Evaluation of Tree Species Composition for Sustainable Eco-Tourism Development of Maladumba Lake and Forest Reserve, Bauchi-Nigeria

Ecotourism refers to travelling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas, such as protected areas, with the aim of studying, admiring, and enjoying the scenery and the faunal and floral composition along with its existing cultural aspects. This paper evaluated Tree species composition of Maladumba Lake and Forest Reserve, Bauchi-Nigeria for sustainable eco-tourism development. Wandering quarter method of vegetation analysis was employed for the study where five sampling sites were studied to determine species richness, percentage frequency, basal area, relative density, relative dominance, importance value indices, mean distance between trees, mean area of trees and number of individual stem per hectare of tree species encountered. Results obtained indicated total of eighteen different Tree species in the protected area with Mitragyna inermis (126732.9 cm), Adansonia digitata (31714.9 cm), Balanites aegyptiaca (29727.3 cm), and Piliostigma thonningii (28697.7 cm) as species with the highest basal area. While Funtumia elastica presented the highest frequency of occurrence (80%) followed by Acacia nilotica, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Balanites aegyptiaca and Cassia singueeana with 60% each. Relative densities of Mitragyna inermis (18.1%) stood as the highest, followed by Funtumia elastica (16.6%) and Balanites aegyptiaca (12.5%). Relative dominance suggested Mitragyna inermis (18.1%) with the highest value seconded by Adansoni digitata (12.4%) and Balanites aegyptiaca (11.7%). Mitragyna inermis (49.8) had the highest IVI followed by Balanites aegyptiaca (24.4) then Piliostigma thonningii (11.7). Very low values of mean distance between trees (6.9 m), mean area occupied by individual trees (47.6 m), and density of trees per hectare (210) suggested sparsely populated vegetation cover in the protected area. It was concluded that Maladumba Lake and Forest Reserve is under serious deforestation. As an Ecotourism attraction, serious reforestation program was recommended to salvage the situation before the whole protected lose its value.