Patterns of Woody Species Diversity Along Disturbance Gradient in Gumdri Abo Natural Forest, Dangila District, North Western Ethiopia

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.

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Conversion of natural forests to farmlands and its associated woody species diversity and carbon stocks in a span of 33 years (1984 to 2016): in the case of southwestern Ethiopia

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.28336.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

pp. 227

Author(s):

Tamiru Kefalew ◽

Mulugeta Betemariyam ◽

Motuma Tolera

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Carbon Stock ◽

Woody Species ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Natural Forest ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Forest Conversion ◽

Woody Species Diversity ◽

Forest Farm

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.

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Woody Plant Species Diversity of Dembeza Natural Forest, Enebsae Sarmider District, North Western Ethiopia

Journal of Plant Sciences (Science Publishing Group) ◽

10.11648/j.jps.20210904.17 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 175

Author(s):

Tensay Ayalew ◽

Sisay Alemu

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Plant Species ◽

Woody Plant ◽

Natural Forest ◽

Plant Species Diversity ◽

Woody Plant Species ◽

North Western ◽

Western Ethiopia

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Effects of coffee management intensification in natural forests on woody species diversity and structure in Yayo district, south western Ethiopia

International Journal of Multidisciplinary and Current Research ◽

10.14741/ijmcr/v.7.3.4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (03) ◽

Author(s):

Fikiru I. Gamachu ◽

Tefera Jegora

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Woody Species ◽

Home Garden ◽

Natural Forests ◽

Importance Value ◽

Southwestern Ethiopia ◽

Woody Species Diversity ◽

The Difference ◽

Total Species ◽

Western Ethiopia

This study was conducted to evaluate the difference between woody species diversity, structure and similarity in natural forests and adjacent coffee farms in Yayo district, southwestern Ethiopia. Vegetation data were collected from both land use systems using transects walk lines. The Shannon, Simpson’s, similarity and importance values index were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. The result revealed 64 woody species belongs to 31 families from both land uses. Moraceae had the most diverse family having each 5 and 8 species in coffee farms and natural forests respectively. The species richness was higher in natural forests (54) than coffee farms (38). Coffea arabica (42.85%) and Celtis africana (21.14%) those frequently occurred had the highest importance value indices in coffee farms and natural forests respectively. Of total species recorded, 28 (43.75%) are common, 26 (40.63%) and 10 (15.62%) were unique to natural forests and coffee farms respectively. The highest number of woody plants per hectare were distributed in diameter at breast height 5-10cm having 1250 ha−1 (64.10%) in natural forests and 471 ha−1 (72.33 %) in coffee farms. The total basal areas were 364.44 and 669.84 m2 ha−1 in coffee farms and natural forests respectively. The result indicated that planting coffee in natural forests with intensified management system causes significant differences on the overall woody species diversity i.e. the structure, composition and regeneration rates of the forest. Therefore, it is recommended to plant coffees in home garden and open lands with planting multipurpose shade trees rather than cultivating it in natural forests.

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