World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

FLORISTIC COMPOSITION, VEGETATION STRUCTURE AND REGENERATION STATUS OF WALDIBA NATURAL FOREST, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA

Kiros Abay* and Kahsu Gebretsion

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted in Waldiba natural forest, to investigate the floristic composition, vegetation structure and regeneration status, since there was lack of information in the forest. A total of 60 quadrats, measuring, 10 m x 10 m for trees and 5m*5m nested plots for saplings and seedlings at an interval of 300 m, were laid along three established transects at 500 m apart. Density, frequency, basal area, importance value index, Shannon diversity and evenness were computed. A total of 73 species, representing 32 families were recorded. Fabaceae was the do-minant family followed by Combretaceae and Euphorbiaceae. The density was 1906.6 individuals/ha, of which, 35.7% was contributed by only three species. Dichrostachys cinearea, Combretum fragrans and Combretum hereroense hereroense were the most frequent species. The total basal area of the species was 5.52 m2 ha-1, which is lower compared to many other forests in Ethiopia. Dichrostachys cinearea (38%), Combretum fragrans (29%) and Combretum hereroense (26%) were the species with higher importance value index. The Shannon diversity and evenness were 3.17 and 0.74 respectively, indicating high diversity. The density of seedlings was higher than saplings and mature trees and the DBH and height distribution showed an inverted J shape, indicating active regeneration, with lack of taller and bigger trees, which may be as a result of anthropogenic factors. Hence, immediate conservation action must be taken and a research on soil seed bank and carbon storage potential of the forest is recommended.

[Full Text Article]   [Download Certificate]