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<p>Traditional agroforestry has been recognized as a potential practice for conserving species diversity. Traditional agroforestry landscapes (TALs) defining features are species diversity, productivity, and complex functionality. However, there is currently a decline in endemic species in forested areas proximate to traditional agroforestry landscapes in southern Africa. This study, therefore, evaluated the species abundance, richness, and diversity of naturalized exotic and southern African endemic species at different distance levels: immediate (0–1&#xa0;km), intermediate (1–5&#xa0;km), and far distances (5–10&#xa0;km). The vegetation inventory was conducted in the TALs of the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve communities in South Africa. The data were analysed using SIMPER, PERMANOVA, and Box plots. The results showed that there was a significant difference between exotic (<InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(\:df=2,\:F=44.974,\:p=0.004\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation>) and endemic (<InlineEquation ID="IEq2"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(\:df=2,\:F=1.9396,\:p=0.001\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation>) tree species diversity across the distance levels. The endemic tree species were highly abundant at a far distance, followed by intermediate distance, while the exotic species were abundant at an immediate distance. The endemic species richness and diversity were high at a far distance, while the exotic tree species richness and diversity were high at an immediate distance. This study presumes that over time, the introduction and colonisation by naturalized exotic species will further spread and diminish traditional agroforestry biodiversity. While this may be seen as a negative impact on biodiversity, in its current state, it also highlights the adaptability and resilience of traditional agroforestry landscapes in sustaining diverse plant communities. Moreover, there is a need to conserve seemingly less economically valuable species through a multifaceted approach that emphasizes their intrinsic ecological value, long-term benefits, and interconnectedness with other species.</p>

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Naturalized exotic and Southern Africa endemic tree species abundance and diversity in traditional agroforestry landscapes of Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, South Africa

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月29日

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  • Lucky Makhubele,
  • Paxie Chirwa

摘要

Traditional agroforestry has been recognized as a potential practice for conserving species diversity. Traditional agroforestry landscapes (TALs) defining features are species diversity, productivity, and complex functionality. However, there is currently a decline in endemic species in forested areas proximate to traditional agroforestry landscapes in southern Africa. This study, therefore, evaluated the species abundance, richness, and diversity of naturalized exotic and southern African endemic species at different distance levels: immediate (0–1 km), intermediate (1–5 km), and far distances (5–10 km). The vegetation inventory was conducted in the TALs of the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve communities in South Africa. The data were analysed using SIMPER, PERMANOVA, and Box plots. The results showed that there was a significant difference between exotic ( \(\:df=2,\:F=44.974,\:p=0.004\) ) and endemic ( \(\:df=2,\:F=1.9396,\:p=0.001\) ) tree species diversity across the distance levels. The endemic tree species were highly abundant at a far distance, followed by intermediate distance, while the exotic species were abundant at an immediate distance. The endemic species richness and diversity were high at a far distance, while the exotic tree species richness and diversity were high at an immediate distance. This study presumes that over time, the introduction and colonisation by naturalized exotic species will further spread and diminish traditional agroforestry biodiversity. While this may be seen as a negative impact on biodiversity, in its current state, it also highlights the adaptability and resilience of traditional agroforestry landscapes in sustaining diverse plant communities. Moreover, there is a need to conserve seemingly less economically valuable species through a multifaceted approach that emphasizes their intrinsic ecological value, long-term benefits, and interconnectedness with other species.