Study of Vegetation Composition of Magada Forest, Borana Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Genene Bekele Tura,P Ramachandra Reddy

doi:10.13189/ujps.2015.030501

Genene Bekele Tura, P Ramachandra Reddy

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.13189/ujps.2015.030501

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Abstract

The Magada forest is one of the National Forest Priority Areas (NFPAs), which is located in the southern part of the country in the Borana Zone of Oromia National Regional State. It lies approximately between longitudes 380 15' E and 380 20' E and latitude 50 27 N and 50 32' N (EMA, 1987) in between Bule-Hora and Dugda Dawa districts. The objective of this work was to provide a list of plant species found in the forest and to recommend solutions for management and conservation problems. The vegetation compositions of the Magada forest were described based on the vegetation data collected between February 2013 and October 2013. Releves of 30 m x 30 m were taken for the woody species and 2 m x 2 m for field layers. A total of 66 releves were analyzed at altitude between 1750 and 2100 m a.s.l. Data on the species list was collected. A total of 197 species of vascular plants belonging to 64 families were identified. Out of these [100 (50.8 %)] are woody species and [97 (49.2 %)] are non-woody species (field layers). 84.3 % of the families are dicots while 12.5 % are monocots and gymnosperms and pteridophytes comprise 1.6 % each. Asteraceae is the largest family with [18 (9.1%)] followed by Acanthaceae [16 (8.1%)], Lamiaceae and Rubiaceae each with [14 (7.1%)] and Fabaceae [13 (6.6%)] species. The vegetation of the Magada forest is disturbed through grazing and browsing by domestic livestock, cultivation and other human uses. This further retard regeneration processes of the trees and shrubs. Pressure on the resources from human population could intensify and impose more rapid and more degenerative changes. Recognizing these issues as possible future scenario underlines the need for management intervention to increase quality of regeneration being recruited and accelerate the growth of the young plants already present.

Highlights

The numerous isolated mature forest trees or patches of forest or woodland of approximately the same species composition as that of the remaining areas with closed forest indicates the extent to which Ethiopian highlands were once forested [17]
The main reasons of deforestation are agricultural expansion, uncontrolled exploitation for various purposes, notably for fuel wood charcoal, construction materials, etc, shifting cultivation and forest fire [3] which are closely linked with the vicious cycle of mutually reinforcing factors, i.e. poverty, population growth and the state of the environment
The Magada forest is one of the National Forest Priority Areas (NFPAs), which is located in the southern part of the country in the Borana Zone of Oromia National Regional State

Summary

Introduction

The numerous isolated mature forest trees or patches of forest or woodland of approximately the same species composition as that of the remaining areas with closed forest indicates the extent to which Ethiopian highlands were once forested [17]. Historical sources indicate that, on the basis of potential climatic climax high forests might have once covered about 35 – 40 % of the total land area of the country. The main reasons of deforestation are agricultural expansion, uncontrolled exploitation for various purposes, notably for fuel wood charcoal, construction materials, etc, shifting cultivation and forest fire [3] which are closely linked with the vicious cycle of mutually reinforcing factors, i.e. poverty, population growth and the state of the environment.

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