Assessing the Extent of Tree Species Plantation across Different Land Use Types, in Case of Ale District, Ilu Aba Bor Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Large-scale imports of exotic tree species are thought to be one of the main causes of worldwide environmental changes and alien forest plantations, putting many of our native forest ecosystems in danger. In comparison to the condition of native tree species, the status of alien tree plantings receives more attention from the community and encompasses many forms of land use. This study's goals were to evaluate the situation of plantings of exotic tree species across various land use categories. Purposive sampling was used in the data collection design. Plots of 20 m by 20 m, or 400 m² per grazing area, along the roadside, homestead, coffee farm, agricultural boundary, and woodlot were all used as locations for tree evaluation plots. The study's findings showed that there are 78% exotic tree species and 33.91% farmland on which individual families have planted exotic tree species in the Ale district plantation land use status. The tree basal areas are 24.69 m² ha^-1 for exotic tree species and 15.88 m² ha^-1 for native tree species, respectively. There were a lot of exotic tree plantings along the sides of the road, on the edges of agricultural land, and in wooded areas. In comparison to native trees, exotic tree species have been widely planted and now dominate most different forms of land use. Examples of these species are eucalyptus and <i>Grevillea robusta</i>. In order for policymakers to develop conservation and management strategies that can support the sustainability of indigenous tree species, the land use policy should be adopted or changed. The study area is not used for scientific research; there is a gap in the southwestern zone; and exotic tree species are widely planted through various forms of land usage.