Plant Diversity Study on Kelekal Protected Forest in Debre Markos Town District, East Gojjam, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

This research was aimed to investigate floristic composition and structure of Kelekal protected forest established since 1999. For plant data collection, 33 different quadrats having 400 m2 along seven different line transects were used. The structural data like Frequencies, Density, DBH, Height, Relative dominance, Relative density and IVI values were calculated for each species and for the selected woody plants. The woody plant species having DBH ? 2.5 cm and height greater than 2.5 m were measured. A hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to classify different plant communities. Shannon winner diversity indices and Sorensen’s similarity indices were used to compare the identified plant communities. Endemic and economically important plants were identified from Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea books. This research resulted 103 different vascular plants. Eight (7.77%) plants are endemic and the “K” partitioning in the R program using hierarchical cluster analysis resulted three-plant community types. The general distribution pattern of these woody plants at different DBH and height classes showed an inverted “J” shape pattern. Four different population patterns were investigated from the density of these species recorded at different DBH class. The result of the structural data provides pertinent information for future forest management techniques in Kelekal protected forest

Variation and association analyses on morphological characters of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) in Ethiopia

Morphological studies of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) of Ethiopia were undertaken in this study on 56 accessions collected from 10 administrative regions (former regions) classified into seven altitude classes. The seeds were planted during 2001 growing season in Bale-Goro wereda using randomized complete block design (RCBD) on three replications with the aim of investigating the morphological diversity in the accessions. Over the entire accession, except seed number per boll, all the characters showed significant variation. However, regional groups of linseed accessions showed insignificant variations only for secondary branches number per plant (SBP), days to flowering (DTF) and days to maturity (DTM) among themselves, and altitudinal groups of linseed accessions only for seed number per boll (SNB) and days to flowering (DTF). The analysis for coefficient of variation and cluster analysis showed that accessions from Gojam and Tigray were less diversified. About 53% of the total associations showed significant correlation and out of this 71% of the correlations were with the positive significant correlation coefficients. Cluster analysis indicates that accessions collected from the two extremes of altitude classes have variations for the studied traits. It is only Tigray Region that did not contribute member accession to cluster III, whereas Gondar and Bale regions contribute member accessions to 80% of clusters. Factor analysis showed that of the total variation (73.86%) 30.04% and 27.29% were accounted for by first and second principal components, respectively. The highest Shannon diversity index (0.322 ± 0.039) was recorded for boll size and Shannon diversity index for overall pooled mean was 0.223 ± 0.063.Keywords: cluster/factor analysis, diversity index, linseed accessions, morphological characters, variation/association SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol. 28(2) 2005: 129-14

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.

The Status of Ethnobotanical Knowledge of Medicinal Plants and the Impacts of Resettlement in Delanta, Northwestern Wello, Northern Ethiopia

The present study was conducted in Delanta (Ethiopia) to examine the use of medicinal plants and investigate the impacts of the 1984/85 resettlement program on the local people’s knowledge on herbal medicine and its uses. The research was conducted with 72 informants in six study sites through semistructured interviews, group discussion, and market survey. In this study, 133 species belonging to 116 genera and 57 families were documented. These plants were mentioned for uses in the treatment of about 76 human and livestock ailments. The family Asteraceae was represented by the highest number with 14 species. Herbs accounted for 52.6% of the total species and leaves (32.6%) were the most frequently used parts. The analysis showed that the resettlement program has both positive and negative impacts on nature rehabilitation and local knowledge along with many human induced threats. Most of the plant knowledge is held by traditional healers and permanent residents. The people’s preference for some medicinal plants gave indications of continuity of the ethnomedicinal information among the inhabitants. The findings inform that efforts need to be directed to in situ conservation in two of the plant community types which could protect a good proportion (about 50%) of the medicinal plant species

Ethnoveterinary plants of Ankober District, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Background: Traditional herbal preparations for addressing veterinary problems have been applied in Ankober District, Ethiopia, for generations. However, the millennia-old ethnoveterinary knowledge of the community, and the plants are subjected to loss without being scientifically documented due to anthropogenic and environmental threats. Hence, this study aims at providing a comprehensive documentation on ethnoveterinary plant knowledge of the people in order to preserve the fast-eroding knowledge and resources of the area. Methods: Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation and walk-in-the-woods methods were used to gather ethnoveterinary data. Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Fidelity level (FL) values were calculated using quantitative approaches so as to check the level of informants' agreement on plant use and healing potential of ethnoveterinary medicinal plant species, respectively. Indigenous knowledge on use of medicinal plants for ethnoveterinary purposes among different informant groups was compared using One-way ANOVA and t-tests. Results: A total of 51 plant species representing 50 genera and 35 botanical families used in the treatment of 33 different ailments were identified. Medicinal plant species belonging to families Asteraceae, Asclepiadaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Ranunculaceae were reported to be of frequent use in the local ethnoveterinary medical system. Roots (65%, 33 species) were most often utilized for remedy preparation. Highest ICF values were recorded for gastro-intestinal (0.71) ailments depicting best agreement on knowledge of medicinal plants used to treat aliments in this category. Embelia schimperi Vatke showed highest fidelity level value (90%) to treat gastro-intestinal diseases showing conformity of knowledge on this species' healing potential. Significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in average number of therapeutic plants reported by senior members of the community than younger groups. Embelia schimperi Vatke and Rubus steudnerii Schweinf. were the most-preferred species to treat diarrhoea. Conclusion: The study indicated that indigenous knowledge on ethnoveterinary medicinal plant use is still rich and active in the District. Species with recorded highest consensus for curative role are a useful pool for further phytochemical and pharmacological validation for better utilization. Declining wild medicinal flora of the area calls for implementation of a coordinated complementary in situ and ex situ conservation strategy

Wild edible plants: sustainable use and management by indigenous communities in and the buffer area of Awash National Park, Ethiopia

Wild edible plants are valuable resources in rural livelihoods for supplementing the staple food, ensuring food security, dietary diversification and sustained income. This study aimed to identify and document indigenous uses and management of wild edible plants being used by the Afar and Oromo communities in and the buffer area of Awash National Park. A total of 96 informants between the ages of 20 and 80 were identified using prior information. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, guided field walk, discussions, market surveys and field observation. A total of 55 wild edible species were identified by members of the local communities. About 93% of the species were reported with their vernacular (local) names, where 69% were reported by the Afar and 87% by the Oromo communities. Eighty-nine percent of the species were classified as indigenous to the area, while 11% were classified as exotics. Preference ranking indicated that the fruits of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. are the most preferred edible fruit by the local communities. The local people access the National Park for some of the wild edible plants as they are largely depleted from the surrounding areas. The yet untapped potentials of the wild edible plants as food sources in the area need better attention in future research plans. The issue of conservation of wild edible plants is unquestionable to ensure household food security, dietary diversification and local communities’ income, which also contributes to the biodiversity

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

Use of Traditional Medicinal Plants by People of ‘Boosat’ Sub District, Central Eastern Ethiopia

Background: Indigenous knowledge develops by indigenous people in the processes of their interaction with their environment and the science Ethinomedicine developed gradually having its origin in the indigenous medicinal practices. The main purpose of the study was to make survey of plants that have ethnomedicinal value and investigate the uses and management practices employed by local people of ‘Boosat’, Welinchiti area. Methods: Five study sites were systematically established to include areas inhabited by settled farmers and transhumance pastoralists. Eighty informants were randomly selected. Ethnobotanical information of medicinal plants was obtained from informants by semi-structured interview, observations, group discussions, and guided field walks. RESULTS: Fifty-two medicinal plant species were documented, which are used to treat 43 human diseases. The category of medicinal plant species includes shrubs (46%), herbs (25%), trees (19%), climbers (8%) and hemi parasites (2%). Roots (38%) and leaves (23%) are the most frequently used plant parts. The method of preparation is by crushing, pounding and mixing with cold water to serve as a drink and chewing to swallow the juice, which accounted for (17%) each. Conclusions: People of ‘Boosat’ are knowledgeable about the plants, their distribution, medicinal use and management. Indigenous practices somehow contributed to the sustained use, management and conservation of medicinal plants. Knowledge of medicinal plants is wider among elderly women and men while the young are comparatively less knowledgeable. The results of this study indicated significant contribution in efforts directed towards conservation of the remaining medicinal plant resources, provided that the necessary mechanisms are put in place before it is too late.Ethiop. J Health Sci. Vol.16, No. 2 July 200

Ethnobotanical study of food plants around 'Dheeraa' town, Arsi, Ethiopia

A study aimed at identifying plant species used and manipulated by the community for food was carried out around ‘Dheeraa' town, in Arsi Zone of Oromia National Regional state, Ethiopia. The data were collected through four round fieldworks co nducted from October to December 2003. Random and systematic sampling methods were employed to select the study sites as well as the informants. Ethnobotanical methods using semi-structured interviews were employed to collect data on food plants used by the community. In this study, 71 species of food plants were recorded of which, the local people cultivate 30 species. Wild edible plant species claimed a larger proportion (41 species, 58%) of the total records. Of the edible plants of the study area 16 species used by the community in traditional medicine, are categorized as nutraceuticals. The non-cultivated food plants are very rare in the area and this might be attributed to the ongoing habitat modification and loss of natural vegetation. It is important to create awareness on sustainable use of wild edibles and the cultivated food. On top of the benefits that these food plants offer as part of the local vegetation, their potentials as food sources are worth considering in efforts towards realizing household food self-sufficiency in the study area. SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol. 29(1) 2006: 71–8

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