World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

DIVERSITY OF WILD EDIBLE WOODY PLANT SPECIES IN JORE WOREDA, GAMBELLA REGIONAL STATE, SOUTH WEST, ETHIOPIA

Abiyot Mamo Terfa, Bol Puoch Deng and Dr. Prem Kumar Dara

ABSTRACT

An ethno botanical study was conducted in Jore woreda of Gambella Regional State of Ethiopia with the objective of identifying the Diversity of Wild Edible woody Plant Species in Jore Woreda of Gambella region, southwestern part of Ethiopia. The study was given special emphasis on assessing the diversity of wild edible plant species and their benefit as supporting local community food gap (especially during shortage of main food crop) in the area. In vegetation data sampling transect method having 84 square shapes with size of 20 x 20 meter (400 m2) sample plots were established along transect line. In addition 120 households from two representative administrative kebeles were selected and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire. In addition to household interviewed, other methods such as focus group discussions and key informants interview were also employed. Twenty one, wild edible plant species belonging to 13 families were identified. Arecaceae family, which is represented by three species accounted for the largest population of the entire plants followed by Ulmaceae represented by two species. The population status of the plant in the study area was decreasing and showed abnormal population structure (more or less J –shape and bell shape population structure). Deforestation due to agricultural expansion, forest fire and increased demand of forest resource for different purpose (fuel wood, construction materials) are the major threats encountered in sustainable of these valuable wild plant species. Therefore, there is a need to design and implement sustainable natural resource management and enhance the productivity and environmental services capacity of identified plant species as well as the entire vegetation in the study area.

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