Abstract:
Ecologically, the forest gives important environmental benefits by providing carbon sink/ carbon
storage service, watersheds protection services and providing habitats for a large amount of
animals.The study was conducted with the objectives to assess woody plant composition,
population structure and regeneration status of Sire Forest.In order to collect vegetation data a
total of 42 quadrats, each with the size of 20 m x 20 m at an interval of 50 m, were laid along the
established transects at 30 m apart. Sire Forest is characterized by species like Syzygium
guineense subsp. afromontanum F. White, Vachila abyssinica Hochst .ex.Benth,Eucalyptus
Camaldulensis dehnhas a most dominant species.A total of 34 woody species belonging to
21families and 20 genera were recorded from Sire Forest. The results from this study showed
that plant species of different life forms (trees, tree/shrub) were identified. Out of the total plant
species recorded from the forest, the collected species were composed of 91.17 % (31) trees and
8.82% (3 )Tree/shrubs, (Appendix 1).Fabaceae is the most dominant family with 2 (9.52%)
genera and 5 (14.7%) species followed by Myrtaceae which had 1 (4.76%) genera and 4
(11.76%) species.(Appenix 3).Density ha 1
of the woody species used in the analysis was more
concentrated in the middle DBH size class and also true for height classes and indicated that
most of the woody species recorded during this study were medium-sized plants. Species like
Juniperus procera Hochst.ex A.Engl., Eucalyptus Camaldulensis Dehnh, attained the highest
value of IVI due to their highest relative dominance, relative frequency. In contrary to this,
Albizia gummifera (J. F. Gmel.) C. A. Sm., whichhas lower relative density,had lower IVI.A plant
species like Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochst.) Radlkofer.wasnot represented by seedlings or
saplings while Rhus glutinosa A. Rich. Subsp. glutlnosa Anacardiaceae,Olea europaea
L.supsp.cuspidata (Wall.ex G.Don) Cif.Vernonia amygdalina Del.and few other species were
represented by less number of seedlings and saplings than mature plants.However, species such
as Ekebergia capensis Sparrm,Juniperus procera Hochst.ex A.Engl.,Teclea nobilis Del.,Ricinus
commonis L.represented by more numbers of seedlings and saplings than mature plants and thus
they were in a good regeneration status.indigenous knowledge with modern conservation
approach in the planning and implementation process must be encouraged.
