The Role of Land Tenure Institutions in Conservation of Tree Species Diversity in Southern Malawi

Abstract

"Biodiversity is declining through out southern African miombo woodlands due to poor land use practices that are detrimental to soil, vegetation and habitat. Tree species diversity and diameter distribution of <i>Uapaca kirkiana </i>forest stands under different land tenure is poorly documented despite efforts for domestication of this priority fruit tree species. This paper examines diversity and distribution of tree species under three land tenure systems namely; forest reserves, communal and leasehold lands. We assessed tree species diversity and distribution under the three land tenure systems. The results show that forest reserves have higher species diversity with an average of 16 tree families, 27 genera and 34 species as compared to only 10 tree families, six genera and six species on communal forest lands. Comparisons of diameter at breast height size class distributions showed that communal lands had significantly low numbers of small (5.0-10.0 cm) and very large (? 30cm) diameter classes suggesting lower levels of regeneration and high rate of anthropogenic activities. The high species diversity and richness in forest reserves and leasehold land indicate high potential for protected lands to restore tree species diversity. Our results have shown that to a greater extent levels of human activities as influenced by land tenure system underlie the pattern of variation in species diversity, composition and distribution in the different geographical sites. Our findings confirm the hypothesis that open access lands are not compatible with conservation because of high anthropogenic activities. From a policy perspective the findings call for provision of a conducive social and economic environment to enable communities around forests to use forest resources sustainably."