Plant Species Composition and Structure in Areas Impacted with Invasive Alien Plants (IAS) at Eastern Ridge Top of Duluti Lake Catchment Forest Reserve, Northern Tanzania

The eastern ridge of Duluti Lake Catchment Forest (DLCF) harbors high plant species diversity within the bush land and woodland. Concentric plots were established to analyze the existing plant species of the area. The recorded plant species were indicated for whether indigenous, alien, alien and invasive. Shannon Wiener Diversity index was applied to calculate diversity index of shrubs and trees. Trees and shrub densities were calculated. Herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees distribution were evaluated. During this study, a total of 113 herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees were recorded. The calculated Hꞌ for shrubs and trees ranged from ≤3.5 - ≥1.5 an implication of high diversity. The densest plant species was an alien invasive plant, Lantana camara L. indicating that the area is dominated by alien invasive plants. The eastern ridge of Duluti Lake Catchment Forest accommodates high plant species diversity that requires management. Further study is needed, control alien invasive plants, replace the existing alien plants with indigenous plants.