Implications of changes in vegatation in Pandero, Murchison Falls Park, Uganda
1996
Oneka, M.
This report examines changes in the vegetation cover of Pandero over a period of nearly 30 years. The vegetation of the area in 1956 has been observed from aerial photographs. Previous reports provided relevant basic information on the past vegetation physiognomy and floristic composition. These have been compared with 1985 field records. Although the woody vegetation has declined by almost 80%, density of trees in remaining woodland has changed significantly. Persistence of woody plants of only two size categories (shrubs and trees ) in the remnant woodland have helped to retain the open orchard-like structure. This vegetation structure, dominated by Terminalia glaucescens planch. Ex Benth. and prosopis Africana Taub., is an important aspect of the aesthetic and ecological integrity of the park landscape. Reduction in numbers of the larger herbivores has improved prospects for tree recruitment. In the presence of floristically more diverse shrubs this will inevitably lead to changes in the woodland structure. These changes in the vegetation present an appropriate test case for the discussion of what should be specified in the park vegetation management policies and objectives
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