Landscape-Level Forest Structural Pattern In The Udzungwa Mountains, Iringa Region, Tanzania: Influence Of Topography

Information on the relationship between topography and landscape-level forest structural pattern is important in formulation of policies for landscape development. This study was conducted to investigate the influence of topographic indices on the landscape-level forest structural pattern in Udzungwa Mountains, Iringa Region, Tanzania. Stepwise multiple regression was used to determine the significance of each of the topographic indices: elevation, slope, aspect, distances from roads, from footpaths, from settlements and from streams in influencing landscape-level forest structural pattern indices expressed as: forest area density, forest patch size, forest connectivity, forest patch edge-interior distance, forest proximity, forest patch shape complexity and forest edge-density. Only elevation, distance from footpaths and distance from streams were found to be statistically significant in influencing landscape level forest structural patterns. The study recommends further research to investigate the influence of elevation, distance from footpaths and distance from streams (factors deemed significant in influencing landscape structure by this study) on landscape functioning. TJFNC Vol. 76 2007: pp. 102-109