Woody Species Diversity in Traditional Agroforestry Practices of Dellomenna District, Southeastern Ethiopia: Implication for Maintaining Native Woody Species

Abiot Molla,Gonfa Kewessa

doi:10.1155/2015/643031

Abiot Molla, Gonfa Kewessa

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/643031

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Abstract

The major impact of humans on forest ecosystems including loss of forest area, habitat fragmentation, and soil degradation leads to losses of biodiversity. These problems can be addressed by integration of agriculture with forests and maintaining the existing forests. This study was initiated to assess woody species diversity of traditional agroforestry practices. Three study sites (Burkitu, Chire, and Erba) were selected based on the presence of agroforestry practice. Forty-eight (48) sample quadrants having an area of 20 m × 20 m, 16 sample quadrants in each study site, were systematically laid using four transect lines at different distance. The diversity of woody species was analyzed by using different diversity indices. A total of 55 woody species belonging to 31 families were identified and documented. There were significantly different (P<0.05) among the study Kebeles (peasant associations). Mangifera indica, Entada abyssinica, and Croton macrostachyus were found to have the highest Important Value Index. The results confirmed that traditional agroforestry plays a major role in the conservation of native woody species. However, threats to woody species were observed. Therefore, there is a need to undertake conservation practices before the loss of species.

Highlights

Agriculture is the main backbone of the economy and the major occupation of Ethiopian population [1]
Bishaw and Asfaw [3] indicated that population growth and environmental degradation on forest ecosystems lead to loss of forest area, habitat fragmentation, soil degradation, and biodiversity losses
The types of traditional agroforestry practices found in the study area included scattered trees, parkland agroforestry, home gardens agroforestry practices, and live fences

Summary

Introduction

Agriculture is the main backbone of the economy and the major occupation of Ethiopian population [1]. Agroforestry is a dynamic ecologically based natural resources management system through integration of trees on farms that diversifies agricultural landscapes and sustains production for increased social, economic, and environmental benefits [4]. According to Schroth et al [8], agroforestry contributes to biodiversity conservation on a landscape scale in three ways. These are (i) the provision of supplementary secondary habitat for species that tolerate a certain level of disturbance, (ii) the reduction rates of conversion of natural habitat in certain cases, and (iii) the creation of a more benign and permeable “matrix” between habitat remnants compared with less tree-dominated land uses, which may support the integrity of these remnants and the conservation of their populations

Results

Discussion

Conclusion