Woody Plant Species Composition, Structure, Regeneration Status And Carbon Stock Potential Of Ruruki Forest Of Liban Jawi District, West Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

The Ruruki forest is under threat due to increasing human activities, deforestation, and climate change. Besides, there is a lack of adequate information on the current status of the forest. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the woody plant species composition, structure, regeneration status and carbon stock potential of Ruruki forest. A total of 30 sample plots each with 20m x 20m, were established using systematic sampling method. In each plot, a sub-plot of 5m x5m were used to count saplings and seedlings. Again, 1m x1m was designed to take litter and soil sample. In these plots and sub-plots woody plant species, litter and soil sampling data were taken. Totally,70 woody species catagorized into 64 genera and 45 families were recorded. From this 70 woody species, tree covers 57.14% while shrubs and liana covers 37.14% and 5.7% respectively. Then species abundance, frequency, IVI, basal area, DBH and height classification of the collected woody plant species was analyzed. The regeneration status of the forest was classified as ‘fair’. The carbon stock potential of the forest was also estimated. Allometric equation was used to estimate the biomass, while soil analysis was made following standard soil analysis in Ambo University chemistry and soil laboratory. Then, the carbon stock potential of the forest was 407 ton / ha.The final result shows that, Ruruki forest is a diversified, a reservoir of high biomass and carbon stock. Therefore, this study is important to provide baseline data for the current status of woody plant species composition, structure, regeneration, and carbon stock potential of Ruruki forest and help for developing sustainable forest management practices. Generally, there is a need of full participation for sustainable management of the forest to promote the regeneration status of the forest from fair to good status by controlling selective cutting and other disturbances