Diversity and regeneration of native woody plant species as indicators of sustainable ecosystem service provisioning in Menagesha Suba Forest, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Biodiversity loss poses significant threats to forest ecosystem services (FES) and human well-being. Despite their critical importance, understanding FES dynamics in developing countries like Ethiopia remains limited due to a lack of comprehensive data on biodiversity, vegetation structure, and their relationships with FES. This study aimed to address these gaps by investigating the diversity, structure, regeneration status, and FES provision of woody plant species in Menagesha Suba Forest, one of Ethiopia’s oldest dry Afromontane forests. A vegetation inventory conducted across 94 systematically sampled plots (20 × 20 m) identified 71 woody species, comprising 42.3% trees, 46.5% shrubs, and 11.3% woody climbers, belonging to 56 genera and 43 families. Dominant species included Juniperus procera (IVI = 86.5%) and Olea europaea (IVI = 28.2%). Diversity indices indicated high species richness (H’ = 3.06), moderate evenness (0.72), and high biodiversity (D = 0.93). Household surveys (n = 145) revealed that 43 woody species were utilized for nine key uses. Fuelwood was the most common use (26 species), followed by fences (22 species), farming tools (21 species), house construction (17 species), and household utilities (16 species). Apart native woody species, exotic species, including Eucalyptus globulus, Cupressus lusitanica, and Grevillea robusta, were among the most utilized. Despite disturbances such as illegal fuelwood collection and grazing, the forest remains a critical biodiversity hotspot and an essential provider of ecosystem services. Strengthening landscape multifunctionality through assisted regeneration, targeted reforestation, and afforestation is imperative to balance biodiversity conservation with FES provision. Future research should integrate biodiversity and ecosystem service data to guide evidence-based conservation strategies, fostering socioecological resilience in Ethiopia and similar regions