Analysis of vegetative community structure and diversity of UiTM Kuala Pilah forest

Secondary tropical forests are critical for biodiversity conservation and ecological resilience in Malaysia, yet their structural complexity and recovery potential remain under documented. A lack of detailed data on community composition and forest dynamic limits effective monitoring and sustainable management. This study aims to evaluate the vegetative community structure and diversity of the UiTM Kuala Pilah Forest, a secondary lowland dipterocarp forest. Using stratified random sampling, a 50m x 10m plot was established and subdivided into five 10m x10m subplots. Vegetation data were collected for all trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 10cm. A total of 27 individual trees were recorded, representing 17 genera. Key structural parameters analysed, including genus frequency, basal area, size class distribution, Importance Value Index (IVI), and species diversity using Shannon-Weiner Index and Simpson’s Index. Results show that Shorea sp. and Dysoxylum sp. are the most frequent genera (60%) and share the highest relative density (0.0080 indiv/m²). Shorea sp. recorded the highest IVI (44.40), suggesting ecological dominance, while Cinnamomum sp. exhibited structural dominance with the largest basal area (0.2068 m²). tree size class distribution showed dominance in the 10.0-14.9 cm class (n=12), forming a reverse-J curve indicative of active regeneration. The Shannon-Weiner Index value of H’= 2.80 reflects moderate to high diversity consistent with other secondary dipterocarp forests, while Simpson’s Index (1-D= 0.894) shows high heterogeneity and low dominance among genera. These findings suggest that the UiTM Kuala Pilah Forest supports a structurally heterogeneous and ecologically functional community, highlighting its importance in biodiversity conservation and forest recovery assessment.