TERRAIN CHARACTERIZATION AND VEGETATION DISTRIBUTION IN WAWA ZANGE WOODLAND, GOMBE STATE

Abstract

This study focused on the Wawa Zange Woodland Reserve in Gombe State, Nigeria, with the
primary aim of understanding its terrain characteristics and the distribution of vegetation types to
support sustainable forest management. The study employed GIS as a tool in assessing the terrain
characteristics, as well as transects sampling techniques to measure the distribution of vegetation
species in the study area. The study identified various vegetation types, highlighting their
distribution, size, spatial arrangement, and ecological importance. Among the dominant
vegetation species were Commiphora Africana, Strerospernumkunthianum, and
Amorphophallus abyssinicus, which contributed significantly to the forest's ecosystem. The most
significant finding was the wide altitudinal range, from 260 meters at the lowest point to 624
meters at the highest, with the mid-elevation range of 301 to 600 meters covering 91% of the total
area. The study recommends Identifying areas with unique ecological characteristics, such as
high-elevation zones and sensitive habitats by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) and
Federal Ministry of Environment (FMOE). Implement targeted conservation measures to protect
these areas and their associated biodiversity.