Floristic composition, structure and regeneration status of Achera natural forest in Chilga district, Northwest Ethiopia
Keywords:
Achera, Ethiopia, Floristic description, Regeneration
Abstract
This research focused on the floristic description and forest condition assessment comparisons of Achera Forest in Northwest Ethiopia. The floristic data were recorded from 20 x 20 m 30 sampling plots. Diameter at breast height, height and number of each species individuals were recorded from all plots. A total of 48 woody species, representing 41 genera and 25 families were recorded. The Fabaceae family was the richest (7 species) followed by Combretaceae (5 species) and Asclepiadaceae (4 species). Life-form composition was 60.87% trees, 9.57% shrubs, 17.37% tree/shrubs and 2.17% woody climbers. The overall Shannon diversity index H′ = 3.37 was high for the richness and evenness of the woody species. The low basal area (3.61 m2/ha) and population structure revealed the need for conservation measures for species with poor regeneration status. The floristic diversity revealed that the forest was a Combretum-Terminalia woodland type. There was a density decline in the higher diameter class suggesting the existence of disturbance and unsustainable exploitation of the forest. Based on the results of the study, comprehensive studies and sound management system are recommended.
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References
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Tamrat Bekele (1994). Phytosociology and ecology of a humid Afromontane forest on the central plateau of Ethiopia. J. Veg. Sci. 5: 87–98.
Tesfaye Awas, Menassie Gashaw, Getachew Tesfaye and Asfaw Tihune (2003). Ecosystems of Ethiopia. National Biodiversity Strategy and Plan (NBSAP) Project, IBCR, Addis Ababa.
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Uriarte, M., Canham, C.D., Thompson, J., Zimmerman, J.K. and Brokaw, N. (2005). Seedling recruitment in a hurricane-driven tropical forest: Light limitation, density dependence and the spatial distribution of parent trees. J. Ecol. 93: 291–304.
Van der Maarel, E. (1979). Transformation of cover abundance values in phytogeography and its effects on community similarity. Vegetatio 39: 97–114.
Vivero, J.L., Ensermu Kelbessa and Sebsebe Demissew (2003). Progress on the red list of plants of Ethiopia and Eritrea: Conservation and biogeography of endemic flowering taxa. In: Biodiversity, Ecology, Taxonomy and Phytogeography of African Plants (Ghazanfar, S.A. and Beentje, H.J., eds.). Proceedings of the 17th AETFAT Congress. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London and National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Vivero, J.L., Ensermu Kelbessa and Sebsebe Demissew (2005). The Red List of Endemic Trees and Shrubs of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Fauna and Flora International, Cambridge.
Wendwessen Girmay (2009). Area closure as a Strategy of Biodiversity Conservation and Degraded Land Rehabilitation: The Cases of Gubo and Ninikotto, North Wello, Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Alemayehu Wassie (2002). Opportunities, Constraints and Prospects of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Churches in Conserving Forest Resources: The Case of Churches in South Gonder, Northern Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Aleminew Alelign, Demel Teketay, Yonas Yemshaw and Edwards, S. (2007). Diversity and status of regeneration of woody plants of the peninsula of Zegie, northwestern Ethiopia. Trop. Ecol. 48(1): 37–49.
Birdson, D. and Forman, L. (eds.) (1992). The Herbarium Handbook. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Whitstable Litho Printers Ltd.
Dhaulkhandi, M., Dobhal, A., Batt, S. and Kumar, M. (2008). Community structures are regeneration potential of natural forest site in Gangotri, India. J. Basic Appl. Sci. 4(1): 49–52.
Edwards, S., Mesfin Tadesse and Hedberg, I. (eds.) (1995). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, Vol. 2, Part 2: Canellaceae to Euphorbiaceae. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the Department of Systematic Botany, Uppsala, Sweden.
Edwards, S., Sebsebe Demessew and Hedberg, I. (eds.) (1997). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, Vol. 6: Hydrocharitaceae to Arecaceae. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the Department of Systematic Botany, Uppsala, Sweden.
Edwards, S., Mesfin Tadesse and Hedberg, I. (eds.) (2000). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, Vol. 2, Part 1: Magnoliaceae to Flacourtiaceae. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the Department of Systematic Botany, Uppsala, Sweden.
Elledge, J. and Barlow, B. (2010). Basal Area: A Measure made for Management. Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University.
Ensermu Kelbessa, Sebsebe Demissew, Zerihun Woldu and Edwards, S. (1992). Some threatened endemic plants of Ethiopia. NAPRECA Monograph Series 2: 35–55.
EWNHS (1996). Important Bird Areas of Ethiopia: A first Inventory. Ethiopia Wildlife and Natural History Society, Addis Ababa.
Fekadu Gurmessa (2010). Floristic Composition and Structural Analysis of Komto Afromontane Rainforest, East Wollega Zone of Oromia Region, West Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Friis, I. (1992). Forests and forest trees of northeast tropical Africa: Their natural habitats and distribution pattern in Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. Kew Bull. Add. Ser. 15.
Friis, I., Edwards, S., Ensermu Kelbessa and Sebsebe Demissew (2001). Diversity and endemism in the flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea – what do the published flora volumes tell us? Biol. Skr. 54: 173–193.
Grubb, P.J., Lloyd, J.R., Penigton, T.D. and Whitmore, T.C. (1963). A comparison of montane and lowland rainforests in Ecuador. J. Ecol. 51: 567–601.
Hedberg, I. and Edwards, S. (eds.) (1989). Flora of Ethiopia, Vol. 3, Pittosporaceae to Araliacae. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa and Uppsala.
Hedberg, I., Edwards, S. and Sileshi Nemomissa (eds.) (2003). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Vol 4 (2), Apiaceae to Dipsaceae. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa and Uppsala.
IBC (Institute of Biodiversity Conservation) (2005). National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. IBC, Addis Ababa.
IBC (Institute of Biodiversity Conservation) (2007). Ethiopia: Second Country Report on the State of PGRFA to FAO. Addis Ababa.
Jonathan, M. (2007). Ethiopia Country Environmental Profile. URL: http://ec.europa.eu/development/icenter/repository/Ethiopia-ENVIRONMENTAL-PROFILE-08-2007_en.pdf. Accessed on January 15, 2013.
Kent, M. and Coker, P. (1992). Vegetation Description and Analysis: A Practical Approach. Belhaven Press, London.
Lamprecht, H. (1989). Silviculture on the Tropics: Tropical Forest Ecosystems and their Tree Species – Possibilities and Methods for their Long-term Utilization. Eschborn, DE: GTZ.
Lemessa Kumssa (2010). Floristic Composition and Structure of Gura-Lopho Moist Afromontane Forest, Horo-Guduru Wollega Zone, Oromia National Regional State, West Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Martin, A.J. (1989). Forestry Facts. Department of Forestry, UW – Madison.
Mueller-Dombois, D. and Ellenberg, H. (1974). Aims and Methods of Vegetation Ecology. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Pokhriyal, P. Uniyal, P. Chanuahan, D.S. and Todaria, N.P. (2010). Regeneration status of tree species in forest of phakot and pathri Rao watersheds in Garhwal Himalaya. Curr. Sci. 98(2): 171–175.
Shambel Bantiwalu (2010). Floristic Composition, Structural and Regeneration Status of Plant Species in Sanka Meda Forest, Guna District, Arsi Zone of Oromia Region, Southeast Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Shannon, C.E. and Weiner, W. (1949). The Mathematical Theory of Communication. University of Illinois Press, Urbana, Illinois.
Shiferaw Belachew (2010). Floristic Composition, Structure and Regeneration Status of Woody Plant Species of Sese Forest, Oromiya National Regional State, Southwest Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Simon Shibru and Girma Balcha (2004). Composition, structure and regeneration status of woody species in Dindin Natural Forest, southeast Ethiopia: An implication for conservation. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci. 1: 15–35.
Spiecker, H., Mielikaeinen, K., Kohl, M. and Skovsgaard, P. (eds.) (1996). Growth trends in European forests: Studies from 12 countries. European Forest Institute Research Report No. 5. Springer, Berlin.
Sultan Mohammed (2011). Floristic Composition and Structure of Yegof Mountain Forest, South Wollo, Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar.
Tadesse Woldemariam (2003). Vegetation of the Yayu Forest in Southwest Ethiopia: Impacts of Human Use and Implications for In Situ Conservation of Wild Coffea arabica L. Populations. Ecology and Development Series No. 10. Centre for Development Research, University of Bonn, Germany.
Tamrat Bekele (1994). Phytosociology and ecology of a humid Afromontane forest on the central plateau of Ethiopia. J. Veg. Sci. 5: 87–98.
Tesfaye Awas, Menassie Gashaw, Getachew Tesfaye and Asfaw Tihune (2003). Ecosystems of Ethiopia. National Biodiversity Strategy and Plan (NBSAP) Project, IBCR, Addis Ababa.
Thulin, M. (2004). Horn of Africa Lowlands. In: Hotspots Revisited: Earth´s Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Ecoregions (Mittermeier, R.A., Robles-Gil, P., Hoffmann, M., Pilgrim, J.D., Brooks, T.M., Mittermeier, C.G. and Fonseca, G., eds.). Cemex, Mexico City.
Uriarte, M., Canham, C.D., Thompson, J., Zimmerman, J.K. and Brokaw, N. (2005). Seedling recruitment in a hurricane-driven tropical forest: Light limitation, density dependence and the spatial distribution of parent trees. J. Ecol. 93: 291–304.
Van der Maarel, E. (1979). Transformation of cover abundance values in phytogeography and its effects on community similarity. Vegetatio 39: 97–114.
Vivero, J.L., Ensermu Kelbessa and Sebsebe Demissew (2003). Progress on the red list of plants of Ethiopia and Eritrea: Conservation and biogeography of endemic flowering taxa. In: Biodiversity, Ecology, Taxonomy and Phytogeography of African Plants (Ghazanfar, S.A. and Beentje, H.J., eds.). Proceedings of the 17th AETFAT Congress. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London and National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Vivero, J.L., Ensermu Kelbessa and Sebsebe Demissew (2005). The Red List of Endemic Trees and Shrubs of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Fauna and Flora International, Cambridge.
Wendwessen Girmay (2009). Area closure as a Strategy of Biodiversity Conservation and Degraded Land Rehabilitation: The Cases of Gubo and Ninikotto, North Wello, Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Published
2015-12-30
Section
Short communication