Woody species diversity, population structure, and regeneration status in the Gra-Kahsu natural vegetation, southern Tigray of Ethiopia

Atsbha, Tesfay; Desta, Anteneh Belayneh; Zewdu, Tessema

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01120

Cited by 60 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Basal area: The total basal area of Hirmi natural forest for plant species with DBH >2 cm was 14m 2 /ha. This result was higher than the study conducted in Grat-Kahsu (5.32 m 2 /ha; Atsbha et al 2019) and Taltalle woodland area (0.44 m 2 /ha; Lemessa 2009). However, it was smaller than the other dry woodland forest studied in Abobo-Gog forest (Gambella Regional State) (29.3 m 2/ ha; Bareke 2018) and the normal basal area value for virgin tropical forests in Africa is (23-37 m 2 /ha; Lamprecht 1989).…”

Section: Vegetation Structure Of Hirmi Forestcontrasting

confidence: 59%

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Ecological and Floristic Study of Hirmi Forest, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

Girmay

Bekele

Demissew

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: The Dryland area in Ethiopia contributes large vegetation resources. However, the landmass has received less attentioneven if it has high ecological, environmental and economic importance. The present study was conducted in Hirmi forest, which is one of the dry forest in Northwestern, Ethiopia; to study the floristic composition, plant community types, community-environment relation, vegetation structure and regeneration status of the forest.Method: Vegetation and environmental data were collected from 80 sampling plots having equal size of 25m×25m were designated as the main plots. Within the main plot, five 2mx2m subplots were laid to record seedlings, saplings, and herbaceous species. Furthermore, within each subplot, soil samples were collected to analyze the relationship of edaphic parameters with the plant community. DBH, height, BA, density, vertical structure and frequency were computed. Floristic diversity and evenness were computed using Shannon diversity and Evenness indices. The plant community types and vegetation-environment relationships were analyzed using classification and ordination tools in R package (ver. 3.6.1), respectively.Result: A total of 171 vascular plant species belonging to 135 genera and 56 families were recorded. About 5.85% of the species were endemic/near endemic to Ethiopia. Woody species (48%) were dominant over herbs (45.6%) and liana (6.4%). The highest number of species was recorded in plant families of Fabaceae (16.37%) and Poaceae (11.7%) followed by Asteraceae (7.02%) and Combretaceae (3.5%). Five plant communities were identified and positively correlated with altitude, slope, sand, silt, soil organic matter, total Nitrogen and disturbance. Vegetation structure reveals that, large number individual species were categorized in the lower class of DBH, BA, frequency and height. The highest Shannon diversity index and evenness values of the study area were 4.21 and 0.95, respectively. Anogeissus leiocarpa, Combretum hartmannianum, Ziziphus mucronata, Terminalia macroptera, Acacia polyacantha were the species with high important value.Conclusion: the study shows Hirmi forest has high species diversity, richness, and endemism. However, due to various disturbances, it is under poor regeneration status that requires urgent conservation measures. Integrated forest management, monitoring, applying restoration techniques by considering the significant environmental factors associated with the species diversity, IUCN threat and regeneration status of the species is recommended to preserve the study forest.

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Section: Vegetation Structure Of Hirmi Forestcontrasting

confidence: 59%

“…Grat-Kahsu 64 species (Atsbha et al 2019) but less than the study conducted in Benshangul Gumuz regional state with 1102 species (Awas 2007).…”

Section: And Inmentioning

confidence: 71%

Ecological and Floristic Study of Hirmi Forest, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

Girmay

Bekele

Demissew

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…Other scholars studies conducted in woodlands of Ethiopia also reported similar findings. For instance Eba and Lenjisa (2017) Tesfaye et al (2019) 5 species respectively in their study. In terms of species richness, the dominance of Fabaceae was reported from similar vegetation studies done by different scholars in the country such as Zerihun et al (2017) and Tesfaye et al (2019).…”

Section: Woody Species Composition Of the Forestmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…For instance Eba and Lenjisa (2017) Tesfaye et al (2019) 5 species respectively in their study. In terms of species richness, the dominance of Fabaceae was reported from similar vegetation studies done by different scholars in the country such as Zerihun et al (2017) and Tesfaye et al (2019). The dominance of Fabaceae is also in line with the assessment results that show the dominance positions in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea (Zerihun et al (2017).…”

Section: Woody Species Composition Of the Forestmentioning

confidence: 77%

Assessment of woody species diversity, key drivers of deforestation and community perception; the case of Hotessa Forest, Bensa Woreda, Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Beyene¹

2020

Afr. J. Plant Sci.

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In Ethiopia, deforestation is a major challenge which leads to increased human encroachment upon wild areas and threats to biodiversity. In line with this, the aim of the current study was to assess woody species diversity and threats in Hotessa forest. Systematic sampling method was used to collect vegetation data. Accordingly, 100 plots each with 400 m 2 (20 m × 20 m) for woody species was laid along transect line. In each of these plots, all woody species were collected. Simple random sampling was used to identify target population and in-depth interviews were conducted with farmers living in close vicinity to the forest to identify challenges and threats on the forest. A total of 43 woody species distributed to 37 genera and 28 families were identified and documented. Fabaceae is the dominant families in terms of species richness. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index computed for the three different altitudinal gradients and showed that lower altitude is the most diverse and has more or less even distribution of species. In general, the diversity and evenness of woody species in the forest was 2.575 and 0.98 respectively. The result of analysis of the responses to human-induced factors responsible for deforestation in the study revealed that most of the respondents attributed population growth (80.82%) as the major factor responsible for deforestation in the study area.

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“…A total of 48 woody species representing 23 families and 31 genera were recorded in the study area ( Figure 2). Present study revealed that Kara forest is floristically poor compared with other forest lands like Gra-Kahsu [18]. However, it is more or less comparable with Borana woodland [8] and better than Gambella low land [19], South Omo zone [3] and Benishangul-Gumuz [20] forests.…”

Section: Floristic Compositionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Woody Species Diversity and Composition of Dry Woodland Vegetation in West Shewa, Central Ethiopia: Implications for Their Sustainable Management

Demie¹

2019

AJAF

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The dry land forest of Ethiopia possesses diverse tree species that are known for their ecological and economic values. Despite growing recognition of environmental and economic benefits of these species, the woodland harbouring these species is degrading. Adequate knowledge on the resource base including the current status of its population is crucial for sustainable management of the forest resource. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the diversity and composition of woody species in Kara dry lands forest. A total of 90 quadrants were established along transect lines. A 400 m 2 quadrants was used, distance between quadrants and transecting lines were 200 m and 500 m respectively. Species diversity and evenness, density, frequency, important value and regeneration status were assessed. This study reveals total of 48 woody species representing 23 families and 31 genera's were found. Out of that, 13 woody species were identified as gum and resin bearing species. The genus of Commiphora and Acacia species were found to be the dominant gum and resin bearing species at the study area. Diversity of the entire woody species assemblage and of the gum-and resin-bearing species was H= 3.47 and H= 2.3 respectively. The evenness values of entire and gum and resin producing woody species were 0.67 and 0.77 respectively. The gum and resin producing woody species accounted for 44.56% of the density, 49.87% of the basal area and 45.49% of the Importance Value Index. However, we recorded the declining natural regeneration of most gum-and resinbearing woody species except for a small number of species, which exhibited signs of healthy populations. Generally, the results of the present study highlighted the absence of conservation actions that will probably be subject to a progressive decline of gum and resin bearing species because of uncontrolled grazing, charcoal production and shifting cultivation. Therefore, proper management plan and domestication of the species through artificial regeneration and area closure are urgently needed.

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Woody species diversity, population structure, and regeneration status in the Gra-Kahsu natural vegetation, southern Tigray of Ethiopia

Cited by 60 publications

References 15 publications

Ecological and Floristic Study of Hirmi Forest, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

Ecological and Floristic Study of Hirmi Forest, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

Assessment of woody species diversity, key drivers of deforestation and community perception; the case of Hotessa Forest, Bensa Woreda, Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Woody Species Diversity and Composition of Dry Woodland Vegetation in West Shewa, Central Ethiopia: Implications for Their Sustainable Management

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