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Proceedings of the International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 2024, 14(2): 31-47
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Article

Diversity, structure and regeneration status of woody species in Wacho forest, South-Western Ethiopia

Gezahegn Gashu¹, Gebre Gidey², Zame Fekansa², Sime Deressa²
¹Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
²Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Dambi Dollo University, Dambi Dollo, Ethiopia

Received 24 January 2024;Accepted 20 February 2024;Published online 5 March 2024;Published 1 June 2024
IAEES

Abstract
Wacho forest is on the verge of degradation. Thus, the study was conducted to quantify the vegetation status of Wacho forest. The field data was collected through a systematic random sampling technique from 20 m ¡Á 20 m of 73 sample plots. The matured strata were collected from 20 m ¡Á 20 m of the main plot, while saplings were collected from 5 m ¡Á 5 m of subplots. Seedlings were additionally collected from each of the five 1 m ¡Á 1 m of subplots. The species richness, Shannon wiener diversity index, and Shannon evenness were computed to examine the diversity of the study forest. The structures of woody species were determined using diameter at breast height class, density, frequency, basal area, and important value index. The number of trees and shrubs, saplings, and seedlings were counted across all sample plots to determine the regeneration status of the study forest. The result showed that about 82 woody plant species with 38 families were identified within the study forest. Wacho forest had 2.75 of Shannon Wiener diversity index and 0.95 of Shannon evenness, which shows a medium Shannon Wiener diversity index and proportional distribution of woody species across all quadrants. The structural analysis of the study forest indicates that the majority of the woody species had a larger number in the lower diameter at breast height category and a lower number in the higher diameter at breast height category, which shows an inverted J-shaped structure, and therefore the regeneration status of the study forest is situated under fair condition.

Keywords regeneration;species richness;species evenness;Wacho forest.

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