Floristic Composition and Community Analysis of Berbere Forest, Bale Zone, South East Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted on Berbere forest in Bale Zone of Oromia National Regional State, South east of Ethiopia with the objective of determining the floristic composition and community type of the forest. Systematic sampling method was used to collect vegetation data. Seventy two quadrat size of 400 m 2 (20 m x 20 m) for trees, shrubs and lianas and five 1 m 2 (1 m x 1 m) for herbs one at each corner and one at the center of the main plot were used. In each of these quadrants, all vascular plant species were collected and brought to National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University for identification. Vegetation classification was performed using PC-ORD software packages. Sorensens's similarity coefficient and Shannon-Wiener diversity index were also used to detect similarities among communities and to compute species richness and evenness between the plant communities' respectively. A total of two hundred one plant species in 157 genera and 65 families were identified from the forest. Fabaceae and Asteraceae are the dominant families in terms of species richness. Based on the results of vegetation classification, three plant communities (Terminalia brownie-Psydrax schimperiana, Warburgia ugandensis-Podocarpus falcatus, and Euclea racemosa subsp. schimperi-Combretum molle) were recognized and described. Ethnobotanical studies to explore indigenous knowledge on the diverse uses of plants, and sound management and monitoring as well as maintenance of biodiversity that promote sustainable use of the forest and its products are recommended.

Human Disturbance, Plant Species Composition, Diversity and Community Types of Kafta-Sheraro National Park, Tigray Region, Ethiopia

“…The number of total species recorded in Kafta-sheraro national park (182 species) was higher than other areas of the country like Alemsaga:124 species (Getinet et al The highest Shannon -Wiener diversity index and evenness in the study area were (H'= 2.82, J=0.72) which is comparable with other Ethiopian forests.Yemrehane Kirstos Church: H'=2.88, J=0.79 (Amanuel and Gemedo, 2018); Berbere: H'=2.95, J=0.76 (Tesfaye et al, 2017a); Tara Gedam: H' = 2.98, J=0.65 (Haileab et al, 2011); Doshke: H'=3.04, J=0.85 (Ayalew et al, 2018). But diversity index is higher than Grat-Kahsu protected dry natural vegetation of Tigray region: H'=2.38 (Tesfay et al, 2019) and H'=2.4: (Mligo, 2015).…”