AM 
EN 
Ethiopian Journal of Biodiversity - EthJBD
Vol 5 - No 1
This study aims to assess woody species preference, management practices and their effect on the soil productivity of parkland agroforestry in Assosa District, western Ethiopia. Three administrative kebeles and 114 households were randomly selected for the study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Additionally, focus groups and key informant interviews were included in the data collection process. The results revealed that 34.2 % of the total respondents manage trees/shrubs for soil improvement, 21.9 % for fuel wood, 20.2% as a source of timber/construction, 8.8 % for making different tools, 4.4% for shelter, 3.5% as a source of food, 3.5% for fodder, 2.6% to generate income and the rest (0.9%) for medicine. Pruning (62.28%), lopping (24.56%), and coppicing (6.14%) were the most important woody species management practices for enhancing soil productivity by reducing the competition between tree-crop interfaces. The majority of the household respondents (95.6%) perceived woody species management practices to increase soil productivity under tree canopy. Species such as Cordia africana, Mangifera indica, Melia azedarach, and Sesbania sesban, were the suggested woody species to increase soil productivity of the parkland agroforestry systems by applying different management practices. Therefore, it is recommended that maintaining and managing these versatile woody species is crucial to minimize the tree-crop interaction and improve soil productivity in the parkland agroforestry system in the study area.
Keywords: Productivity, Scattered tree, Soil fertility.
The study estimated the woody plant species’ carbon stock along the Muhabura volcano’s altitudinal gradient. Three strata namely low, middle, and high altitudes were created within the study site depending on vegetation appearance and elevation gradients. A total of 60 plots of 20 x 20 m with four transect lines and 100 m apart from one another, were established along the transect to collect data on the carbon in above-ground, below-ground biomass, dead litter, and soil. Height, and Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) of each woody species that had a DBH bigger than 5 cm were measured. The allometric equations were used to estimate the above-ground biomass and below-ground biomass. The result showed 326 individual species belonging to 21 woody plant species and 16 families in the study area. No woody plant species with DBH ≥ 5 cm were found at high altitudes. The estimated total carbon stock in low, middle, and high altitudes were 162.029±9.094 tC ha-1,142.767±0.398 tC ha-1, and 132.923±18.806 tC ha-1, respectively, and they showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). Likewise, the organic carbon in soil differed significantly (P < 0.05) across different depths (0-30 cm, 30-60 cm) in altitudinal gradients. The largest carbon pool in all the three altitudinal gradients was the soil organic carbon pool, sinking the highest carbon amount of 397.551±77.307 tons ha-1. The results showed that Muhabura Volcano can be important for carbon stocks, and effectively conserving this mountain has a considerable contribution to climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.
Keywords: Carbon Sequestration, Climate Change, Volcanoes National ParkAcokanthera schimperi (A. DC.) Schweinf is one of the known medicinal plants in the rural community of Ethiopia. However, there is no information on seed storage behaviour and the appropriate conservation method. The aim of the present study is to determine the appropriate seed pretreatments and to investigate the impact of moisture content, storage temperature, and storage duration on seed germination and storage behaviour of A. schimperi. To provide information on the seed storage behaviour of the species, we combined an experimental technique based on critical moisture content, storage temperature, and duration analysis. The initial moisture content of the seeds was determined and the effects of dehydration and cold storage on seed viability, germination, and subsequent seedling vigour were examined. The best pretreatment method and seeding medium for the species were also determined. The results showed that the initial moisture content of A. schimperi seeds was 55.8%, with almost 100% viability. Seed germination ranged from 75% (mechanical scarification) to 95% (cold water treatment). The A. schimperi seed exhibits non-physiological dormancy, allowing for simple germination in a controlled environment using filter paper or sand media. Viability of A. schimperi seeds was significantly affected by seed moisture content (p < 0.01). However, the interaction effect of storage temperature and duration on seed viability was not significant (P=0.06). These results provide the first concrete evidence of A. schimperi’s recalcitrance and practical guidance for handling the seeds in a practical way and developing sustainable conservation strategies for the species.
Keywords: Acokanthera schimperi, Moisture content, Recalcitrance, Seed viability, Storage behaviour
The high spread of Parthenium hysterophorus in Ethiopia had become a major threat to the various suitable ecosystems in the country. Therefore, the identification of factors facilitating its distribution and mapping of suitable habitats is vital to design future management strategies. A total of 1,352 P. hysterophorus occurrence records and 19 bioclimatic variables were collected from different sources. An ecological niche model was used to map the current and future (the years 2050 and 2070) habitat suitability for P. hysterophorus. The ensemble model revealed that 72.8%, 18.5%, 6.8%, and 1.9% of the total area were unsuitable, low, moderate, and high suitable habitats under current climate conditions respectively. The high suitability area by 2050 and 2070 under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios RCPs 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 will be 8.4%, 8.5%, 9.6%, and 7.8%, 6.1%, and 16%, respectively. We found that the current predicted unsuitable area will probably be vulnerable to loss of 176.9%, 188% and 125% under RCPs 2.6, 4.5, 8.5 respectively by 2050 whereas vulnerable loss of 166.7%, 164.7%, 3,500% were predicted under RCPs 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 by 2070. The mean diurnal range, precipitation of the coldest quarter, and annual mean temperature were identified as the most determinant of the distribution of the species. The threats of this species on native biodiversity and the economy will be high in the future unless management action is undertaken. Our study suggests that all relevant stakeholders should be organized to combat the expansion of this invasive species to new areas particularly protected areas.
Keywords: Invasion, Habitat suitability, Climate change, Species distribution models, Ethiopia.
This study aimed at documenting and comparing the floristic diversity and forest structure of woody plant species in the four villages in Babessi subdivision, Ngo-ketunjia Division. Systematic sampling was used to collect data from 8 main plots (50 m×50 m each). Two main plots were selected from each of the four villages. Each main plot was then subdivided into five subplots of 10 m×10 m. By moving through these subplots all the woody plant species with diameter at breast height (DBH) superior or equal to 5 cm (1.3 m above the ground) were individually measured and recorded. The parameters of floristic diversity such as species richness, basal area, Pielou’s evenness index, Sorensen similarity coefficient, Simpson’s index of dominance, the Shannon-Wiener index, and frequency were calculated using Microsoft Excel 2016. A total of 105 woody plant species distributed in 80 genera and 37 families were inventoried. The 3 most important families in terms of similarity, diversity and dominance were Rubiaceae (13), Euphorbiaceae (12) and Fabaceae (10). Five species were of high conservation priority. Bangolan had the highest number of woody plant species diversity (49) and abundance followed by Baba I (45), Babessi (37) and Babungo (25) respectively. Anthropogenic activities, unsustainable means of exploitation coupled with urban growth were major threats to the gallery forests of this locality. Therefore, it is recommended that appropriate timely measures should be taken by all stakeholders to sustain utilization of vegetation of the study area so as to maintain its biodiversity and provision of ecosystem services.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Gallery Forest, species diversity, and woody plants.