Comparison of Woody Plant Species Diversity in Agroforestry Systems: Insights from Isingiro District, Uganda

Agroforestry systems contribute to biodiversity and ecological resilience across tropical savanna landscapes, yet their comparative influence on woody plant community dynamics remains understudied. This research examines spatial patterns of woody species abundance, richness, and diversity across silvoarable, silvopastoral, and agrosilvopastoral systems in the Isingiro District of Uganda, applying plot-based sampling across 30 farms. Species richness was highest in silvopastoral systems, whereas silvoarable systems supported greater diversity and evenness. Although Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed statistically non-significant differences for abundance and diversity, species composition trends suggest functional distinctions among systems. The dominance of Fabaceae, particularly Euphorbia tirucalli, across systems points to shared ecological traits and land-use preferences. These findings highlight agroforestry’s role in maintaining woody plant heterogeneity within East African savanna mosaics and highlight its relevance to nature-based climate adaptation strategies. Through aligning biodiversity outcomes with landscape configuration, this study contributes to agroecosystem planning and conservation frameworks relevant to the region’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) commitments and resilience agendas.