Environmental Determinants of Woody Species Distribution Patterns in Agoro Agu Central Forest Reserve, Northern Ugandae
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Abstract
Woody plant species distribution patterns are associated with a number of complex and interacting variables of
both the natural environment and human-made changes to the local environment. This study assessed the influence
of the environmental and human-induced factors on the distribution patterns of woody plant species in and around
Agoro-Agu Central Forest Reserve in northern Uganda. Data was collected from 216 plots measuring 20 × 20 m laid
along 20 transect lines of 1 km each. Correlations between species occurrence and the environmental variables was
assessed using Canonical Correspondence Analysis. A total of 93 woody species in 62 genera and 31 families were
included in the dataset. Results showed a signifificant (P=0.002) correlation between the woody species abundance
and environmental variables in the forest reserve and farmland. Soil types, slope, fire, and livestock grazing were the
crucial factors for the woody species distribution patterns. The study suggests that woody plant species distribution
is the result of an interaction of socioeconomic and natural factors. The paper recommends that the observed
differences in the woody plant species distribution patterns in relation to environmental and human-induced
variables need to be taken into consideration when planning conservation strategies for the Forest Reserve.
