Phyto-Sociological Attributes, Ecosystem Services and Conservation Dynamics of Three Protected Forests in Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem of Nigeria

Abstract

This study aimed at determining ecosystem services and conservation dynamics of three protected forests in Nigeria. Using simple sampling technique, 24 plots with 25 m2 were established in these protected forests to facilitate data collection. A total of 370 individual trees per hectare, disproportionately distributed between 53 different species in 25 families, were encountered in Omo biosphere reserve (BR) while 381 stems in 63 species in 24 families in strict nature reserve (SNR) and Okomu national park (NP) recorded 352 individual stems, 59 species, and 25 families. The three protected forests had high tree species diversity index (Shannon-Wiener diversity index of 3.19 for Omo BR, 3.90 for Akure SNR, and 3.45 for Okomu NP). The values for basal area (36.63, 72.39, and 32.47 m2), volume (427.08, 929.05, and 366.71 m3), above-ground biomass (153.20, 316.73, and 353.92 ton), below-ground biomass (30.64, 63.35, and 190.04 ton), and total carbon stock (70.78, 91.92, and 212.35 ton) for Omo BR, Akure SNR, and Okomu NP, respectively. This study serves as baseline information for management of protected forests in Nigeria and it shows the potential of in-situ conservation for the dynamism of the ecosystem services.