Interplay of Regeneration, Structure and Uses of Some Woody Species in Chilimo Forest, Central Ethiopia

Studies on the regeneration, structural and uses of some woody species in Chilimo Forest, one of the dry Afromontane Forests of Ethiopia were  conducted. To gather vegetation and environmental data from the study forest, a 900 m2 (30 m x 30 m) quadrat was laid following the  homogeneity of vegetation. Investigation of the seedling density and regeneration of target species has been carried out using the same quadrat size, 30 m x 30 m. In each of these quadrats, the numbers of all seedlings that are up to the height of 150 cm were recorded. Individuals attaining 150 cm and above in height but less than 10 cm thick were considered as sapling and counted. Interview was conducted for the  investigation of the various pressures exerted on different species. All together the plant species recorded from Chilimo Forest are 213 which can be categorised into 83 families. Of these, the highest proportion is the angiosperm (represented by 193 species) followed by pteridophyta (16 species); the least represented being the gymnosperms (represented by 2 exotic and 2 indigenous species). Structural and regeneration studies of some woody species indicated that there are species that require urgent conservation measures. To provide a better management and monitoring as well as to maintain the biodiversity, cultural and economic values of the forest unsustainable utility of the forest would be controlled with the various conservation activities in place

Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-Wild Edible Plants of Chelia District, West-Central Ethiopia

This study was aimed at carrying out ethnobotanical investigation of wild and semi-wild edible plants (WSWEPs) involving documentation and analysis of the associated indigenous knowledge in Chelia District, West-Central Ethiopia. Semi-structured interviewing, direct matrix ranking, focus group discussions (FGDs), and guided field walks with informants were employed to collect qualitative and quantitative data. A total of 58 WSWEPs species classified into 48 genera and 30 botanical families were documented. The Moraceae with five species (16.66%) and Asteraceae with four species (13.33%) were the most represented families with high number of wild edible plant species. However, Urtica simensis (Urticaceae) (74.3% of informants), Chionanthus mildbraedii (Oleaceae) (68.4% of informants), Carissa spinarum (Apocynaceae) (66.1% of informants) and Ficus sur (Moraceae) (65.3% of informants) were the highly cited wild food plants. Most of the WSWEP species were shrubs represented with 21 species (36.20%) followed by trees and herbs with 18 species each (31.03% each) and liana with one species (1.72%). About 13.33% of the WSWEPs of Chelia District were endemic to Ethiopia. The average number of WSWEPs reported by women was more than that reported by men, and similarly senior members of the community also reported significantly higher numbers of edible species than younger members (P<0.05). The key informants reported significantly higher mean number of edible species of WSWEPs than the general informants (P<0.05). Women (80.1 ±1.6%) and children (76.1 ±2.3%) were the major gatherers followed by men (13.2±2.4%) and all household members (12.9 ±1.3%). The majority of respondents (77.4 ±2.1%) reported that WSWEPs were consumed by all household members followed by women (23.1± 2.2%), elders (15.8 ±2.3%), children (19.4 ±1.6%) and men 8.2±2.1%). Most inhabitants predominantly consumed fruits (40%) and fresh leaves (17.5%) followed by shoots (12.5%). Based on multipurpose criteria, Cordia africana, Vepris dainellii and Chionanthus mildbraedii were the most commonly used multipurpose species. Forests were the major reservoirs contributing 19 species (18%) of WSWEPs followed by woodland and disturbed bushland adding 28 species (17%) and river banks contributing 26 species (16%). Our analysis also showed that agricultural expansion was identified as a major threat to WSWEPs followed by overgrazing and fuelwood collection in the study area. In light of our findings, we recommend further research on the possibility of adapting, growing and intentionally managing some of the commonly consumed WSWEPs as well as on the toxicity and nutritional composition of these plants to ensure safety of consumption and economic benefits

Structure and Regeneration Status of Gedo Dry Evergreen Montane Forest, West Shewa Zone of Oromia National Regional State, Central Ethiopia

This study was conducted on Gedo Dry Evergreen Montane Forest in West Shewa Zone of Oromia National Regional State, 182-196 km west of Addis Ababa (Finfinne). The objective of the study was to determine structure and regeneration status of Gedo Forest. All trees and shrubs with Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) ≥ 2 cm were measured for height and diameter. The density of tree species in Gedo Forest decreases with increasing height and DBH classes. The forest is characterized by high density of trees in the lower class than in the higher. Three layers (lower, middle and upper) of tree were identified from the study of vertical stratification of Gedo Forest following the International Union for Forestry Research Organization (IUFRO) classification scheme. The regeneration status of selected woody species was assessed as well as the forest was compared with five dry evergreen forests of Ethiopia. Based on the result of the study, research on the soil seed bank, population dynamics and ecology of endemic species were recommended.Keywords: Dry evergreen montane forest; Gedo Forest; Phytogeographical; Compariso

Forest Carbon Stocks in Woody Plants of Arba Minch Ground Water Forest and its Variations along Environmental Gradients

The role of forests in mitigating the effect of climate change depends on the carbon sequestration potential and management. This study was conducted to estimate the carbon stock and its variation along environmental gradients in Arba Minch Ground Water Forest. The data was collected from the field by measuring plants with a DBH of >5cm in quadrat plots of 10 X 20 m and the carbon stocks of each plant were analyzed by using allometric equations. From this study the mean total carbon stock density of Arba Minch Ground Water Forest was found to be 583.27 t ha-1, of which 829.12 t ha-1, 165.88 t ha-1, 1.28 t ha-1, 83.80 t ha-1 was contained in the above ground carbon, belowground carbon, litter carbon and soil organic carbon (0-30 cm depth) 0respectively. Similarly, the analysis of carbon stock variation of different carbon pools on eight different aspects of the forest area showed a significant variation with the exception of litter carbon stock and this is due to fast decomposition rate of litters and low amount of litter fall in the forest. The amount of carbon stock in above and belowground biomass, soil organic carbon and the total carbon stock was higher on the southern aspect as compared to other aspects. This study concluded that the carbon stock value of Arba Minch Ground Water Forest is large, and this will serve as a potential entry point for the engagement of the forest in REDD project.Keywords: Environmental variables; Ground Water Forest; Climate change; Biomass; Forest carbon stoc

Diversity, Structure and Regeneration Status of the Woodland and Riverine Vegetation of Sire Beggo in Gololcha District, Eastern Ethiopia

This study was conducted on the woodland and riverine vegetation of Sire Beggo in Gololcha District, eastern Ethiopia with the aim of documenting the floristic composition, population structure and identifying major plant community types. Preferential sampling method was employed to collect vegetation data by focusing on vegetation homogeneity. From the study sites, 70 quadrats (each measuring 20 x 20 m = 400 m2 ) were sampled. Regeneration status of woody plants was also assessed using the same quadrate size. The data on the herbaceous species were collected from five, 1 m x 1 m subplots laid at four corners each and one at the centre of the large plot. Vegetation classification was performed using TWINSPAN software package. A total of 185 plant species, representing 61 families were recorded. Fabaceae was the dominant family represented by 15 genera and 23 species, followed by Poaceae and Euphorbiaceae with 17 and 12 species each respectively. The output of TWINSPAN showed five plant community types. Structural analysis of the dominant species revealed different patterns of population structure. Some of the results of population structure and regeneration status indicated abnormal pattern which dictate the need for an urgent conservation of the study area.Keywords: Gololcha, Floristic composition, Structural analysis, Woodland, Ethiopia

Antimicrobial activity of traditional medicinal plants from Ankober District, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Context: Traditional medicinal plants have long been used in Ethiopia to treat human and livestock ailments. Despite a well-documented rich tradition of medicinal plant use in the country, their direct antimicrobial effects are still poorly known. Objective: To investigate the antimicrobial activity of 19 medicinal plant species that were selected based on the ethnobotanical information on their traditional use to treat infectious diseases in Ankober District. Methods: About 23 different ethanol extracts of plants obtained by maceration of various parts of 19 medicinal plant species were studied for potential antimicrobial activity using a broth microdilution method against Bacillus cereus, Bacteroides fragilis, Candida albicans, Clostridium perfringens, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus pyogenes. Results: Plant extracts from Embelia schimperi Vatke (Myrsinaceae) showed the strongest antibacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 64 mu g/ml against B. cereus, L. monocytogenes, and S. pyogenes. Growth inhibitory activities were also observed for extracts of Ocimum lamiifolium Hochst. (Lamiaceae) against S. pyogenes, and those of Rubus steudneri Schweinf. (Rosaceae) against S. epidermidis at an MIC value of 128 mu g/ml. Generally, 74% of ethanol extracts (17 extracts) showed antimicrobial activity against one or more of the microbial strains tested at an MIC value of 512 mu g/ml or below. Discussion and conclusions: Results confirm the antimicrobial role of traditional medicinal plants of Ankober and warrant further investigations on promising medicinal plant species so as to isolate and characterise chemicals responsible for the observed strong antimicrobial activities

Assessing the levels of food shortage using the traffic light metaphor by analyzing the gathering and consumption of wild food plants, crop partsand crop residues in Konso, Ethiopia

Background Humanitarian relief agencies use scales to assess levels of critical food shortage to efficiently target and allocate food to the neediest. These scales are often labor-intensive. A lesser used approach is assessing gathering and consumption of wild food plants. This gathering per se is not a reliable signal of emerging food stress. However, the gathering and consumption of some specific plant species could be considered markers of food shortage, as it indicates that people are compelled to eat very poor or even health-threatening food. Methods We used the traffic light metaphor to indicate normal (green), alarmingly low (amber) and fully depleted (red) food supplies and identified these conditions for Konso (Ethiopia) on the basis of wild food plants (WFPs), crop parts (crop parts not used for human consumption under normal conditions; CPs) and crop residues (CRs) being gathered and consumed. Plant specimens were collected for expert identification and deposition in the National Herbarium. Two hundred twenty individual households free-listed WFPs, CPs, and CRs gathered and consumed during times of food stress. Through focus group discussions, the species list from the free-listing that was further enriched through key informants interviews and own field observations was categorized into species used for green, amber and red conditions. Results The study identified 113 WFPs (120 products/food items) whose gathering and consumption reflect the three traffic light metaphors: red, amber and green. We identified 25 food items for the red, 30 food items for the amber and 65 food items for the green metaphor. We also obtained reliable information on 21 different products/food items (from 17 crops) normally not consumed as food, reflecting the red or amber metaphor and 10 crop residues (from various crops), plus one recycled stuff which are used as emergency foods in the study area clearly indicating the severity of food stress (red metaphor) households are dealing with. Our traffic light metaphor proved useful to identify and closely monitor the types of WFPs, CPs, and CRs collected and consumed and their time of collection by subsistence households in rural settings. Examples of plant material only consumed under severe food stress included WFPs with health-threatening features like Dobera glabra (Forssk.) Juss. ex Poir. and inkutayata, parts of 17 crops with 21 food items conventionally not used as food (for example, maize tassels, husks, empty pods), ten crop residues (for example bran from various crops) and one recycled food item (tata). Conclusions We have complemented the conventional seasonal food security assessment tool used by humanitarian partners by providing an easy, cheap tool to scale food stress encountered by subsistence farmers. In cognizance of environmental, socio-cultural differences in Ethiopia and other parts of the globe, we recommend analogous studies in other parts of Ethiopia and elsewhere in the world where recurrent food stress also occurs and where communities intensively use WFPs, CPs, and CRs to cope with food stress

Floristic Composition and Community Analysis of Komto Afromontane Moist Forest, East Wollega Zone, West Ethiopia

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