Recovery of Kakamega tropical rainforest from anthropogenic disturbances

Abstract

Kakamega forest in south-western Kenya has been selectively logged since the 1940s. A study on its recovery from anthropogenic disturbances compared data from studies carried out in 1981, 1999 and 2006 in central Isecheno block of Kakamega forest. In the 2006 study, a low number of species was recorded compared with those of 1981 and 1999. In the undisturbed plots, 13 species were isolated which underwent marked changes in stocking: Funtumia africana, Antiaris toxicaria, Bersama abyssinica, Blighia unijugata, Cassipourea ruwenzorensis, Celtis mildbraedii, Ficus sur, Markhamia lutea, Polyscias fulva, Sapium ellipticum, Teclea nobilis, Trichilia emetica and Trilepisium madagascariense. In all undisturbed and disturbed (plots and transects) sites, A. toxicaria and F. africana were among the top 10 most abundant species. Currently, man-made trails are the main disturbance affecting Kakamega forest ecosystem. However, this forest is recovering and maturing towards climax as evidenced by a decline in species diversity, increment in density and diameter at breast height over the 25-year period. There are indications of ecosystem sustainability, resiliency and integrity retention after disturbance