Composition, structure and regeneration status of Hyphaene thebaica (L.) Mart. natural forests in dry lands of Sudan

The research aimed at assessing stocking, population and structure of Hyphaene thebaica (L.) Mart. in River Nile State, Sudan. For stocking assessment a total of 59 circular sample plots (0.10 ha) were distributed proportional to area of forests with 36, 12, and 11 sample plots randomly located in Elhelgi, Geli and Um Baasheem forests, respectively. Trees were classified in the field as adults, saplings or seedlings and their frequencies recorded. Species composition and population structure were analyzed and classified, while comparisons of mean densities of adult trees were made using ANOVA. Results revealed that mean densities (No./ha) of adult trees were 12, 50 and 319 in the three forests, respectively, revealing under stocking of both Elhelgi & Geli and over stocking of Um Baasheem forest. Least Significanct Differance (LSD) test revealed significant differences (α=0.05) of mean adult densities between Um Baasheem & Geli (P=0.015) and Um Baasheem & Elhelgi (P=0.001) forests. The mean densities of seedlings, saplings and adults indicate that Elhelgi and Geli forests portray poor regeneration while Um Baasheem depicts fair regeneration status. Based upon present inadequate stocking of adults and regeneration, the research concludes that the future of H. thebaica under the prevailing forest management system is under threat and recommends management interventions to govern access, regulate harvest and restore the species.Keywords:Hyphaene thebaica, management, stocking, vegetation change, Suda