Background Fodder trees and shrubs are among the strategic feed resources that complement the dry season feed supply in the tropics. They are an integral element of the farming system incorporated into different land uses and deliver multiple functions, even though their diversity relies on various anthropogenic, physiographic, and agroecological factors. Objective The study aimed to identify indigenous legume fodder trees and shrubs (ILFTS) and estimate their diversity in terms of land use and agroecological zones in southern Ethiopia's Gamo landscape. Method Respondent households were selected using a stratified multistage sampling procedure. Information about the ILFTS was gathered through key informant interviews conducted in each agro‐ecological zone. A total of 273 households from three agro‐ecological zones were selected and interviewed using a semi‐structured questionnaire to assess ILFTS. The information acquired by the questionnaire survey was complemented with a focus group discussion held with 10 respondents in each agro‐ecological zone. Herbarium samples were collected for each of the species for identification and confirmation of the botanical names. Sixty randomly selected sampling plots of each with a dimension of 20 m × 20 m were created, and inventories of ILFTS species were performed and recorded on species inventory sheets. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H) was used to determine the species diversity. Result The study identified 21 ILFTS that have been an integral constituent of the land uses recognised for their multiple functions in all agroecological zones. The mean species richness and diversity indices of the ILFTS differed significantly with land use and agroecological zones, where the lowland area closure exhibited the highest, and the highland homesteads and highland grazing land revealed the least. Conclusion Farmers’ indigenous knowledge and previous experience determined the species richness and diversity of ILFTS in farmlands and homesteads; however, the level of exploitation or protection was the reason for variation in area closure and grazing lands.

No abstract

LULC changes are caused by natural and human alterations of the landscape that could largely affect forest biodiversity and the environment. The aim of the study was to analyzed LULC change dynamics in the western escarpment of the rift valley of the Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Digital satellite images downloaded from USGS were analyzed using ERDAS Imagine (14) and Arc GIS 10.2 software and supervised image classification was used to generate LULC classification, accuracy assessment and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Drivers of LULC change were identified and analyzed. Four land classes were identified such as forest, farmland, settlement and water-wetland. Settlement and farmlands have increased by 7.83% and 5.88%, respectively. On the other hand, both forest and water bodies and wetland decreased by aerial coverage of 11.03% and 2.68%, respectively. The overall accuracy of the study area was 92.86%, 94.22% and 94.3% with a kappa value of 0.902, 0.92 and 0.922, respectively. NDVI values ranged between -0.42 to 0.73. Agricultural expansion (31.4%), expansion of settlement (25.7%) and Fuelwood collection and Charcoal production (22.9%) were the main driving forces that jeopardize forest biodiversity of the study area. Integrated land use and policy to protect biodiversity loss, forest degradation and climate changes are deemed necessary.

Forests play a significant role in mitigating climate change by sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere. This study was aimed to investigate woody species diversity and to estimate the carbon stock potential at Dorze Ayira Natural Forest at Chencha District, Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Systematic sampling techniques were used to collected vegetation data from twenty 20m×20m quadrats. Aboveground carbon and belowground carbon were estimated using allometric equations. Additional 1m×1m subplot was laid for literal and soil samples data collection using destructive methods. A total of 26 woody species represented by 25 genera and 19 families were identified. The mean aboveground biomass and carbon density were 50.87±9.98 and 23.91 ± 4.69 t/ha, respectively. On the other hand, the mean belowground biomass and carbon density were 10.18 ± 1.996 and 4.78 ± 0.94 t/ha.. The average sum of all carbon pools in the study area was 91.74t/ha. The corresponding average CO2 equivalents of all carbon pools was 336.69 ton/ha. The mean leaf literal, herb and grass biomass and carbon stock were estimated to be 2.96 ± 0.49 and 1.39 ± 0.23 t/ha, respectively. Furthermore, the mean soil organic carbon was 60.95±13.49ton/ha (0-10cm, 10-20cm and 20-30cm depth). The result of the current total carbon stock capacity of Dorze Ayra forest revealed its contribution to climate change mitigation. Therefore, the forest needs more protection and due attention to reduce its current anthropogenic pressures.

No abstract