Caracterização da flora arbórea da zona tampão do Parque Nacional de Gorongosa: o caso da floresta comunitária de Nhambita

Abstract

The present study aimed to characterize the tree flora of the Nhambita community forest in terms of dendrometric parameters, floristic composition, horizontal structure, diameter distribution of forest species, and to determine the annual allowable cut per commercial species. Miombo Consultores Ltda. provided forest inventory data. The company conducted a forest inventory using stratified random sampling of settlements proportional to the type of forest cover in the area (closed forest, open forest, scrubland, wooded prairie, family farming area, and shrubland). Rectangular plots measuring 250 x 20 meters were used to measure all trees with a DBH greater than or equal to 20 cm. Within the rectangle, subplots measuring 20 x 20 meters were installed to measure all regeneration of tree species with diameters of 10 to 19 cm, and all regeneration of tree species with diameters less than 10 cm was counted. The horizontal structure of the forest was determined using parameters such as species dominance, abundance, frequency, importance value index, and the Shannon and Simpson diversity indices. The diameter distribution curve showed a decreasing number of trees with increasing diameter, thus, the Nhambita community forest presented an inverted "J" curve in terms of diameter distribution. In the Nhambita community forest, thirteen (13) of the most important commercial species, of which two are precious, three are first class, five are second class, and three are third class. These species had an annual allowable harvest of 7,733.25 m3/year.