Seedling Regeneration and Biodiversity Conservation in Gullele Botanical Garden, Finfinnee, Ethiopia

Many natural forests in the highlands of Ethiopia are heavily degraded due to unsustainable forest management. Therefore, a study was conducted in the Munessa-Shashemene forest to design sustainable forest management strategies. The present study investigates the survival, growth, and photosynthetic performance of enrichment planting of four species (Cordia africana, Juniperus procera, Prunus africana, and Podocarpus falcatus ). Planting was undertaken in gaps in the degraded natural forest. Results indicated that survival was different among species. Two years after planting, only 23% of the C. africana and P. africana seedlings had survived, while J. procera and P. falcatus showed higher survival rates of 76 and 47%, respectively. The development of the height over the first 2-year observation period was reasonable for J. procera and P. falcatus. Inadequate height development was registered for P. africana, which was strongly affected by browsing and for C. Africana, which suffered from drought. P. falcatus exhibited the lowest photosynthesis and transpiration rates, which were associated with the highest water use efficiency of all the four species. Enrichment planting especially with J. procera and P. falcatus can be recommended to restore the degraded natural forests in Ethiopian highlands.

The fast growing natures of conifer tree species and favorable economic returns from these trees have encouraged the conversion of natural grasslands in open forests into tree plantations in Ethiopia. The dominant tree species used for this purpose in open forest areas of Eastern Oromia were Podocarpus falcatus, Juniperus procera and Cupressus lusitanica. These tree species plantations are spreading rapidly in mountain areas, specially, in protected open forest areas. However, how different tree species affect soil chemical nutrients of the open areas after plantation is remain largely unknown. Thus, the study was conducted at Keramile open forest of Goro-gutu district, Eastern Ethiopia, to evaluate the effect of coniferous tree species on grassland or open areas found in the open forest. The coniferous tree species used for our study were Podocarpus falcatus, Juniperus procera and Cupressus lusitanica. The current study investigated the soil chemical contents under the three tree species canopies, outside canopies as well as the interactions between tree species and canopy covers. Our results showed that the evaluated coniferous tree species had significant effect on soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), organic carbon (OC), available phosphorous (av. P) and sodium (Na); in which soil pH, TN, OM and OC contents were significantly higher under P. falcatus than J. procera and C. lusitanica tree species. But no significant difference was detected in soil pH, TN, OM and OC contents between J. procera and C. lusitanica tree species. The present results also revealed that the canopy cover and their interaction had significant effect on soil OM, pH, OC, av. K, TN, EC, Na and CEC; were significantly higher OM, pH, OC, av. K, TN and CEC were obtained in the outside canopy than under the tree canopy cover, whereas soil EC and Na contents were higher under canopy than outside canopy cover. However, no significant difference was observed between under canopy and the outside canopy in soil av. P, Ca and Mg contents. Generally, our study showed that the coniferous tree species evaluated had negative impact on soil chemical properties (OM, pH, OC, av. K, TN and CEC) of the open or grassland of the study area. Therefore, management and monitoring of soil chemical characteristics of grassland found in open forest is crucial in Keramile open forest, Goro-gutu district, Eastern Ethiopia and other open woodlands receiving similar practice.

Abstract. Asmelash F, Bekele T, Belay Z, Kebede F. 2021. Cordia africana but not Juniperus procera and Podocarpus falcatus respond positively to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at the early stages of seedling development. Biodiversitas 22: 2971-2980. AMF (Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) inoculation could be an important technology to improve the growth and field survival of trees. Hence, we evaluated the mycorrhizal responsiveness of Cordia africana Lam., Juniperus procera (Hoechst. ex Endl.), and Podocarpus falcatus (Thumb.) Mirb. seedlings. Seedlings germinated on sterile sand were transplanted to 1-liter plastic pots filled with sterile and non-sterile degraded bulk soil. Rhizospheric soil from adult C. africana and J. procera were used as whole-soil AMF inocula. Cordia africana and J. procera received conspecific whole-soil AMF inocula while P. falcatus received J. procera inoculum. Hence, in the two-by-two factorial experiment, we also evaluated the growth effects of AMF inoculation, soil type, and their interaction. On the sterile potting soil, MRi (mycorrhizal responsiveness due to AMF inoculation) of C. africana was positive and significantly (p<0.05) greater than the MRi of J. procera and P. falcatus. However, on the non-sterile potting soil, it was significantly greater than the MRi of P. falcatus only. MRs (MR due to the existing potting soil inocula) and considering all growth variables were mostly positive for C. africana but negative for J. procera and P. falcatus. AMF inoculation significantly increased most growth variables of C. africana seedlings and no significant “inoculation” x “soil type” interaction effects were detected. Hence, AMF inoculation of C. africana seedlings could be merited and under wide range of field conditions. In the case of J. procera and P. falcatus, after-planting care could be more appropriate

Wof‐Washa forest is one of the few remaining dry Afromontane forests in the central plateau of Ethiopia. Woody species composition, structure and regeneration patterns of this forest were studied to generate information essential for formulating feasible management options for the forest. Vegetation data were collected from 64 quadrats of size 20 m × 20 m, 10 m × 10 m and 5 m × 5 m for tree/shrub, sapling and seedling, respectively, laid systematically along transects. A total of 62 woody species belonging to 54 genera and 40 families were recorded. Rosaceae was the most diverse family with five (12.5%) species followed by Anacardiaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Myrsinaceae with three (7.5%) species each. Tree/shrub, sapling and seedling densities were 699, 1178 and 7618.7 individuals/ha. About 56.7% of the importance value index was contributed by Juniperus procera, Maytenus arbutifolia, Podocarpus falcatus and Ilex mitis. Vegetation classification resulted in five plant communities: Ilex mitis – Maytenus obscura, Galiniera saxifraga – Maesa lanceolata, Juniperus procera – Erica arborea, Podocapus falcatus – Allophylus abyssinicus and Pittosporum viridiflorum – Polycias fulva community types. Regeneration status of all the woody plant species was categorized as ‘Good’ (28%), ‘Fair’ (19%), ‘Poor’ (8%), ‘None’ (40%) and ‘New’ (5%).

BackgroundEthnoveterinary studies are important to maintain the sustainability of livestock health and support people’s livelihoods through the provision of food, maintaining livestock health, and other biological resources. This study was carried out in Soro District, southern Ethiopia, to identify, document and analyse plant species with ethnoveterinary uses along with the associated indigenous and local knowledge.Materials and methodsInformants were selected using purposive (key informants) and systematic random sampling (general informants) methods. Data on ethnoveterinary plants and their uses were collected through semi-structured interviews, guided field walks, 13 focus group discussions with five to seven members in each and participant observation. Informant consensus factor and fidelity level were computed to identify the most common livestock ailment categories and the best plant species with ethnoveterinary use, respectively. Preference ranking methods were used to identify the potentially effective ethnoveterinary medicinal plants for the most frequently reported livestock ailments. The use diversity of multipurpose plants with ethnoveterinary importance was analysed using the analytical methods of ethnobotany including priority ranking, comparisons and important indices. The T-test statistic was used to compare knowledge differences among different social groups.ResultsA total of 132 plant species in 120 genera and 61 families were reported by informants as having ethnoveterinary uses. The plants are said to be used by the local communities in various ways to treat 50 livestock health problems. Higher number of informants (23.77%) cited Momordica foetida for the treatment of 16 livestock ailments. The highest informant consensus value for this species is associated with its use for treating blackleg in cattle; Nicotiana tabacum was cited for the treatment of 15 livestock ailments mainly recommended for the Lumpy Skin Disease/Ailment of bovines; Croton macrostachyus for treatment of 13 livestock ailments including wooden tongue, FMD in bovines; and Gymnanthemum amygdalinum for nine ailments mainly diarrhoea of all livestock types. Achyranthes aspera is claimed to provide the most effective treatment for Aspiration pneumonia (severe coughing in bovines, sheep and goats) alone, while Croton macrostachyus, Ximenia americana, Allium sativum and Juniperus procera were indicated as potential plant species to treat Lumpy Skin Disease in bovines in the order given. The fidelity level analysis showed that Datura stramonium, Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustifolia and Asparagus africanus were potential medicinal plant species to treat the respective ailments of rabies, Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and evil eye/spirit. Multipurpose plant species including Prunus africanus, Combretum molle and Afrocarpus falcatus have been highly threatened as indicated by direct matrix ranking mainly due to collection of fuel wood, construction materials and making household utensils, and farm implements rather than for other uses.ConclusionSoro District has rich and diversified livestock herbal medicinal resources, and indigenous knowledge of remedy preparations and applications is transmitted through generation lines. This resource faces anthropogenic threats with deforestation being the leading factor. Consequently, ethnoveterinary medicinal plants continue to decline before adequate and proper scientific documentation and testing are made. There is a dire need for planning and implementation of appropriate in situ and ex situ conservation strategies and to strive towards ensuring the survival and sustainable utilization of such important plant resources of Soro District. This must be supported by further documentation of the associated indigenous knowledge and pharmacological testing of the key promising species including Balanites aegyptiaca (novel species/NS to treat specific ailment), Brugmansia suaveolens (novel species/NS reported first to treat Livestock ailments/LsAs), Euclea divinorum (NS to treat specific ailments), Grevillea robusta (NS), Hagenia abyssinica (NS for the reported specific ailment), Pentanema confertiflorum (NS), Juniperus procera (NS), Maesa lanceolata (NS), Millettia ferruginea (NS for reported specific ailments), Schrebera alata/NS, Securidaca longepedunculata, Spiniluma oxyacantha/NS, Vepris nobilis (novel species reported first to treat LsAs), Zanthoxylum asiaticum /NS and Ximenia americana (NS for specific ailments). This ethnoveterinary study attempted to fill part of the gaps concerning the prevalent livestock health problems and the associated indigenous and local knowledge in the area.

Deforestation in Ethiopia hinders sustainable forest management, with afforestation and reforestation often favoring non-native tree species. Planting native timber trees is crucial but in the past silvicultural knowledge hinder their widespread adoption. This study evaluated three spacing treatments (2 m x2 m, 2.5 m × 2.5 m, and 3 m × 3 m) on the early growth of economically and ecologically important native Juniperus procera (Cupressaceae) and Afrocarpus falcatus (Podocarpaceae) at the Holeta research site using a randomized complete block design. Seedling survival, height, root collar diameter, and diameter at breast height were monitored. Spacing did not significantly affect seedling survival, height, or root collar diameter in either species. However, the significantly enhanced diameter at breast height observed for Juniperus procera at ages 3 and 4 (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01) and for A. falcatus at age 3 (p = 0.009) under 2.5 m × 2.5 m spacing indicates that this medium spacing is optimal for promoting early diameter growth at the study location. Further research on long-term effects and a comprehensive economic and ecological assessment is needed for sustainable management of these valuable native tree species.

Tackling the invisibility of abeyant resistance to mainstream biodiversity conservation: Social movement theory and botanic garden agency

Contributions of urban green spaces for climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation in Dessie city, Northeastern Ethiopia

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as international system for biodiversity conservation stated that all botanical garden should conserve endangered biodiversity. In this context, the IUCN publish the IUCN’s Red List every year; in the year 2021 for example only around 35,765 species or 28% out of 75% conserved in ex-situ conservation or botanical garden. Indonesia has been developed further the notion through Presidential Decree No. 93/2011 that accommodated Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC). Target 8 stated that at least 75 per cent of threatened plant species in ex- situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and at least 20 percent available for recovery and restoration programs. From previous study, two out of six botanical gardens managed by the Government implemented the Target varied. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate others including The Cibinong Science Center Botanical Garden (CSCBG). The study used qualitative method combined with policy approach through interview and observation with Miles and Hubermen approach for analysis. The result shows that the Gardens has not accommodated the policy yet, however the Garden has introduced technology with more than 6.000 species equipped with barcode. The collection is mainly Indonesia tropical plants specifically flora at lowland. Therefore, to strengthening policy of ex-situ conservation in the CSBG needs further policies: (a) coordination among and within related actors, (b) integration of biodiversity conservation into socio-economic sectors, (c) adequacy and sufficiency of funds, and (d) governance and stakeholder participation.

Recent concerns to strengthen the role of Tropical Botanic Gardens (TBGs) in conservation are constrained by inadequate representation of models of best practices. This also presents minimal opportunities to explore and fully appreciate the contribution of botanic gardens to biodiversity conservation, especially in urban landscapes. We contribute to addressing this issue using the KNUST Botanic Garden. The study explores biodiversity variation in two microsites (upland and inundated areas), within the context of threats from urbanization. The composition, diversity, and conservation status of plants were assessed from three 50 × 50 m plots each located at the two microsites. A total of 78 adult plant species were recorded, with 87.2% native and 12.8% exotic species. Some species were exclusively recorded at the upland (29 species) and inundated (27 species) microsites. On average, the species diversity was significantly high (HI = 3.36). The botanic garden preserves 20 nationally threatened native species, with over half of them listed in the IUCN Red List category of vulnerable species (species facing high risk of extinction in the wild). A considerable number of threatened species were exclusive to the upland (10 species) and inundated (7 species) microsites. The results indicate that the Botanic Garden could play a critical role in biodiversity conservation if integrated into national conservation and urban development strategies to safeguard its potential. The findings of the study are discussed within the context of the contribution of botanic gardens to biodiversity conservation and holds applications for sustainable management of TBGs in urban landscapes.

Corrigendum to “Conservation value of forest plantations for bird communities in western Kenya” [Forest Ecol. Manag. 255 (2008) 3885–3892

The contributions of a silvicultural practice (enrichment planting technique) to ecosystem restoration, management and biodiversity conservation were assessed. Data were collected from eight 25 × 25 m plots located in the three forest types (Degraded Forest, Strict Nature Reserve and Enrichment Planting Forest) in Akure Forest Reserve, Nigeria, using a systematic line transect. Soil samples were also collected in each plot at three depths. The results indicated that there were 51 tropical hardwood species distributed into 24 families in the forest ecosystem. The Shannon–Weiner indices varied from 3.25 to 2.74. Enrichment Planting Forest was discovered to have the highest number of species, genera and families when compared to the other forest types. Also, highest biodiversity indices were obtained for it. All the variables were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the forest regenerated through enrichment planting. There was generally no significant difference in soil properties among the forest types except for total nitrogen at depths of 30–45 and 45–60 cm for SNR. The enrichment planting silvicultural practice therefore possesses the potential for soil fertility improvement, volume yield increment and restoration of degraded forests. Its use is therefore recommended for forest restoration in developing countries where anthropogenic activities have adversely affected the natural forest ecosystem.

Floristic composition, population structure, and regeneration status of woody species of Dabal forest found in East Hararghe zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, were studied. Vegetation data were obtained from 52 main plots of 20 × 20 m for mature woody species and 5 subplots of 5 × 5 m for seedlings and saplings. Density and dbh of each live woody plant species found in each sample plot were recorded. Frequency, basal area, importance value, and Shannon-Wiener diversity indices were also computed. Totally 59 woody plant species distributed in 33 families were documented. Of these, 45.80, 44.10, and 5.08% were shrubs, trees, and lianas, respectively. Species diversity and evenness indices were 3.56 and 0.87, respectively. Stem count of all woody species was 3379 stems ha-1. Out of this, 44.6, 30.8, and 24.59% were seedlings (dbh <3.5 cm), saplings (dbh between 3.5 and 10 cm), and mature (dbh >10 cm) individuals, respectively. Total basal area of all individuals with dbh ≥3.5 cm was 29.88 m2 ha-1. Juniperus procera, Cupressus lusitanica, Eucalyptus globulus, Afrocarpus falcatus, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Myrsine africana, Maytenus undata, Hagenia abyssinica, Ekebergia capensis, and Cordia africana were species with top ten IVI. Most of these species were top densest, dominant, and frequent. Analysis of population structure based on pooled densities of all species in each dbh class showed that density of seedling > sapling > mature individuals, signifying healthy population structure with good natural regeneration potential. On individual basis, however, 35.6 and 8.5% of species showed fair and poor regeneration statuses, respectively, that deserve attention for conservation.

Botanic gardens often highlight public education as a priority. Increasing knowledge about biodiversity conservation is a frequently stated aim of environmental education. This is often based on the assumption that increasing knowledge may generate positive environmental attitudes. We investigate the relationship between knowledge and environmental attitudes and whether visits to botanic gardens alter visitors’ ecological knowledge and environmental attitudes. We surveyed 1054 visitors at five UK botanic gardens, half of whom were interviewed on entry and half leaving. Our results suggest a strong positive relationship between knowledge and attitudes, although we are unable to disentangle cause and effect. We show botanic gardens have little influence on knowledge, however environmental attitudes are more positive amongst those leaving a botanic garden. This study presents the first quantitative evidence showing botanic gardens can positively influence visitors’ environmental attitudes. With over 300 million visitors a year globally, botanic gardens have the potential to greatly improve knowledge about, and attitudes towards plant conservation. Evaluating the influence botanic gardens may have on visitors can be useful both in demonstrating to funders the contribution they make, and to allow learning and development of approaches to maximise the benefits of environmental education schemes in botanic gardens.

The study was conducted at Keramile protected open forest of Goro-gutu district, Eastern Ethiopia, with the objective to examine the effects of tree species on the above ground aboveground biomass yield and ground cover of the herbaceous plants. Three tree species, Podocarpus falcatus and Juniperus procera from indigenous and Cupressus lusitanica from exotic tree species were used. Twenty large trees from each tree species, a total of 60 trees were selected purposively and 480 samples (four quadrats under and outside canopy in four directions for each tree) of herbaceous plants were collected. The results of the current study showed that tree species, canopy cover and their interactions had significant (P 0.05) found between J. procera and C. lusitanica trees. The above ground aboveground biomass yield and ground cover obtained outside canopy was significantly higher than under canopy cover of the three tree species examined. The overall result showed that tree canopy cover strongly decreased aboveground biomass yield (P<0.0001) and ground cover (P<0.0001) of the herbaceous plants. The increased above ground aboveground biomass yield and ground cover of herbaceous plants in the outside canopies in the current study indicates that the presence of these tree species in the study area could increase the vulnerability of the herbaceous plant community to future disturbances, such as climate events. Generally, tree species, canopy cover and their interaction had negative impact on ground cover and aboveground biomass yield of herbaceous plant, in Keramile protected open forest, Goro-gutu district, eastern Ethiopia. Therefore, integrated forest and herbaceous plant management and conservation is crucial in Keramile protected open forest, Goro-gutu district, eastern Ethiopia and areas receiving similar practice.