Double jeopardy: bark harvest for malaria treatment and poor regeneration threaten tree population in a tropical forest of Uganda
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Journal of Ecology
Abstract
Several forest plants known to supply medicine are under
pressure worldwide. We carried out a study of four tree
species (Warburgia ugandensis Sprague, Fleroya rubrostipulata
(K.Schum.) Y.F.Deng, Syzygium guineense DC. and
Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl.) that are highly demanded
for malaria treatment. The study was undertaken between
2006 and 2009 in the Sango Bay Forest Reserve, southern
Uganda. The aim was to determine the conservation status
of trees targeted for malaria treatment. We assessed the
level of damage inflicted on trees during harvesting of
medicinal parts and determined the population density of
target species in the forest. We used 95 plots established
along nineteen transects. Survival of the most preferred
species, F. rubrostipulata, is of particular concern as its
population suffered from a combination of extensive
damage due to poor methods of harvesting and poor
regeneration. The density of trees with diameter ≥5 cm
differed between species and sites, demonstrating different
recruitment and survival strategies. Management of Protected
Areas should augment strategies to monitor the
legal and illegal harvest of medicinal plants, by adopting
low impact harvesting methods, and designating the
temporal and spatial patterns of harvesting. This might
reduce tree damage and mortality.
Description
Keywords
Africa, Forest degradation, Lake Victoria Basin, Livelihoods, Medicinal plants, Sango Bay
Citation
Galabuzi, C., Nabanoga, G. N., Ssegawa, P., Obua, J., & Eilu, G. (2015). Double jeopardy: bark harvest for malaria treatment and poor regeneration threaten tree population in a tropical forest of Uganda. African Journal of Ecology, 53(2), 214-222.