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Forest reserves and woodland savanna regeneration on the Sub-Saharan Massif of Jebel Marra, Democratic Republic of the Sudan

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Abstract

The effect of a forest reserve establishment on the natural forest ecosystem recovery and on the protection of valuable indigenous woody species in Jebel Marra, the Democratic Republic of the Sudan, is described. The following hypothesis is formulated: The vegetation of the southwestern slopes of Jebel Marra, when protected from periodic disturbance, may recover to almost fully regenerated hill woodland. Empirical stratified transect sampling methods were applied to both natural forest ecosystems within the reserve and the surrounding artificial systems. Frequencies, densities and diversities for all woody species were estimated by standard ecological indices. It was found that the establishment of the forest reserve has dramatically reshaped the distribution of woody species and a slow process of regeneration to Anogeissus hill woodland is taking place.

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Nomenclature follows Wickens (1976b).

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Ahmed, A.A. Forest reserves and woodland savanna regeneration on the Sub-Saharan Massif of Jebel Marra, Democratic Republic of the Sudan. Vegetatio 54, 65–78 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00035142

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