TY - JOUR
T1 - CONSERVATION POTENTIALS, TREE SPECIES DIVERSITY, DISTRIBUTION AND STRUCTURE OF SACRED GROVES IN SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA
AU - Onyekwelu, J. C.
AU - Agbelade, A. D.
AU - Tolorunju, M. S.
AU - Lawal, A.
AU - Stimm, B.
AU - Mosandl, R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Forest Research Institute Malaysia.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Though sacred groves were not originally established for biodiversity conservation purposes, they have contributed largely to biodiversity conservation. The distribution of sacred groves in south-western Nigeria was investigated and examined for biodiversity conservation potentials. Four sacred groves (Osun-Osogbo, Igbo-Olodumare, Idanre hills and Ogun-Onire) were selected for this study. Data were collected from 32 temporary sample plots of 20 m x 40 m. Nineteen sacred groves were identified across south-western Nigeria. A total of 37 families were enumerated within the four groves, with 32, 26, 22 and 22 families occurring in Ogun-Onire, Idanre Hills, Osun-Osogbo and Igbo-Olodumare, respectively. A pooled total of 141 tree species (41 to 85 per grove) were encountered in the four sacred groves, with Ogun-Onire having a significantly higher number of species than the other groves. Tree density ranged from 1427 to 4825 ha-1. Shannon-Wiener diversity index (2.63 to 3.55) was significantly different in the four groves, with Igbo-Olodumare and Ogun-Onire having the lowest and highest values, respectively. When compared to the biodiversity indices of some tropical rainforests, the results indicated that sacred groves have high potentials for biodiversity conservation and thus could serve as reservoir of biodiversity.
AB - Though sacred groves were not originally established for biodiversity conservation purposes, they have contributed largely to biodiversity conservation. The distribution of sacred groves in south-western Nigeria was investigated and examined for biodiversity conservation potentials. Four sacred groves (Osun-Osogbo, Igbo-Olodumare, Idanre hills and Ogun-Onire) were selected for this study. Data were collected from 32 temporary sample plots of 20 m x 40 m. Nineteen sacred groves were identified across south-western Nigeria. A total of 37 families were enumerated within the four groves, with 32, 26, 22 and 22 families occurring in Ogun-Onire, Idanre Hills, Osun-Osogbo and Igbo-Olodumare, respectively. A pooled total of 141 tree species (41 to 85 per grove) were encountered in the four sacred groves, with Ogun-Onire having a significantly higher number of species than the other groves. Tree density ranged from 1427 to 4825 ha-1. Shannon-Wiener diversity index (2.63 to 3.55) was significantly different in the four groves, with Igbo-Olodumare and Ogun-Onire having the lowest and highest values, respectively. When compared to the biodiversity indices of some tropical rainforests, the results indicated that sacred groves have high potentials for biodiversity conservation and thus could serve as reservoir of biodiversity.
KW - Anthropogenic influences
KW - biodiversity indices
KW - conservation measures
KW - regeneration potentials
KW - traditional method
KW - tropical rainforest
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85135334418&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.26525/jtfs2022.34.3.333
DO - 10.26525/jtfs2022.34.3.333
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85135334418
SN - 0128-1283
VL - 34
SP - 333
EP - 345
JO - Journal of Tropical Forest Science
JF - Journal of Tropical Forest Science
IS - 3
ER -