Homegarden Characteristics, Wealth Status, and Altitudinal Effects on Woody Species Diversity and Richness in Selected Districts of Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

Conspicuous trees and other perennial plants in smallholders’ farms have been acknowledged for their biodiversity conservation values. Impacts of agroforestry practices, elevation gradients, wealth status on perennial plant composition, diversity, and structure were empirically assessed. The purpose of the study is to investigate Homegarden Characteristics, Wealth Status, and Altitudinal Effects on Woody Species Diversity and Richness in Selected three districts. Methods. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the site from three districts based on their Agroecology and the study was carried out in six sites of three districts. All woody species of height (≥1.5 m) and diameter at breast height (DBH ≥ 2.5 cm) was measured and counted. Scientific Novelty. This study provides an integrated assessment of how socio-economic factors (wealth status), environmental gradients (altitude), and homegarden characteristics jointly influence woody species diversity and composition in traditional homegarden agroforestry systems. Results. This report show that higher species richness was recorded in homegardens of rich and medium households when compared with that of the poor HHs and there was a positive correlation between numbers of woody species recorded and size of homegarden in the study areas. Different socio-ecological factors determine the woody plant species composition and richness in homegardens and hence such multifaceted factors need to be taken into account in planning agrobiodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes.