Classification and ordination analysis of wild medicinal plants in Ada'a district, Ethiopia: Implication for sustainable conservation and utilization

Abstract

Wild ethnomedicinal plants (WMPs) represent non-cultivated medicinal flora thriving in natural habitats, and their abundance is thought to be influenced by environmental and anthropogenic factors within our study area. Despite the great significance of the WMPs, there remains a significant gap in understanding the ecological determinants influencing their spatial variations, particularly within the context of botanical and/or ethnobotanical assessments conducted in specific study areas. In this study, we utilized phytosociological principles to investigate the impact of ecological factors on the community types of WMPs in Ada'a district. Through stratified random sampling, data were collected from 59 plots, encompassing both ethnomedicinal flora and environmental parameters. The result of ‘clara’ partitioning method revealed six distinct community types of WMPs which have significant differences (Cophenetic correlation coefficient = 0.801, P < 0.001) among themselves. Moreover, the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) identified elevation, sand, organic matter (OM), phosphorus (P), and grazing as primary factors that influenc the spatial variations in species composition of the medicinal plants. The study provides vital insights into the diversity and spatial dynamics of wild medicinal plants in Ada'a district, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts. We recommend prioritizing in-situ conservation in highland forests and wetland areas as they are recognized as key habitats for diverse medicinal plant resources so as to ensure sustainable utilization.