Tree Species Diversity within Kaduna State College of Education (KSCOE) Gidan Waya, Nigeria

Abstract

Vegetation is an important component of the ecosystem that provides habitat for wildlife and maintains the functioning of the ecosystem. Trees play a vital role in the interconnected system of life on earth such as control of soil erosion, watershed management, windbreak and shelterbelt, desertification control and climate change mitigation. The ever increasing demand for the establishment of higher institutions of learning due to high population growth causes the depletion of tree species density and diversity in Nigeria. However, this study assesses the diversity of tree species in Kaduna State College of Education Gidan Waya with a view to providing information for sustainable management and conservation of the remaining vegetation resources. Stratified sampling design was used to group the study area into three land use types, namely: Plantation, Built-up Areas and Farmland. Data for this study were collected from 24 temporary sample plots of 20 × 20m laid out systematically across the study sites. The laying of the sampling plots was based on the extent of the land use type in the study area. Within each plot, tree species density and diversity, height, dbh were obtained. Trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 10 cm were identified and their dbh measured. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 217 individual stands of woody species were identified and enumerated within Kaduna State College of Education Gidan Waya, representing forty (40) species of trees which cut across twenty (20) family and thirty eight (38) genera. Gmelina arborea had the highest density of 240, followed by Parkia biglobosa (94). It was recommended that farming, woodfuel collection, timber extraction, bush burning and grazing of livestock be prevented in the Campus in order to allow indigenous species to strive well and trees should be planted in the affected areas.