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Sacred groves are large areas of virgin or human-modified landscape with a diverse range of species that have been protected by local people for centuries due to cultural, religious beliefs, and taboo that the deities live in them and protect the villagers from various calamities. The present study was carried out for quantitative analysis of diversity, population structure, regeneration and conservation status of tree species in the four 36.86 ha sacred groves of Jhargram district in West Bengal. Tree species composition, population structure and regeneration status were analyzed by randomly establishing of 1 ha subplots within the sacred groves. Density, frequency, basal area, abundance, evenness, and other diversity indices were calculated for adult trees with girth at breast height (GBH) ＞31 cm. A total of 146 tree species belonging to 116 genera distributed in 44 families from 21 orders were recorded. Pterospermum suberifolium, family Malvaceae showed the highest Species Importance Value Index (SIVI, 21.33) and Fabaceae showed the highest Family Importance Value Index (FIVI, 35.59) values respectively. Individuals are categorised into three groups, seedling, sapling and adult based on girth classes. The majority of tree species exhibited good (52.74%) regeneration followed by fairly (24.66%), poor (15.75%) and no regeneration (6.85%) respectively. With the healthy existence of the sacred grove, the overall population structure of tree species showed a strong regeneration potential. The current data will be useful in determining the current status of tree species and will be used by the forest department, politicians, and conservationists to establish management plans for the conservation of priority species in the region. Since the study areas were sacred groves, tribal members were keen to preserve them due to their religious significance.

The importance of forests and trees in climate change mitigation and soil nutrient cycling cannot be overemphasized. This study assessed the above-ground carbon stock of two exotic and two indigenous tree species – Gmelina arborea, Tectona grandis, Khaya grandifoliola and Nauclea diderrichii and their litter impact on soil nutrient content of an arboretum within the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Data were collected from equal sample plots from the four species’ compartments. Tree growth variables including total height, diameter at breast height, crown height, crown diameter and merchantable height were measured for the estimation of above-ground carbon stock. Soil samples were collected from a depth of 0-30 cm from each compartment and analyzed for particle size distribution, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases, exchangeable acidity, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, pH, Manganese, Iron, Copper and Zinc. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test for significant difference (p＜0.05) in the carbon contents of the four species and the soil nutrient contents of the different species’ compartments. Pearson correlation was used to assess the relationships between the carbon contents, growth parameters and soil parameters. The highest and lowest carbon stock per hectare was observed for G. arborea (151.52 t.ha-1) and K. grandifoliola (45.45 t.ha-1) respectively. Cation exchange capacity and base saturation were highest and lowest for soil under G. arborea and K. grandifoliola respectively. The pH was highest and lowest for soil under G. arborea and T. grandis respectively. Carbon stock correlated positively with dbh, crown diameter, merchantable height and Zn and negatively with base saturation. The study revealed that G. arborea and N. diderrichii can effectively be used for reforestation and afforestation programmes aimed at climate change mitigation across Nigeria. Therefore, policies to encourage and enhance their planting should be encouraged.

Deutzia paniculata Nakai, a rare and endemic plant, has limited distribution throughout the North and South Gyeongsang provinces of South Korea. The D. paniculata community grows mostly on the stony slopes of forests, valley edges, and rock layers at 250-960 m in altitude, where deciduous trees are dominant and high humidity is maintained. Correlation analysis of vegetation and environmental factors found that the Walter’s dogwood-mulberry community was correlated with soil acidity (pH). Whilst the queritron community had correlations with distance from the valley, rock rate and slope. The natural habitat of the Palgongsan Mountain in Daegu is known to have high genetic diversity, had eight D. paniculata individuals recorded from 2014 to 2018, and 12 individuals recorded in 2020 (new individuals due to a newly created space within the herbaceous layer caused by grass mowing works), it is therefore unlikely that the community would perish unless there was an artificial disturbance. To conserve the natural habitats of D. paniculata, oppression by Sasa borealis, damage, increase in crown density of the upper layer, overexploitation, and absence of seedlings should be carefully investigated. In addition, response measures should also be established and the impact on seed fullness and the reproductive characteristics of D. paniculata recorded. To restore declined genetic diversity, individuals from high genetic diversity regions, such as Palgongsan Mountain, should be artificially transplanted.

This study evaluated the species composition, diversity and phorophyte preference of epiphytes at the University of Port Harcourt located in southern part of Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select sites representing major avenues in the three campuses (Abuja, Choba and Delta) of the University. Data were collected on species name of phorophytes, number of individuals, diameter at breast height (dbh) and height, and species/number of epiphytes present on them. The points/sections of attachment of epiphytes on phorophytes were also recorded. A total of eight species of epiphyte belonging to six families were recorded in the study. Species diversity was higher in Abuja campus (Simpson 1-D=0.81; Shannon H=1.79), followed by Choba campus (Simpson 1-D=0.73; Shannon H=1.09) and Delta campus (Simpson 1-D=0.56; Shannon H=0.93). Species richness was highest in Abuja campus (n=8) followed by Delta campus (n=4) and Choba campus (n=3). Similarity in epiphyte species composition was highest between Choba and Delta campuses (85.71%), followed by Delta and Abuja campuses (66.67%) and lowest between Choba and Abuja campuses (54.55%). The family-Polypodiaceae, had the highest number of species (n=3). Microgramma owariensis had the highest relative abundance (27%) followed by Platycerium bifurcatum (26%) while Tillandsia utriculata and Peperomia pellucida had the least relative abundance (3%). Epiphyte abundance was weakly correlated with both the dbh and height of phorophytes. However, epiphytes were more abundant on phorophytes with rough/scaly/corky/flaky barks than on those with smooth barks. The planting of avenue tree species with rough barks is recommended to enhance the diversity of epiphytes in the study area.

Two species, P. pyrifolia and P. ussuriensis, of the genus Pyrus native to Korea, are valuable genetic resources that can be used for food, dietary supplement, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics. Bioactive compounds of the plant leaves are the main components that are used for the products. Farmers had cultivated a few individuals from the wild to produce fruits or leaves for traditional remedy or tea; however, bioactive components of their leaves are not tested. We selected some trees from the natural stand that have distinct traits for the improvement program. We investigated the bioassay on the extracts’ bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity from the selected accessions and other accessions, including newly developed cultivars. The contents of the phenolic compounds and flavonoids from the leaf extracts of the selected accessions were higher than the commonly cultivated trees in both species but lower than ‘Sanhyang’ in P. ussuriensis. The antioxidant capacity was measured using two assay methods, DPPH and ABST. The selected cultivars also had higher inhibitory activity than common trees. The selected accession ‘Cultivar 3’ in P. pyrifolia had the highest radical scavenging activity than others. Although leaves of the accessions were used only in this study, all three selected individuals have the potential for cultivar in containing high bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity.

Seed morphology, physiology and environmental conditions have influence on germination of any tropical seeds and their appropriate handling, processing and handling enhances seeds emergent. This study therefore investigated effects of storage durations under different temperatures on germination of Bombax costatum seeds from different provenances. Fresh 25 seeds of B. costatum in four replicates were collected from four different provenances (Aponmu, Oluwa, Ibadan and Oyo). They were surface sterilized, thoroughly washed in distilled water and stored at four different temperature regimes: 28°C, 21°C, 5°C and -17°C . Samples were taken every 2 months for germination test for 18 months. Germination assessment was carried out daily and recorded. The experimental design was 4×4×10 factorial in 4 replicates. Data were subjected to percentages and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed that there were significant differences among storage temperatures, storage durations and provenances on germination percentage. Freshly collected seeds from Aponmu and Oyo had the highest mean germination of 100% followed by seeds from Ibadan (89.3%). Seeds from Oyo provenance stored 5°C had germination of 94.0%, 88.70% and 78.7% at 2nd, 4th and 6th month respectively. Seeds from Ibadan and Oyo stored at 28°C, 21°C recorded 0.0% starting from 8 months of storage. Germination of B. costatum seeds from the four provenances decreased with increase in storage duration at different temperatures.

Information on butterflies in the Niger Delta Region is relatively scanty because monitoring of their activities and distribution has not been fully documented and these are paramount to establish their conservation protocols. The study therefore aimed at evaluating the species richness distribution pattern, and relative abundance of butterflies in the University of Port Harcourt. The University Park was purposively selected for this study. The park was stratified into three different habitat types (secondary forest, farmland, and residential/garden). A sampling of each stratum was done three times; twice in the morning between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm as well as once in the evening between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm along a 100 m line transects for 16 months (May 2017-August 2018). Data collected were analyzed for species diversity indices, evenness, and similarity index. A total of 1,932 individual butterflies belonging to 28 species, 18 genera, and five 5 families were identified in the study area. Species diversity and evenness were higher on farmland (1-D=0.909; H’=2.615; E=0.833), and least in the residential area/gardens (1-D=0.744; H’=1.975; E=0.659). The family Nymphalidae (39.0%) had the highest number of species occurrence while Hesperidae (0.4%) had the lowest composition. Anthene larydas (24.12%) had the highest relative abundance in the entire study area, followed by Acraea serena (17.49%). The study, therefore, recommends continuous monitoring of butterfly species diversity and composition also in other regions.

The basic for the achievement of the community forestry rests within the Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs). They are responsible to establish good governance, sustainable forest management and improve people’s livelihoods. The study aimed to assess the governance score prevailing in CFUGs using stratified random sampling. Our study shows the governance score of 64.17% in community forests with highest 73.94% in Bhotechaur community forest and lowest 56.60% in Tinkanya community forest. Among the eight elements of good governance, consensus-oriented was found highest while responsiveness was lowest in the study area. Further, the independent variables such as well-being ranking (X2=21.695, df=6, p＜0.01), source of income (X2=20.474, df=6, p＜0.01) and education status (X2=17.450, df=6, p＜0.01) has significant impact on governance. Based upon the findings, it is very clear that good governance in CFs are more than average but still not up to the mark. Finally, it calls for rethinking that involving all the stakeholders during planning phases delineating the responsibility and power for correspondents can make possible in achieving sustainability in community forest.

This study was conducted to grasp users’ preferences and behavior of forest paths and to provide basic data for forest path construction in the future. Among forest path users, males and females over 20 years old were surveyed on forest path preferences, motives for visiting, using time and distance, companions, and sources for obtaining information on forest paths. A total of 587 people participated in the questionnaire, and cross-analysis was conducted simultaneously using the SPSS statistical program. In analyzing the preference of forest paths, it was found that male and the general public preferred trekking path for activities while female and foresters preferred forest path for relaxation and healing (p＜0.05). As for the motives for visiting forest paths, the response that they visited for a walk/rest was the highest in gender, occupation, and age group. As for the number of annual visits, less than 5 was the highest in overall, and foresters tended to visit forest path more often than the general public, and the number of visits to the forest paths increased with age (p＜0.01). The most common route to acquire information about forest paths is the Internet, while the Internet use is relatively low in those over 60s (p＜0.05). The response ratio of accompanying their family in visiting forest paths were the highest, while the response in their 20s and 60s was the most in accompanying their friends (p＜0.05).