Vegetative structure, floristic composition and natural regeneration of a species in Ylat Forest, Meket Woreda, Northeastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Tegegne S, Workineh B. 2017. Vegetative structure, floristic composition and natural regeneration of a species in Ylat Forest in Meket Woreda, Northeastern Ethiopia. Asian J For 1: 40-53. The natural forest of Ylat in Meket Woreda, Northeastern Ethiopia was examined to decide the vegetative structure, floristic formation and natural regeneration of woodland species and to supply data on sustainable administration of the woody plants in specific and the woodland founts in common. Systematic sampling design was used in this study to gather vegetation information. For each of the sampling sites, five transect lines having fiftyfour primary plots with 400 m2 (20m × 20m) each were laid out to gather the information on woody species along 200m line transects. A total of 60 vascular plant species having a place to 41 families and 56 genera were identified of which 13 (21.67%) were trees, 31 (51.67%) bushes, 6 (10%) climbers and 10 species (16.66) of herbs. Of all the families, Lamiaceae (8.33%) and Fabaceae, Rosaceae, Solanaceae and Euphorbiaceae 3 species (5%) were the most overwhelming woody plant species and followed by Sapindaceae, Aloaceae, Ranunclaceae, Poaceae, Oleaceae, Polygonaceae and Cucurbitaceae contains 2 species each (3.33%). A total of 2652 woody plant species individuals (1227.77 individual/ha) were found of which 405 individuals were Myrsine africana and 19 individuals were Millettia ferruginea and 20 individuals were Dombeya torrida. This data showed the highest and the lowest number of woody plant species. The thickness of woody species with DBH ≥ 2.5cm was 1227.77 individual/ha, basal zone was 1 m2 /ha, frequency of woody species was 258. The overall Shannon diversity and evenness of woody species was 2.94 and 0.84 respectively, demonstrating that the diversity and evenness of woody species within the timberland is moderately high. The woody plant species having the highest importance value index (IVI) were Erica arborea (36.31) followed by Allophylus abyssinicus (28.65) whereas Hagenia abyssinica, Myrica salicifolia, Euphorbia tirucalli, Calpurnia aurea were the lowest IVI and should be given conservation priority. Finally, this study showed that the population structure of the most woody plant species in Ylat Timberland was in a great state of regeneration recruitment level.

The Status of Dry Evergreen Afromontane Forest Patches in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia

“…Beside the churches owned forests, other patches of forests are owned by the regional government. Some of the studied dry evergreen afromontane forest patches include the following: Yegof forest in South Wollo Zone [38,39], Wof Washa forest in North Showa Zone [40], Alemsaga Forest in South Gondar Zone [2], Woynwuha Natural Forest in East Gojam Zone [41], Zerat Forest in North Showa Zone [42], Kurib forest in Awi Zone [43], Ylat Forest in North Wollo Zone [44], Amoro forest in West Gojam Zone [45], Zegie Peninsula Forest in north of lake Tana [46], Five forest paches (Apini, Bari, Dabkuli, Katasa, and Tsahare) in Awi Zone [47], and Gatira George's forest in North Wollo Zone [48].…”

“…It gives an approximate indication for homogeneity and heterogeneity of vegetation [39,43,51]. High percentage of number of species in the lower frequency classes and lower percentage of number of species in the higher frequency classes indicate high degree of floristic heterogeneity [44].…”

“…Many dry evergreen afromontane forest patches of Amhara Region, Abebaye and Tara Gedam forests [34], Wof Washa natural forest [40], Woynwuha forest [41], Kurib forest [43], Yilat forest [44], Yegof forest [39], and Yimrhane Kirstose church forest [37], had high percentage of species in lower frequency classes and relatively low percentage of species in higher frequency classes. Similarly, pooled sample analysis of the six forest patches (Ambiqi, Askunabo, Bradi, Dengera, Khatasa, and Kidamaja forests) of Awi Zone [51] and Amoro forest [45] showed high number of species at low frequency classes and low number of species at the higher classes.…”

“…Results of most DEAFPs of the region showed that the patches were in a good or fair regeneration statuses though sever disturbances were available. For example, in forests of Tara Gedam and Abebaye [34], Aba Asrat monastery [9], Wof Washa [40], Yilat [44], and Zegie Peninsula [46] density of seedlings were greater than saplings, and saplings were greater than mature individuals. All these showed that the forests had good regeneration status.…”

Population Structure and Regeneration Status of Woody Species in Kenech Forest, Southwest Ethiopia

“…Several scholars have conducted various studies in different parts of our country Ethiopia on population dynamics and regeneration statues of remnant forest patches [32][33][34][35][36][37].…”