Structure and Regeneration Status of Nagasa Sacred Forest in Chencha, GamoGofa Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Nagasa sacred natural forest is one of the very few remnant moist evergreen montane forests in Ethiopia. The objective of this work was to study vegetation structure and regeneration status of woody species. Systematic sampling method was used to collect data from 36quadrats (20m x 20m) established on four belt transects. All woody plants found in each plot were recorded, collected, pressed and identified following Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea. All individuals of trees and shrubs with a DBH > 2cm and height > 2m were measured. The result of structural analysis revealed the total density of tree stems per hectare and basal area of a tree with DBH>2cm were 824 and 40.4m2ha-1respectively.The density of tree species in the forest decreases with increasing height and DBH classes. The forest is characterized by high density of trees in the lower DBH class than in the higher. Regeneration status of the forest was analyzed by comparing saplings and seedlings with the matured trees. Results revealed that Nagasa sacred moist evergreen montane forest is at good regeneration status. Three layers of tree were identified from the vertical stratification analysis. Some of the results of population structure and regeneration status indicated abnormal pattern which dictate the need for an urgent conservation of the study area. Sacred places have emerged as a new frontier for interdisciplinary research on their own merits and also for their actual or potential relevance for biodiversity conservation. This reflects the emerging recognition in many sectors of the important role that religion and spirituality can play in environmentalism. This study revealed that a number of valuable plant species are found in the sacred forest, and if conservation measures are not introduced in the near future there may be a great loss of plant genetic resources and other associated components of biodiversity.