WOODY VEGETATION COMPOSITION AND CONSERVATION STATUS OF DOSHKE FOREST IN CHENCHA, GAMO GOFA ZONE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study was conducted on Doshke forest in Chencha wereda, Gama Gofa zone, South Ethiopia with the objective of determining the .floristic composition, vegetation structure, community type, regeneration and conservation status of woody species found in the area. Systematic sampling method was used to collect vegetation data. A total of 42 quadrats each with 400 11i2 (20 111 X 20 m) were established alongfour line transects for woody species and regenerations. Data on species cover abundances, diameter at breast height, height and number of individuals per species. altitude and geographical coordinates were recorded _fi-0111 each quadrat. Density. frequency, height and diameter at breast height class, basal area, IV! were used to describe vegetation structure. Sorensens 's similarity coefficient and Shannon-Wiener diversity index were also used to detect similarities and to compute species diversity and evenness respectively. The conservation status of the forest was assessed using questionnaires and interviews. A total of 44 woody species belonging to 40 genera and 28 families were recorded in the forest. The family Myrsinaceae and Rubiaceae were found to exhibit the highest number of species each with 4 species. The plant community analysis revealed four community types, o f which Maesa lanceolata-Allophylus abyssinicus Co11111111nity ty p e (C 2 ) exhibited the highest species diversity and evenness. As the structural analysis of Doshke forest revealed that the density of tree species i n Doshke forest decreases with increasing height and DBH classes. Theforest is characterized by high density of woody species i n the lower class than i n the higher. The most dominant tree species relatively with the highest importance values recorded were Syzygium gueneense, I / ex mitis, Galiniera saxiferaga, Maytenus undata and Apodytes dimidiate. Three layers o f woody species were identifiedfrom the study of vertical stratification. Studies on the regeneration o_f the forest indicated that there are species that require urgent conservation measures. Generally, Doshkeforest possesses many economically and ecologically important plant species. I t can be considered as the biodiversity conservation center i n general and the for est genetic resources conservation in particular.