Assessment on Farmers Tree Growing Practices and Tree Species Diversity in the Home Garden, Farmlands, and nearby Forest of Abaychomen District, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the farmers’ tree growing practices and diversity of tree species in the home garden,farmlands, and nearby forest areas of Abaychomen District, Eastern Wollega, Oromia region, Ethiopia. Data were collected fromsampled Households (HHs) using purposive random sampling methods for the socio-economic survey and a systematic sampling technique for vegetation assessment.For the interview, 152 HHs were selected from the two Peasant Associations of Gutene and Dinoberema. Focus group discussions and site observations were used. The result showed 51 tree species in Dinoberema and 41 in Gutene were identified and recorded. The Shannon diversity index is high in the natural forest of both sites and low in the crop fields of Gutene and home garden area of Denoberema. Simpson diversity index exhibited a similar trend as the Shannon diversity index in both sites. Croton macrostachyus and Podocarpus falcatus are the 1stand the 2ndmost important tree species in both sites.Higher Sorensen coefficient similarity observed between crop field and home gardens. The result also revealed, HHs within the rich wealth class have a large area of home garden related to medium and poor. According to respondents viewed, (80 % observed labour availability) in Gutene and (60% observed land availability) in Dinoberema were opportunities to grow trees. However, shortage of cash and land were the main constraints for tree growing practices.Therefore, this study is important for effective tree biodiversity.Hence, identifying and documenting the tree species diversity and practices of local peoples on tree management are necessary to build the gaps in knowledge