Jornal de Biodiversidade e Espécies Ameaçadas

Structure and Regeneration Status of Woody Species in the Debelle Forest, Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

Temesgen Hordofa Waktura

This study evaluates the structure and regeneration status of woody species in the Debelle Forest, in Central Highland of Ethiopia. Data were collected from a total of 50 quadrats of 20 m × 20 m (400 m²) at a distance of 100 m from each other using systematic random sampling techniques. In each quadrats, woody species of trees and shrubs with DBH > 2.5 cm and a height > 2 m of vegetation data were collected. For regeneration assessment density of seedlings and saplings of each species were recorded from five sub-quadrats of 5 m × 5 m (25 m²) demarcated at the four corners and one in the center. The general analysis of vegetation implied that the forest possesses the highest number of DBH, height, and density of species at the lower classes and the vertical stratification implied that most of the species in the Debelle Forest were found in the lower storey. Structural analysis of the Debelle natural forest indicated a density of 822.5 stems/ha and a total basal area of 58.68 m²/ha. The total density of seedlings, saplings, and trees was 1926.1, 1668.2, and 822.5 ha^-1 respectively which shows an inverted J-shape pattern which is an indicator of healthy/good regeneration. To sustain the biological diversity of this particular forest, this study recommends the preservation of indigenous species, using both in-situ and ex-situ conservation and enrichment planting of economically valuable species.