article · Journal of Forestry Research
Kibate Forest in the Wonchi Highland of Ethiopia represents a dry evergreen montane forest ecosystem subject to severe conservation threats. An ecological survey across 66 sample plots along an altitudinal gradient identified 125 vascular plant species across 104 genera and 52 families. Herbs formed the majority of the species, and 18 species were endemic to Ethiopia and Eritrea. Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were the most dominant plant families. Analysis revealed four distinct plant community types, with two communities containing 82 percent of all identified species and most endemic taxa. Altitude showed a weak correlation with species richness, while environmental factors including altitude and livestock grazing significantly affected species diversity. Human activities and overgrazing represent severe threats to specific communities, highlighting the need for participatory conservation actions such as bans on forest clearing and the planting of native trees.
Dry evergreen montane forests in Ethiopia are highly threatened ecosystems that harbour vital regional biodiversity. Documenting plant community structures, species diversity, and endemic flora clarifies how human pressures and environmental gradients shape fragile habitats. These insights inform targeted conservation interventions, supporting forest management programmes and sustainable community initiatives to protect vulnerable indigenous plants against degradation and overgrazing.
The abstract does not indicate a direct commercial application pathway, as it focuses on ecological baseline assessment and conservation management. However, the findings provide field data that could inform community-based forestry programmes, environmental restoration initiatives, and land-use management strategies managed by conservation authorities or local development agencies. This work operates at the stage of foundational ecological research, far from commercial deployment.
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Abstract Dry evergreen montane forests in Ethiopia are severely threatened. The status of species composition and structure of forest vegetation are important indicators to understand the trends of threats on local plant communities. In the present study, we examined the floristic composition and structure of the Kibate Forest, Wonchi Highland, Ethiopia along environmental gradients. Sixty-six (30 m × 30 m) plots were established every 100 m interval along altitudinal gradients (2811‒3073 m a.s.l.) in five transect lines for vegetation and environmental data collection. In total, 125 vascular plant species belonging to 104 genera and 52 families were identified. Eighteen species (14%) were endemic to Ethiopia and Eritrea. The two most dominant families, Asteraceae (29 species) and Lamiaceae (eight species) accounted for 30% of the total number of species. The highest number of species (54%) was herbs. Four major community types (viz., Olinia rochetiana-Myrsine melanophloeos , Ilex mitis-Galiniera saxifraga , Erica arborea - Protea gaguedi , and Hagenia abyssinica-Juniperus procera ) were identified. The highest species richness, evenness, diversity, and importance value index were in community types 2 and 4. About 82% of the species and all endemic taxa except five were recorded in these two community types. The most dominant woody species were O. rochetiana , E. arborea , Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata , Myrica salicifolia , I. mitis var. mitis , and H. abyssinica with different patterns of population structure . The results show that there was a weak correlation between species richness and altitude. Our findings confirm that environmental variables both with interactions (such as altitude) and without interactions (such as livestock grazing) significantly ( p < 0.05) affect species richness. Anthropogenic activities and overgrazing by livestock appear to be the main threat in community types 2 and 3. Urgent management practices and conservation measures such as prohibiting forest clearing and overgrazing and planting indigenous trees through community participation should be considered in community types that are rich in endemic species but are highly threatened.
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DOI: 10.1007/s11676-021-01305-z
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