Fifteen permanent sample plots of 40 by 40 m dimension were established along an elevational gradient rising from about 100 m to 500m above sea level between 23rd August 2019 and 9th September 2019. Five plot clusters with three plots each were established in three areas of the forest: one cluster in Erukut, two in Aking and two in Osomba, making a total of 15 sample plots with a total area of 2.4 hectares. Due to the steep topography of Aking and Osomba locations, plots were established at closer horizontal intervals based on elevational differences of about 20 m. All trees with a minimum of 10 cm dbh in all 15 plots were measured and tagged with a unique number. The collected data included plot information (plot number and GPS coordinate of the four corners of plots using Garmin eTrex 10 Outdoor Handheld GPS Unit), tree dbh (diameter of a tree at 1.30 m from the base) using a diameter tape and LaserAce 1000 rangefinder for points of measurement too high for a diameter tape, species name, assigned tag number, and species group (edible and inedible species). Measurement of buttress trees, folk trees, leaning trees or trees on a slope was completed using the African Tropical Rainforest Observation Network (AfriTRON) protocol. Trees were identified to species level by a field taxonomist and in cases where there was uncertainty in the identification of species, tree locations were noted, and specimens were collected and stored in herbarium presses for further taxonomic work.

These are plot data from fifteen 40 m by 40 m sample plots established in Oban Division of Cross River National Park, Nigeria, between 23rd August 2019 and 9th September 2019. We have also included data summaries and RStudio codes used for analysis and generating results for the manuscript entitled: "Impact of human foraging on tree diversity, composition and abundance in a tropical rainforest", submitted for publication as an original research article in Biotropica. All data and R code required to generate the results as shown in the manuscript have been included.