Abstract
The natural forest in Ethiopia has significant contribution to the ecological and economy of the country. The study was conducted at Dembeza natural forest to explore woody plant species diversity. Systematic and predetermined sampling method was followed to collect the inventory data. The main objective of the study was to undergo inventory of indigenous woody plant species, record regeneration status, determining floristic composition and list out the plant species which have threatened and need immediate conservation. The study was conducted during December to January 2021. A total of four transect and 40 plots were used to collect the inventory data. From the natural forest a total of 66 plant species belongs to 41 families were recorded. The life form distribution of this species was 2 (3.17%) herb, 4 (6.34%) liana, 41 (65.07%) shrub and 16 (25.39%) tree. Fabaceae was found the most species rich families comprising 7 (11.11%) also Lamiaceae and Celastraceae follow with the same 4 (6.34%). The variation of the species frequency ranges between 2.5- 85% showing high heterogeneity in species distribution. Among those Acacia lahai 2.5%, Ekebergia capensis 2.5% Apodytes dimidiata 5% held less in distribution while, Abutilon figarianum 22.5%, Acacia abyssinica 60%, Carissa spinarum 65% and Croton macrostachyus 85% are comparatively recorded high in frequently appearing or widely distributed woody plant species. The total seedling density per hectare of the forest was 6606.25, which have highest density in the forest were Juniperus procera (206.25), Acanthus sennii (218.75), Carissa spinarum (381.25), Myrsine africana (293.75), Calpurnia aurea (418.75) and top Croton macrostachyus (1375). While species which have lowest density were Acacia lahai, Acokanthera schimperi, Calusena anisata, Dovyalis abyssinica, Dodonaea angustifolia, Rhus glutinosa, Rosa abyssinica, Steganotaenia araliacea which mean species not recorded seedling during the inventory. The major factor recorded in the forest were browsing, cutting and logging. Minimizing human intervention, eradicating of invasive alien species and prevent forest disturbance should applied in Dembeza natural forest.
Highlights
Ethiopia is one of the few countries in the world that posses unique characters of flora and fauna with high endemic species [1]
Similar study conducted by [11], because of unlimited human disturbance the natural forest of the Ethiopia was fragmented into small isolated forest patches largely restricted in the gorges and other inaccessible areas
Dembeza natural forest is belongs to the moist evergreen afromontane forest type of ecosystem
Summary
Ethiopia is one of the few countries in the world that posses unique characters of flora and fauna with high endemic species [1]. The flora of Ethiopia estimated from 6500 to 7000 plant species with high endemic in number [1]. The country has great geographical diversity with different agro ecological zones [7]. The natural forest in Ethiopia has significant contribution to the ecological and economy of the country, most of the natural vegetation is highly degraded [3]. The natural vegetation affected by different factors among those agricultural exploitation, illegal settlement, deforestation and invasive alien species, human dependence for fuel wood, non timber forest products, and grazing of livestock are the main [15, 4, 5]. Dembeza natural forest is one of the greatest gene pools for the indigenous plant species that has not been
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