Abstract:
Recovery of Kakamega tropical
rainforest from anthropogenic disturbances. Kakamega forest in south-western Kenya has been selectively
logged since the 1940s. A study on its recovery from anthropogenic disturbances compared data from studies
carried out in 1981, 1999 and 2006 in central Isecheno block of Kakamega forest. In the 2006 study, a low
number of species was recorded compared with those of 1981 and 1999. In the undisturbed plots, 13 species
were isolated which underwent marked changes in stocking: Funtumia africana, Antiaris toxicarla, Bersama
abyssinica, Blighia unijugata, Cassipourea ruwenzorensis, Celtis mildbraedii, Ficus sur, Markhamia lútea, Polyscias
fulva, Sapium ellipticum, Teclea nobilis, Trichilia emetica and Trilepisium inadagascariense. In all undisturbed and
disturbed (plots and transects) sites, A. toxicaría and F. africanawere among the top 10 most abundant species.
Currently, man-made trails are the main disturbance affecting Kakamega forest ecosystem. However, this
forest is recovering and maturing towards climax as evidenced by a decline in species diversity, increment in
density and diameter at breast height over the 25-year period. There are indications of ecosystem sustainability,
resiliency and integrity retention after disturbance
