive loss of biodiversity in many countries including Tanzania. This study assessed the effects of anthropogenic activities on woody species richness, diversity, and structure in Mbiwe forest reserve located in Chunya district, Tanzania. Specifically, the study i) compare species composition and diversity as well as ii) structural attributes between disturbed and undisturbed areas. Vegetation data for adult trees (Dbh ≥ 4 cm), saplings (Dbh 13/ha. The area registered only 13 ± 10 stem/ha for stumps unlike 263 ± 88 stem/ha in the disturbed areas. Areas close to the town centers shows high rate of degradation than those found away from the centers. Law enforcement among other protection measures is recommended to safeguard the existing biodiversity in the reserve.
VL  - 14
IS  - 1
ER  -

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