BIOGEOGRAPHY, UTILIZATION AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF MUSANGA CECROPIOIDESR.BR. (URTICACEAE) UMBRELLA TREE UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE INFLUENCE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The increasing pressure on tropical forest species due to overexploitation and climate change poses a significant threat to their sustainability, particularly for highly utilized indigenous trees such as Musanga cecropioides R.Br. This study investigated the biogeography, utilization, and population dynamics of M. cecropioides under climate change influence in Ogun State, Nigeria. Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires administered to local respondents, while ecological data were obtained through systematic transect sampling. Spatial distribution was analyzed using GIS tools, and climate variables (temperature and rainfall) were assessed to determine environmental trends. Results revealed that M. cecropioides is predominantly used for medicinal purposes, indicating high dependence by local communities. Population structure analysis showed a higher proportion of individuals in smaller size classes, suggesting active regeneration but limited recruitment into maturity. Similarly, regeneration assessment indicated a dominance of seedlings with fewer saplings and mature trees, pointing to a potential regeneration bottleneck. Climate analysis showed increasing temperature and declining rainfall trends, which may negatively influence species growth and survival. The study concludes that the combined effects of intensive utilization and changing climatic conditions pose a risk to the long-term sustainability of M. cecropioides. It emphasizes the need for sustainable harvesting practices, conservation awareness, and integration of climate-adaptive management strategies. Promoting domestication and further ecological monitoring are recommended to ensure the conservation and continued availability of this valuable species.