Impact Assessment on an Invasive Species, Lantana camara on Indigenous Species Composition and Socio-economic Environment around Adama and Bishofitu Areas, Ethiopia

Impact assessment of Lantana camara L. on indigenous species composition and socioeconomic environment was carried around Aroge Adama, Soloqe and Bishfitu areas, Ethiopia. Fifty-four 5m x 5m releve’s were systematically sampled across 3 main transects laid 50m from the left side of the main road. In order to reduce the effects of human interference, the sites selected were, as much as possible, far away from the mainroad.There leve’s were equally distributed for the three study sites. In each site equal number of releve’s with & without Lantana camara were sampled from the same habitat types. All indigenous species in all non-invaded and along with Lantana camara in all invaded releve’s were counted, identified & recorded. Diversity & richness was analyzed using Shannon-Weiner species diversity & richness index. Herbivory was found to be the most prevalent form of disturbance. ANOVA results at p<0.05 level of sig. showed that levels of disturbances were variable but are higher in the invaded releve’s as compared to the non-invaded releve’s. Independent sample t-test & one-way ANOVA showed significance difference at p<0.05 level. To asses invasion impact Spearman correlation coefficient was calculated for altitude, disturbance, density of Lantana and diversity of native plants. Disturbance and density of Lantana were highly correlated to diversity of native plants. ANOVA results showed significance difference in disturbance, density of Lantana and altitude in invaded releve’s and only disturbance showed insignificance difference in the non-invaded releve’s. The study revealed disturbance as the major factor, which facilitated the invasion of Lantana camara. Different respondents have different views on its introduction & current status. Fifty six percent of them agree with its deliberate while 44% with its accidental introduction. Seventy-four percent of the key informants admitted the benefits obtained from it even though they maintained the disadvantage out-weighs its advantages. Thirty seven percent of the key informants responded as there are methods to minimize the detrimental effects & use it to improve biophysical & socio economic condition of the areas. Keywords: Lantana camara, Invasive species, Indigenous species, invaded. DOI: 10.7176/JEES/11-3-04 Publication date:March 31st 202

Vegetation of Chencha Highlands in Southern Ethiopia

The relationship between environmental factors and plant communities identified using multivariate numerical analyses were investigated in the highlands of southern Ethiopia. Vegetation data were obtained from relev és placed in belt transects along altitudinal gradients on the mountain slopes following the Arbaminch-Chancha road. The relev és were placed in the two transects which ran for about 30 km from 1180 m to 2250 m along the slope representing a 25 m vertical distance between each relev és. The relationship among plant communities and environmental factors were established using one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Community transition and species diversity are affected, inter alia, by environmental factors including soil properties, slope and aspect which varied significantly (

The Role of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants to Household Food Sovereignty in Hamar and Konso Communities, South Ethiopia

Population based survey was conducted to investigate incidence of food shortage and coping mechanisms; knowledge, attitude and practice on consumption, conservation and management of wild and semi-wild edible plant species (WEPS) by Hamar and Konso communities of Ethiopia. The research used different ethnobotanical data collection methods and statistical tools. Irrespective of their social and economic strata, all study participants reported consumption of WEPS with increasing frequency, quantity and number of species consumed during food scarcity. More WEPS with lower sensory acceptability, poor cooking quality, and inflicting some kind of health problems were consumed during famine. Leptadenia hastata was the most preferred WEPS sought after during food deficiency by both communities. Ninety three WEPS are managed by both communities mainly in the vicinity of human settlements and farmlands. The Konso community demonstrated long established cultural practices of conserving, managing and using WEPS. Planning on promotion, sustainable use and conservation of WEPS must take note of the knowledge and practices of local communities on account of the key roles they would play in food security-sovereignty initiatives.

Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants of Konso Ethnic Community, South Ethiopia

This paper presents the knowledge on wild/semi-wild edible plant species (WEPS) of Konso ethnic community of southern Ethiopia. Ethnobotanical information was collected through focus group discussions, observations, interviews, and preference ranking. A total of 154 edible parts were recorded from 127 plant species with fruit (71), leaves (35) and tubers/roots (18) accounted for the major edible parts. Fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica L., and leaves and young shoots of Leptadenia hastata Vatke were most sought after. Excessive harvesting and acquisition of land for crop cultivation is currently threatening Canthium pseudosetiflorum Bridson, Hyphaene thebaica (L.) Mart., Ficus sycomorus L. and O. ficus-indica, among others. Wise use of these plant species would ensure their sustainable availability and local food sovereignty

An iconic traditional apiculture of park fringe communities of Borena Sayint National Park, north eastern Ethiopia

Background: Traditional apiculture has been practised in Ethiopia over a long historical period and still remains a benign means to extract direct benefits from natural ecosystems. While its contribution to economic development and watershed protection is increasingly recognized its cultural significance is however, seldom noticed. This study was conducted using an ethnobotanical study approach to document the honey bee flora and associated indigenous knowledge of local communities in Borena Sayint National Park (BSNP), north eastern Ethiopia. Methods: Data were collected from 170 informants through semi-structured interviews and guided field walks, focus group discussion with 37 informants and 14 key informants and analyzed using standard analytical tools including ranking, comparisons and multivariate analyses. Results: In total, 152 bee forage species in 133 genera and 74 families were documented. The Asteraceae and Rosaceae were represented with six species each over the other plant families. Percentage of mentions per species ranged between 76.9 and 13.5 % for the most salient bee forage species. Dombeya torrida, Erica arborea, and Olinia rochetiana captured high community consensus as measured by rank order of popularity and designated as local appellation names of honey. Cluster analysis of priority ranking data showed relationships between key informants with respect to preferences, but ordination analysis did not indicate environmental proximity as a determinant of their responses. Five honey harvesting seasons occur each corresponding to the floral calendar of a dominant bee forage species that stipulate relocation of hives to appropriate locations within the national park. Conclusion: The apicultural tradition is iconic with economic value and forming part of the local peoples' cultural identity apt to be preserved as a bequest for posterity

Floristic Composition and Herbaceous Aboveground Dry Weight Biomass of Afroalpine Vegetation in Guassa Community Conservation Area, North Shewa, Ethiopia

Abstract In this research, the floristic composition and aboveground dry weight biomass of the vegetation of Guassa Communit

Medicinal plant knowledge of the Bench ethnic group of Ethiopia: an ethnobotanical investigation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Plants have traditionally been used as a source of medicine in Ethiopia since early times for the control of various ailments afflicting humans and their domestic animals. However, little work has been made in the past to properly document and promote the knowledge. Today medicinal plants and the associated knowledge in the country are threatened due to deforestation, environmental degradation and acculturation. Urgent ethnobotanical studies and subsequent conservation measures are, therefore, required to salvage these resources from further loss. The purpose of the present study was to record and analyse traditional medicinal plant knowledge of the Bench ethnic group in Southwest Ethiopia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Bench informants selected during transect walks made to houses as well as those identified as knowledgeable by local administrators and elders to gather data regarding local names of medicinal plants used, parts harvested, ailments treated, remedy preparation methods, administration routes, dosage and side effects. The same method was also employed to gather information on marketability, habitat and abundance of the reported medicinal plants. Purposive sampling method was used in the selection of study sites within the study district. Fidelity Level (FL) value was calculated for each claimed medicinal plant to estimate its healing potential.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The study revealed 35 Bench medicinal plants: 32 used against human ailments and three to treat both human and livestock ailments. The majority of Bench medicinal plants were herbs and leaf was the most frequently used part in the preparation of remedies. Significantly higher average number of medicinal plants was claimed by men, older people and illiterate ones as compared to women, younger people and literate ones, respectively. The majority of the medicinal plants used in the study area were uncultivated ones.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study revealed acculturation as the major threat to the continuation of the traditional medical practice in the study area. Awareness should, therefore, be created among the Bench community, especially the young ones, by concerned organizations and individuals regarding the usefulness of the practice.</p