Characterizing the existing woodland forest to determine forest habitat management options in Gamogofa zone, southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopian woodlands are vital for the conservation of plant diversity, including genetic pools of Combretum-Terminalia woodland. However, the woodlands are continuously shrinking and need empirical scientific studies for their effective conservation and sustainable management. These studies was, therefore, conducted to characterizing the existing woodland forest and synthesize literature to determine forest habitat management options in Gamogofa zone, southern parts of Ethiopia. A total of 30 (20 m × 20 m) quadrants for tree/shrubs and 5 m × 5 m for sapling and seedlings were sampled to identify and describe composition, population structure, species diversity, regeneration status, and importance value index (IVI) of woodland forest species. The analysis was done by excel, and results show that a total of 57 woody plant species were recorded. The study site woodland species, were 327 (11.36%) trees/shrubs, 2344 (81.45%) saplings, and 207 (7.19%) seedlings. The value of the Shannon diversity index and evenness were recorded 2.66 and 0.87, respectively. Combretum adenogonium had the highest IVI followed by Acacia mellifera, Euclea divinorum, Cadaba farinosa, Balanites aegyptiaca and accounted for 44% of the total species. Combretum paniculatum, Ficus ovata, Strychnos innocua, Grewia bicolor and Cordia africana were species with lower IVI. The ratio of seedlings and saplings to mature individuals was 0.7:3, respectively. The entire woodlands are good, fair and poor regeneration was recorded 0, 67%, and 33% respectively. 18% of the species had neither seedlings nor saplings. The forest has no good regeneration of species, so it needs immediate management intervention to conserve biodiversity and protect the ecosystem services.