Socio-economic utilisation and macropropagation of upas tree, Antiaris toxicaria Lesch: a case study of Mabira central forest reserve, Uganda

Abstract

Upas tree (Antiaris toxicaria Lesch) is a monoecious and medicinal tree species belonging to the Moraceae family. In various countries, the tree is known for its medicine, plywood, and veneer. In some countries, over-exploitation, degradation of habitats, and environmental challenges have been decreasing its population size. Various socio-economic and disturbance factors are negatively affecting the seedling regeneration of Upas tree in Mabira Central Forest Reserve. The present research contributes to its sustainable utilization, increase in propagation, conservation, and livelihood improvement. The main objective of this research study was to assess the socio-economic utilization of Upas tree and establish macropropagation as an alternative strategy for its regeneration and conservation. The present study employed a Cross-Sectional Research Design and a factorial experiment by using a Completely Randomized Design with 2 factors, notably cutting media and plant growth hormone treatment. A semi-structured questionnaire, supplemented by the researcher’s participant observations was used during data collection. Purposive selection of 2 divisions of Buikwe district, 10 villages from the Divisions, and a random selection of 410 households were done. A total of 160 cuttings of Upas tree were collected from Mabira Central Forest Reserve and planted into 4 different cutting media, each with 40 cuttings with a half treated with a rooting hormone. The experiment was done with 2 treatments. IBM SPSS software was employed, while χ2 and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Residence duration (p-value: 0.000), Occupation (p-value: 0.002), and household monthly income (p-value: 0.028) were significantly associated with the utilization of the multipurpose tree (all p-values<5%). Illegal tree cutting (28.8% at SD: 3.328) was the highest affecting and the most worrying disturbance factor of the tree’s regeneration. The best cutting medium was the forest top soil, while rooting hormone had no effect on the rooting system of the cuttings. The overall survival, sprouting, and rooting of cuttings of the macropropagation experiment was 15 %, 3.75 %, and 0 % respectively. There is a possibility of macro propagation of the tree if the experiment is improved, primarily by increasing stimulation of root formation. The cutting media: only forest topsoil and a combination of forest topsoil, sand, charcoal dust, and saw dust should be preferred for the subsequent experiments. Further socio-economic and propagation studies are needed for other important medicinal trees of the forest. It is recommended that cuttings should be treated with different rooting hormones at various concentrations and planted directly. There is a need to study other propagation techniques on the tree. National Forest Authority should put more effort into the management of the Mabira forest reserve through its protection, promotion of the tree’s domestication, and restoration of the forest, mainly focusing on the conservation of important tree species like the A.toxicaria Lesch. Keywords: Socio-economic, Antiaris toxicaria Lesch, Utilisation, Disturbance factor, Mabira Central Forest Reserve, Conservation, and Macropropagation.