TY - JOUR T1 - The Impacts of Land Use and Forest Activities on Tree Species Composition and Structure on the Edges of Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda AU - Buyinza, Patrick AU - Ndemere, Peter AU - Tumwebaze, Susan B. AU - Kimondo, James Munga AU - Abohassan, Refaat Atalla Ahmed AU - Okia, Clement Akais AU - Agea, Jacob Godfrey AU - Obua, Joseph JO - Botany Research Journal VL - 3 IS - 1 SP - 7 EP - 13 PY - 2010 DA - 2001/08/19 SN - 1995-4751 DO - brj.2010.7.13 UR - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=brj.2010.7.13 KW - tree species composition KW -forest edge KW -land use KW -Budongo KW -structure KW -practice AB - The impact of land use activities on tree species composition, structure and diversity in and around Budongo Forest Reserve was assessed in August and September 2000. Forty plots measuring 50x50 m were laid at 100 m intervals along 1,000 m transects originating from each land use type activity and the number, species, diameter at breast height (dbh) and height of trees ≥10 cm recorded. The land use/forest activities considered were farming, settlement, charcoal production and harvesting of timber, firewood and building poles. One way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test and Shannon-Weaner diversity index were used to analyse the data. It was found that different land use activities have affected forest tree species abundance (H = 24.77, p = 0.001), composition (F = 2.87, p = 0.047) and structure (dbh: F = 3.82, p = 0.018 and height: F = 1.63, p = 0.039). Timber harvesting had the least negative effect on tree species diversity (H’ = 2.8016) and the highest negative effect on forest structure (average dbh = 33.06 cm; average height = 22.06 m). Farming had the highest negative effect on tree species diversity (H’ = 2.57) and the lowest negative effect on forest structure (average dbh = 39.11 cm; average height = 25.18 m). It is recommended that the effect of land use practices on the forest fringes should be monitored and a methodology for an integrated land use-forest management plan developed. ER -