Woody Species Structure and Regeneration Status in Kafta Sheraro National Park Dry Forest, Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Fitsum Temesgen,Bikila Warkineh

doi:10.1155/2020/4597456

Abstract

The study was conducted in Kafta Sheraro National Park (KSNP) dry woodland natural forest located in Kafta Humera and Tahitay Adiyabo weredas (districts), Western and Northwestern Zones of Tigray regional governmental state, North Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to explore the floristic composition, structure, and regeneration of woody species in the home ofLoxodonta africanaL.,Hippotragus equinus,Anthropoides virgo,Ourebia ourebi,Crocuta crocuta,Tragelaphus strepsiceros,Phacochoerus africanus, and unidentified crocodile and fish species. In the park, the vegetation ecology has not been studied up to date which is necessary for conservation. The systematic sampling technique was used to collect vegetation and human disturbance (presence and absence) data from August to December 2018. The vegetation data were collected from 161 plots each with a size of 400 m2(20 m × 20 m) for tree/shrub while subplots of size 100 m2(10 m × 10 m) and 25 m2(5 m × 5 m) for sapling and seedling, respectively, were established in the main plots. Individual tree and shrub diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥2.5 cm and height ≥ 2 m were measured using tape meter and clinometer, respectively. Diameter at breast height (DBH), frequency, density, basal area, and importance value index (IVI) were used for vegetation structure description while the density of mature trees, sapling, and seedling was used for regeneration. A total of 70 woody species (46 (65.7%) trees, 18 (25.7%) shrubs, and 6 (8.6%) tree/shrub) were identified. The total basal area and density of 79.3 ± 4.6 m2·ha−1and 466 ± 12.8 stems·ha−1, respectively, were calculated for 64 woody species. Fabaceae was the most dominant family with 16 species (22.9%) followed by Combretaceae with 8 species (11.4%). The most dominant and frequent species throughout the park wereAcacia mellifera,Combretum hartmannianum,Terminalia brownii,Balanites aegyptiaca,Dichrostachys cinerea,Acacia senegal,Acacia oerfota,Boswellia papyrifera, Ziziphus spina-christi, andAnogeissus leiocarpus. Abnormal patterns of selected woody species were dominantly identified. The regenerating status of all the woody plant species was categorized as “fair” (18.75%), “poor” (7.81%), and “none” (73.44%). There was a significant correlation between altitude, anthropogenic disturbance (grazing and fire frequency), and density of seedling, sapling, and mature trees. But there was no correlation between gold mining and regeneration population. However, there is a good initiation for the conservation of the park; still, the vegetation of the park was threatened by human-induced fire following intensive farming, gold mining, and overgrazing. Therefore, the study area was the habitat for the population of the African elephant; species with low importance value indices and lack or having few seedling and sapling stage should be prioritized for conservation, and their soil seed banks should be studied further.

Highlights

Ethiopia is considered as one of the top twenty-five biodiversity richest countries in the world and hosts the Eastern Afromontane and the Horn of Africa hotspots [1]. ere were around 6000 species of higher plants, of which about10% were endemic plants in the country [2]. e flora is very heterogeneous and has a rich endemic element owing to the diversity in climate, vegetation, and terrain
Kafta Sheraro National Park to date lacks scientific and essential baseline investigation on vegetation structure and regeneration status that is fundamental for sustainable management and conservation of the park tree species. erefore, the main objective of this study was to complete the current information gap in woody species of Kafta Sheraro National Park dry forest. e specific objectives of the study were (1) to document the species composition and structure (diameter at breast height (DBH) distribution, height class distribution, density, basal area, frequency, and importance value index), (2) to assess the regeneration status of Kafta Sheraro National Park natural woody species, and (3) to evaluate plots based on human impacts on structure and regeneration status of woody tree species
Population structure of the most common species of trees and shrubs revealed different types of irregular patterns, addressing a high variation among species population dynamics within the forest and an indication for low regeneration conditions. e irregular patterns of species indicated the absence of plant populations in various diameter classes. is clearly shows tree species in different stages of development are the abnormal status of population structure. e regeneration status of the tree species of the study site dominantly showed “poor” and “none” regeneration status (81.25%) but only 18.75% trees/ shrubs species falls under “fair” regenerating” status because of the density of mature trees > sapling > seedling

Summary

Introduction

Ethiopia is considered as one of the top twenty-five biodiversity richest countries in the world and hosts the Eastern Afromontane and the Horn of Africa hotspots [1]. ere were around 6000 species of higher plants, of which about10% were endemic plants in the country [2]. e flora is very heterogeneous and has a rich endemic element owing to the diversity in climate, vegetation, and terrain. 10% were endemic plants in the country [2]. E flora is very heterogeneous and has a rich endemic element owing to the diversity in climate, vegetation, and terrain. International Journal of Forestry Research e diverse topographic factors coupled with the diverse climatic factors have created diverse vegetation types in the country. Dry tropical forests are characterized by a seasonal climate, with a dry season of 4–7 months [6]. Half of Ethiopia, the land surface is located in dry areas and associated tropical dry forests [7]. Their vegetation resources are being destroyed increasingly because of anthropogenic disturbance [8]. Their vegetation resources are being destroyed increasingly because of anthropogenic disturbance [8]. us, the floristic composition, regeneration status, and vegetation structure are crucial elements to clearly visualize the human activities as well as environmental factors affecting the vegetation of a given area [9]

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Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion