scholarly journals Comparative Analysis of Woody Species Diversity and Abundance in Mount Duro Natural Forest and Adjacent Agricultural Landscape, Nagelle Arsi, Oromia, Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 227
Author(s):  
Tamiru Kefalew ◽  
Mulugeta Betemariyam ◽  
Motuma Tolera

Background Gura-Ferda forest is one of the Afromontane rainforests in the southwestern region of Ethiopia. However, since 1984, large parts of this forest have become increasingly disturbed and fragmented due to forest conversion into forest farm interface and farmlands. The study was conducted to assess changes of woody species diversity and carbon stock in association with the conversion of natural forest to forest farm interface and farmlands. Methods Data were collected from natural forest, forest farm interface and farmland which are historically forest lands before 1984. A total of 90 nested plots (20m×20m for natural forest and forest farm interface; 50m*100m for farmland)) were established for inventory of woody species. Three 1m×1m subplots were established to collect litter and soil samples. A total of 180 soil samples were collected. The total carbon stocks were estimated by summing carbon stock in the biomass and soil (0-60 cm depth). Results Results showed that Shannon-Wiener diversity (H’) in forest farm interface (H’ = 1.42±0.49) is significantly lower than that of natural forest (H’ = 2.72±0.31) but significantly higher than farmland (H’ = 1.08±0.57). The total carbon stocks of natural forest (388.54±161.63 Mg C ha-1) were approximately 1.53 and 2.67 times higher than that of forest farm interface (252.95±41.86 Mg C ha-1) and farmland (145.58±25.94 Mg C ha-1). Conclusion Our study revealed that along the conversion gradient of natural forest to forest farm interface and farmland there was a significant change of woody species diversity and carbon stocks.


F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 227
Author(s):  
Tamiru Kefalew ◽  
Mulugeta Betemariyam ◽  
Motuma Tolera

Background: Gura-Ferda forest is one of the Afromontane rainforests in the southwestern region of Ethiopia. However, since 1984, large parts of this forest have become increasingly disturbed and fragmented due to forest conversion into forest farm interface and farmlands. The study was conducted to assess changes of woody species diversity and carbon stock in association with the conversion of natural forest to forest farm interface and farmlands. Methods: Data were collected from natural forest, forest farm interface and farmland which are historically forest lands before 1984. A total of 90 nested plots (20m×20m for natural forest and forest farm interface; 50m*100m for farmland)) were established for inventory of woody species. Three 1m×1m subplots were established to collect litter and soil samples. A total of 180 soil samples were collected. The total carbon stocks were estimated by summing carbon stock in the biomass and soil (0-60 cm depth). Results: Results showed that Shannon-Wiener diversity (H’) in forest farm interface (H’ = 1.57) is relatively lower than that of natural forest (H’ = 3.33) but higher than farmland (H’ = 1.42). The total carbon stocks of natural forest were approximately 1.21 and 2.54 times higher than that of forest farm interface and farmland. Conclusion: Our study revealed that the changes of Natural Forest to Forest Farm Interface and Farmland have effects on the diversity of woody species and carbon stocks.


2018 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 1793-1806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beyene Belay ◽  
Solomon Zewdie ◽  
Wolde Mekuria ◽  
Abrham Abiyu ◽  
Dagninet Amare ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Gebru Eyasu Siyum ◽  
Tuemay Tassew

Mitigation of climate change is one of the major environmental challenges facing the globe. In this context, homegarden agroforestry systems (HGAFs) have large potential for climate change mitigation. Therefore, this study was initiated to estimate the biomass and soil carbon stocks of HGAFs in relation to adjacent Natural Forest (NF). It also analyzed the relationship between woody species diversity, evenness and richness with biomass and soil carbon stocks. Three sites were purposely selected on the basis of the presence of HGAFs and NF adjacent to each other. Random sampling was used to select representative homegardens from the study population. In NF, a systematic sampling technique was employed. A total of 60 plots with a size of 10 m x 20 m were used to collect vegetation and soil data in both land uses. Soil samples were collected from each plot of the samples laid for vegetation sampling. Accordingly, 120 composite and 120 undisturbed soil samples from 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm soil depths were collected for soil organic carbon (SOC) and bulk density analysis respectively. Biomass estimation for each woody species was analyzed by using appropriate allometric equations. The result showed that the total amount of carbon stocks was 148.32±35.76 tons ha-1 and 157.27±51.61 tons ha-1 in HGAFs and adjacent NF respectively which did not vary significantly between the two studied land uses (P > 0.05). The finding also shows a positive but non-significant (P>0.05) relationship between carbon stocks and woody species diversity, richness, and evenness. Specifically, in NF lands, woody species diversity with SOC (r=0.36) and in HGAFs species richness with biomass carbon (r=0.39) was correlated positively and significantly (P=0.05). We concluded that HGAFs have the same potential as the NF for carbon stock accumulation and to counteract the loss of biomass.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Tefera Jegora ◽  
Zebene Asfaw ◽  
Agena Anjulo

The study was conducted in Shashemene district, Ethiopia. Management-related data were collected using informal and formal surveys. Woody species diversity and related parameters were collected from 60 households. Woody species with ≥5 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) were measured and recorded and below 5 cm were counted and recorded in 10 m ∗ 10 m and 1 m ∗ 1 m plot, respectively. A total of 36 woody species were recorded, of which 58% were indigenous to the area. The overall mean number of woody species per plot was 3.13. Four woody species, namely, Cordia africana, Croton macrostachyus, Persea americana, and Catha edulis, showed highest importance value index. Farmers’ preference ranks for selected woody species were recorded in order of Cordia africana, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Croton macrostachyus, and Cupressus lusitanica, respectively. The similarity in woody species composition between the study villages ranged from 0.46 to 0.60. To sustain the management of woody species, farmers implemented pruning, thinning, composting, weeding, digging, and watering activities in the area. Garden availability and market and road accessibility are the major determinants of woody species in homegarden agroforestry. The study revealed woody species diversity, management practices implemented, and factors affecting woody species diversity management in homegarden agroforestry. Therefore, government should be worked on infrastructure, resource reallocation, and awareness creation in communities for the better improvement of species diversity and its sustainable management in homegarden agroforestry.


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