1.2.4 Biodiversity Due to its connection to the Kakamega forest, whose origin is the Guinea – Congolian rain forest ecosystem, Kibiri forest habours many species that are related to the Central and West African flora and fauna. The forest also hosts a number of endemic species of animals and plants that are not found anywhere else in the World. However, it is no longer a primary forest but middle-aged secondary forest due to past disturbance in the forest hence most of the fauna and flora species are the secondary forest species. Few of the primary forest species are found within Yala Nature Reserve of Kibiri forest. 1.2.4.1 Description of Forest Flora The forest has both indigenous trees and exotic tree species. Exotic trees cover about 500 ha and include species such as Cuppressus lusitanica, Pinus patula, Eucalyptus saligna and Bischofia javonica. Indigenous forest cover 3,124.8 Ha and mainly include species like Maesopsis eminii, Olea welwitschii, Fagara microphila (Zanthozylum gilletti), Cordia abbysinica, Croton megalocarpus, Markhamia lutea, Trichilia roka and Spathodea nilotica among others. It is home to the locally threatened Elgon teak - Olea capensis and rare Prunus africana, which are species of special conservation concern. These species are prone to over exploitation due to their high quality timber and medicinal value. More than 60 species of trees have been recorded in the forest refer to appendix 1, majority being of medicinal importance such as Croton megalocarpus, Prunus africana, Trichilia emetica, Zanthoxylum gilletii. Barks, leaves, roots and seeds of these mentioned trees have medicinal properties used in treating various diseases that include prostate cancer, common flu, stomach ache, chest problems. The forest is also covered by bamboo that adds to 0.5 ha and the rest is degraded area Forest succession and regeneration From the studies done in Kibiri Forest the findings shows that there is a succession of tree species and lianas as highlighted below; I. II. III. IV.
V.
Funtumia africana and Craibia brownii indicate past disturbance according to (Mutangah 1996). Polyscias fulva and Alangium chinese mainly grow in gaps and along disturbed forest edges and therefore an indicator of gaps or disturbance (Althof, 2005). Diaspyros abyssinica and Strychnos usambarensis are considered a climax species of mature old forest. The occurrence of adult specimen of tree lianas species Stephania abyssinica, Secamone punchulata and Smilax anceps in a forest indicate a young succession stage. In contrast the record of slow growing lianas species like Tiliacora funifera, Culcasia falcifolia and Hippocratea africana indicates older climax stages. The table below summarizes the disturbance indicator species.