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

Status and Woody Plant Species Diversity in Tara Gedam Forest, Northern Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Tara Gedam forest with the objective of determining the status and the woody plant species diversity of Tara Gedam forest so as to recommend the conservation of the forest and rehabilitation of the degraded area.Sample plots were laid along line transects based on altitudinal variation of the study area. A systematic sampling of plot of (10 m x 20 m) in each site was established to take vegetation samples. Structural analysis was performed on the basis of density, frequency, DBH and basal area per hectare. The distribution of the size classes were evaluated by computing the density of individuals with DBH >10 cm and > 20 cm as well as the ratio of the former to the latter. The result revealed that a total of forty one different species of woody plants were identified in Tara Gedam forest. Olea europaea was the dominant one with recorded value of 598. Allophylus abyssinicus and Albizia schimperiana ranked the second and third in dominance with 556 and 474 numbers respectively. Acanthus sennii was the least dominant in the study site. Based on their higher IVI value, Olea europaea, Allophylus abyssinicus, Nuxia congesta, Premna schimperi and Albizia schimperiana, respectively are the leading dominant and ecologically most significant woody species in Tara Gedam forest. The density of vegetation in study area decreases with increasing of DBH and height classes, which implies the predominance of small sized individuals in the lower classes than that of higher classes implying good recruitment of the forest and the rare occurrence of large woody plant species.Keywords: Conservation; Species diversity; Height classes; Woody Plants; Tara Geda

Forest Carbon Stocks in Woody Plants of Mount Zequalla Monastery and It’s Variation along Altitudinal Gradient: Implication of Managing Forests for Climate Change Mitigation

Carbon sequestration through forestry has the potential to play a significant role in ameliorating global environmental problems such as atmospheric accumulation of GHG's and climate change.The present study was undertaken to estimate forest carbon stock along altitudinal gradient in Mount Zequalla Monastery forest. Systematic sampling methods were used to collect data from seventy 10 m x 20 m rectangular plots. The area was dominated by Juniperusprocera tree species. The mean carbon stock per hectare was 237.2, 47.6, 6.5 and 57.6 ton for above ground biomass, below ground biomass, litter biomass and soil respectively. The mean total carbon stock in Mount Zequalla Forest was 348.8 t ha-1. The statistical analysis for carbon stock variation in the different carbon pools through altitudinal gradient showed a significant variation with exception for soil organic carbon stock. The amount of carbon stock in above and below ground biomass showed increasing pattern with increasing altitude whereas litter and soil organic carbon stocks showed decreasing pattern with increasing altitude.Overall this study points out Mount ZequallaMonastery forest has the potential to sequester plenty of CO2 with a considerable variation along altitude. Thus, it has paramount importance to give conservation priority to the forests to achieve climate change mitigation aspiration especially through forest carbon sequestration mechanism.Keywords: Carbon sequestration; Climate change; Altitudinal gradients; Mount Zequalla Monastery; Fores

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 Tara Gedam Forest: Implication for Climate Change Mitigation

The global climate changes become an environmental problem in today’s modern world because of the change in global weather pattern. The main cause of climate change is anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions of carbon dioxide mainly from the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and emission of other GHGs. The overall objective of this study was to estimate the carbon stock potentials of Tara Gedam forest as potential sink for climate change mitigation. Forest plays an important role in the global carbon cycle as carbon sinks of the terrestrial ecosystem. The data was collected from the field by measuring plants with a DBH of >5cm and the carbon stocks of each plant were analyzed by using allometric equations. From this study the mean total carbon stock of Tara Gedam forest was 643.11 ton/ha, of which 306.366 ton/ha, 61.52 ton/ha, 0.90 ton/ha and 274.32 ton/ha were observed to be in the above ground carbon, below ground carbon, litter carbon and soil organic carbon, respectively. The highest carbon stock was found in the western aspect and the lowest in northwest aspect. Altitudinal gradient, slope and aspect were the three environmental factors that affect the different carbon pools of the forest and this study concluded that the forest should be conserved and protected in a sustainable way for further carbon sinks

Forest Carbon Stocks in Lowland Area of Simien Mountains National Park: Implication for Climate Change Mitigation

Forests play a significant role in climate change mitigation by sequestering and storing more carbon from the atmosphere which was released by anthropogenic causes. The overall objective of this study was to estimate carbon stock potential of lowland forest of Simien Mountains National park for climate change mitigation. And it aimed to add values of the lowland forest of the park for climate change mitigation contribution in Ethiopia. The work was accomplished properly using random sampling to estimate the forest carbon in above and below ground biomass by considered each trees and shrubs which had DBH ≥5 cm. Above ground biomass was estimated by using allometric models equation of Brown (1998) while below ground biomass was determined based on the ratio of below ground biomass to above ground biomass factors of (MacDicken, 1997). Dead wood, leaf litter, herb and grass (LHG) and soil organic carbon were conducted according to sampling quadrates data and laboratory result. The results shown that, there were twenty species with a density of 2334 trees and shrubs in the study sites which had DBH ≥5 cm. The mean above ground and below ground biomass carbon stock were 270.89±154.50 and 54.18±30.81 t ha-1 respectively. The mean above ground biomass carbon per species was 20.42±17.99 ton. The mean carbon in dead wood, LHG and soil carbon were 0.7258±1.0479, 0.019±0.008and 242.51±46.42 t ha-1 respectively.Keywords: Carbon stock Climate change Mitigation Simien Mountains National Park Poisoned food techniqu

Non-carbon benefits for effective implementation of REDD+: The case of Bale Mountains Eco-Region, Southeastern Ethiopia

The study was conducted in four districts, namely Nansebo, Harenna Buluk, Dolo Mena and Dodolla, Southeastern Ethiopia with the following objectives - to: (i) investigate species richness and similarity, diversity, evenness and stand structure of the woody species; (ii) determine the amount of carbon stock stored in the above-ground biomass of woody species; (iii) establish the relationship between the Shannon diversity indices and carbon stock, (iv) identify the most important forest non-carbon benefits obtained by the local communities from the forests; and (v) determine contribution of forest resources to the local economy when compared with other incomes generated from agriculture, including livestock. Data generated by FARM Africa were used to achieve objectives (i) - (iii). To achieve objectives (iv) and (v), a focus group discussion and household survey were conducted. A total of 125 species of woody species, representing at least 45 families and 77 genera, were recorded. The Shannon diversity and evenness indices of the woody species ranged between 2.8 (Dodolla) and 3.5 (Harenna Buluk) and 0.79 (Nansebo) to 0.82 (Dolo Mena), respectively. The woody species had densities ranging from 550 (Dodolla) to 2106 (Harena Buluk) individuals ha-1. The above ground carbon stock stored ranged between 148.88 (Dodolla) and 246.27 (Dolo Mena) tons ha-1. About 10 products and services were mentioned by the respondents as important non carbon benefits from the forests. The non-carbon benefit with the highest contributions in the three districts was fuelwood, while coffee had the highest contribution in Dolo Mena. The contribution of forests to the local economy was significantly compared with other incomes. Forests contributed 40.2% to the household income in Harenna Buluk District and 18.8% in Nansebo District. Considering non-carbon benefits in the design and implementation of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) is important to ensure its acceptance by local communities.Keywords: Bale, eco-region, non-carbon benefit, reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+)

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

High aboveground carbon stock of African tropical montane forests

Tropical forests store 40–50 per cent of terrestrial vegetation carbon1. However, spatial variations in aboveground live tree biomass carbon (AGC) stocks remain poorly understood, in particular in tropical montane forests2. Owing to climatic and soil changes with increasing elevation3, AGC stocks are lower in tropical montane forests compared with lowland forests2. Here we assemble and analyse a dataset of structurally intact old-growth forests (AfriMont) spanning 44 montane sites in 12 African countries. We find that montane sites in the AfriMont plot network have a mean AGC stock of 149.4 megagrams of carbon per hectare (95% confidence interval 137.1–164.2), which is comparable to lowland forests in the African Tropical Rainforest Observation Network4 and about 70 per cent and 32 per cent higher than averages from plot networks in montane2,5,6 and lowland7 forests in the Neotropics, respectively. Notably, our results are two-thirds higher than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change default values for these forests in Africa8. We find that the low stem density and high abundance of large trees of African lowland forests4 is mirrored in the montane forests sampled. This carbon store is endangered: we estimate that 0.8 million hectares of old-growth African montane forest have been lost since 2000. We provide country-specific montane forest AGC stock estimates modelled from our plot network to help to guide forest conservation and reforestation interventions. Our findings highlight the need for conserving these biodiverse9,10 and carbon-rich ecosystems