"Woody Species Composition, Structural Analysis, and Regeneration Status of Jano Forest in Mida Kegni District, West Showa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia,"

Abstract

Biodiversity refers to the variety of all life on Earth, including genetic diversity within species, interspecies variation, and inter-ecosystem variation. This study aimed to quantify the woody species composition, vegetation structure, and regeneration status of woody species in Jano Dry Evergreen Afromontane Forest located in the West Shewa Zone of the Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. Woody data were collected from 20 m × 20 m plots using a systematic sampling method. Within each plot, the diameter at breast height (DBH) of trees and shrubs with a DBH greater than 2 cm was measured and recorded using a diameter tape whreas, data on seedlings and saplings collected from five 2 m × 2 m sub-plots positioned at each corner and the center of the main plots. The cover-abundance of woody species was estimated for community mapping, and the slopes and aspects in each plot were measured using diameter tape. All tree and shrub species, along with individual counts, were recorded from systematically established quadrats along each transect. Vegetation structure was described using height, basal area, density, frequency, DBH, and the importance value index (IVI). A total, 112 woody plant species were identified, categorized into 91 genera and 49 families. Among them, 46 (41.1%) were trees, 49 (43.75%) were shrubs, and 17 (15.17%) were climbers. The overall species diversity (H') of the study was 3.54, and the forest's overall evenness score was 0.86. Community 5 exhibited the highest species richness, evenness, and diversity (73, 3.86, and 0.89, respectively) and Community 2 had the lowest species evenness (0.83). The results indicated that tree density decreased with increasing height. The study documented an average of 4575.96 seedlings/ha, 2382.21 saplings/ha, and 620.2 mature/ha woody plant species. Grazing and browsing by domestic livestock, along with other human activities, are altering the vegetation in the Jano forest, which in turn affects the regeneration processes of trees and shrubs. Implement sustainable management practices in Jano Forest to mitigate the impacts of grazing, browsing, and human activities on regeneration processes. These measures are crucial for preserving the forest's biodiversity and ecological health.