HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY

POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM DIRECTORATE

WOODY PLANT SPECIES DIVERSITY AND STRUCTURE IN

TELET FOREST IN AMHARA SAYINT DISTRICT, SOUTH
WOLLO ZONE, AMHARA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

A THESIS SUBMITED TO THE SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL

SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

GETACHEW ABERE

DECEMBER, 2020

Haramaya University, Haramaya

 Woody Plant Species Diversity and Structure in Telet Forest in
Amhara Sayint District; South Wollo Zone, Amhara Regional State,
Ethiopia

A Thesis Submitted to the School of Biological Sciences

And Biotechnology Postgraduate Program Directorate

Haramaya University

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Of Master of

Science in Biology

Getachew Abere

DECEMBER, 2020

Haramaya University, Haramaya

 APPROVAL SHEET
HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY

POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM DIRECTORATE

We here by certify that we have read and evaluated this Thesis titled ‘woody Plant Species
Diversity and Structure of Telet Forest in Amhara Sayint District, Amhara Regional
State, Ethiopia' prepared under our guidance by Getachew Abere Assefa. We
recommend that it be submitted as fulfilling the Thesis requirement.

Meseret Chimdessa (PhD) ___________________ __________________

Major Advisor Signature Date

Ameha kebede (PhD) _________________ _______________

Co- Advisor Signature Date

As member of the Board of examiners of the M.Sc. Open Thesis Defense Examination,
we certify that we have read and examined the thesis prepared by Getachew Abere
Assefa. We recommended that the Thesis be accepted as fulfilling the Thesis
requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Biology.

____________________ ___________________ _______________

Chairperson Signature Date

_______________________ ______________ ________________

Internal Examiner Signature Date

___________________ ______________ _______________

External Examiner Signature Date

i
 STATEMENT OF THE AUTHOR
By my signature below, I declare that this thesis is my own work and that all sources of
materials consulted for this work have been duly acknowledged through citation. I have
followed all ethical principles of the research in data collection, analysis, the preparation
and compilation of this thesis.

This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science in biology from the Postgraduate Program Directorate at Haramaya
University. The thesis is deposited in the university library to be made available to
borrowers under rules of the library. I surely declare that this thesis is not submitted to
any other institution anywhere for the award of any academic degree, diploma or
certificate. Brief quotations from this document are allowable without special permission
if an accurate acknowledgment of the source is made. Request for permission for
extended quotation from or reproduction of the manuscript in whole or in part may be
granted by the head of the School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology when the
proposed use of the material is in the interest of scholarship. In other instances, however,
permission must be obtained from the author.

Name: Getachew Abere

Signature: ___________________

Place: Haramaya University

School: Biological Sciences and Biotechnology

Date of Submission: ____________

ii
ii
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my advisors Dr. Meseret Chimdessa

and Dr. Ameha Kebede for their continuous support, guidance and constructive
comments throughout the study. I have benefited a lot from their wealth of experiences
and have been role model for my future career.

I am very grateful to the School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Haramaya

University, and MoE, which made this study possible by financing all the expenses
required for the study.

My Special thanks go to Friends Andualem Birhan and Derbew Abiye for supporting
me in all means they could.

Above all, I would like to thank my wife Abez Ketema for her golden support,
encouragement and prayers throughout the study period.

Finally yet importantly, my special thanks are reserved for my parents for their strong
moral support and good wish to my achievement.

iii
Table of contents

Contents

APPROVAL SHEET I

STATEMENT OF THE AUTHOR II

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS III

TABLE OF CONTENTS IV

LISTS OF FIGURES VII

LISTS OF TABLES VIII

LISTS OF APPENDECE IX

ABSTRACT X

1. INTRODUCTION 1

General objective 3

Specific objectives 3

2. LITERATURE REVIEW 4

2.1. Woody plant diversity and distribution in Ethiopia 4

2.2. Threats to Woody plant diversity in Ethiopia 4

2.3. Conservation strategies of woody plants 5

2.4. Vegetation concept 5

2.5. Vegetation Sampling 7

2.6. Plant Cover Estimate 7

iv
2.7. Diversity Indices 8
2.7.1 Frequency 11
2.7.2 Species importance value index 11

2.8. Regeneration and Recruitment of vegetation 12

3. MATERIALS AND METHODS 14

3.1. Description of the study area 14

3.2. Reconnaissance Survey and vegetation data collection 15

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 19

4.1 Floristic composition of woody plant species in the study area 19

4.2. Density and Frequency of Woody Plant Species 22

4.3. Basal area and Important value index 28

4.4. Population structure and regeneration status of the entire vegetation 34

5. CONCULUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 35

5.1. Conclusion 35

5.2. Recommendations 35

REFERENCES 36

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

BA- Basal Area

CBD- Conservation on biological Diversity

DBH- Diameter at Breast Height

DI- Diversity index

v
EFAP - Ethiopian Forestry Action Program

EH - Shannon’s Equitability

FAO- Food and Agricultural Organization

FDRE- Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

GPS - Geographical Position System

H- Shannon Diversity index

IVI - Importance value index

RD- Relative Density

RDO- Relative Dominance

RF - Relative Frequency

WS- Woody species

vi
 LISTS OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1 MAP OF ETHIOPIA, AMHARA REGION AND AMHARA SAINT DISTRICT ................................ 14
FIGURE 2 CLIMATIC DIAGRAM OF THE STUDY AREA (SOURCE: NATIONAL METROLOGICAL
SERVICE AGENCY). ........................................................................................................................................ 15
FIGURE 3 SAMPLING DESIGN ............................................................................................................................... 16
FIGURE 4 PHOTO OF SOME VEGETATION TAKEN BY GETACHEW ABERE ............................................... 17

vii
 LISTS OF TABLES
TABLE 1. LIST OF WOODY SPECIES IN THE STUDY AREA 20
TABLE 2 DENSITY AND RELATIVE DENSITY (RD) OF WOODY SPECIES (NO. OF INDIVIDUAL/HA) 23
TABLE 3 .FREQUENCY OF WOODY SPECIES IN TELET FOREST 26
TABLE 4 BASAL AREA AND PERCENTAGE CONTRIBUTION OF WOODY SPECIE 29
TABLE 5 IMPORTANT VALUE INDEX OF TELET FOREST 31

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LISTS OF APPENDECE
Appendex 1 Altitude, Northing and Easting of plots in Telet Forest 41

ix
 Woody Plant Species Diversity and Structure in Telet Forest in
Amhara Sayint District; South Wollo Zone, Amhara Regional State,
Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

A Study on woody plant diversity and structure were conducted on Telet Forest in Sayint
District, South Wollo Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Sixty four main quadrats of
20m × 20m with which five small quadrats of 5mx5m were systematically laid along
transects. In each main quadrat, all tree/shrub and saplings and seedlings of woody
species within the subplots were counted and recorded. Tree height of plants was also
measured using a meter-stick so as to categorize plants into height category
corresponding to seedling, sapling and mature individuals. Moreover diameters at
breast height, frequency, basal area and diversity evenness, etc of were derived from
the vegetation data. Results of the study showed that Telet forest is composed of 48
woody plant species distributed in 47 genera and 29 families. The Shannon Weiner
diversity index and evenness values of the forest were found to be 3.49 and 0.83,
respectively. Fabaceae was the dominant family followed by Euphorbiaceae.
Tree/shrub, sapling and seedling densities were 158.12, 430 and 434.15ha-1,
respectively. The most frequent species in the study area were Dodonaea angustifolia
(8.49%),Albizia gummifera (6.37%), Allophylus abyssinicus (5.94),Myrica salicifolia
(5.94%), Carissa spinarum (5.12%), Duranta erecta (4.37%), Rhus Vulgaris (4.37%)
,and Acacica,byssinica (4.09 %). Based on height classification, the entire vegetation of
Telet forest is in a good regeneration status. In conclusion, although Telet forest
appears to be in a good regeneration status, its species richness is low compared to
some other vegetation of similar ecosystem. Therefore, especial attention should be
given for it rehabilitation.

Keywords: Floristic composition, Importance value index, Regeneration, Telet forest.

x
 1

1. INTRODUCTION

Diversity of woody plants reflects the number and variety of plant species. In Africa, the
forest cover is estimated to be 650 million ha, constituting 17 percent of the world's
Forest. Over 50% of African land is covered by Afro mountain vegetation (vegetation
found on highland of Africa (Amanual Ayalew, 2016). Ethiopia is a mountainous
country with great geographic diversity. The diversified topographic features made the
country to be covered by the richest forest cover in tropical Africa (Tolera Mouta et al.,
2008).The diversified forests are essential for survival of living organisms by providing
foods, oxygen, shelter and recreation. They are the source of pharmaceutical, timber and
clothing. Woody plants serve a wide range of economic, sociocultural and ecological
functions within traditional farming system (Wondie Mebrate and Temesgen Gashaw,
2013).Today, the forest coverage of Ethiopia is less than 3% compared with an average
of 20% for sub-Saharan African. Reduction in forest cover has a number of
consequences including soil erosion and reduced capacity for watershed protection with
possible flooding, reduced capacity and loss of biodiversity. Soil water availability is one
of the key factors for the generation, survival and growth of seedling community. As
many scholars agree, the forest of Ethiopia is decreasing from time to time due to
anthropogenic activities (Dikaso Unbushe and Tesema Tekle, 2016).
Ethiopia is an important regional center for biological diversity due to its wide range of
altitude, its geographical diversity with high and rugged mountains, flat-topped plateaus
and deep gorges, incised river valleys and rolling plains (Ensermu Kelbessa et al.,
1992). These helped the emergency of wide range of habitats that are suitable for
evolution and survival of various plant and animal species. As a result the country is
regarded as one of the most important country in Africa with respect to endemism of
plant and animal species in tropical Africa (EFAP, 1994; EWNHS, 1996).

Human beings are dependent for their subsistence, health, wellbeing and enjoyment on
forests. Forests have been providing raw material for wooden and non-wooden products,
space for human settlements and agriculture. Forests indirectly influence global climate,
serve as wild life habitat, provide genetic pool for biotic diversity and provide ecosystem
 2

services for water shed protection and erosion control (Ramirez-Maricial et al., 2001).
Most of Ethiopian highlands were once covered with dense forest. This is indicated by
the numerous isolated mature forest trees or patches of forests (Friis, 1986). Historical
documents indicate that Ethiopia had experienced substantial deforestation, habitat
change, biodiversity loss, soil degradation and an increase in the area of bare land over
many years. Deforestation in the highlands of Ethiopia became unstoppable process
dating back many hundreds of years resulting in patches of forests mainly around
religious centers, inaccessible and protected areas (Alemayehu Wassie, 2007).

Ethiopia has great biodiversity resources due to the diversity in physical features,
climatic types, topography, habitat, vegetation types and fauna (Friis et al., 2010). The
Forest resources once covered most of the landmass of the country, but these days
clearing of land for agricultural expansion and the cutting of trees for fuel with all other
factors diminished the closed Forest cover of Ethiopia. According to the report of FAO
(2015), between 1990 and 2005 the extent of Ethiopia's Forest decreased by 1.4 million
ha. By 2005 the Forest cover further declined and estimated to cover 13.0 million ha.
This indicates that Ethiopia has lost over two million ha of Forest. As the studies show,
the abundance and frequency of woody plant species decline from year to year.
Therefore, stakeholders should identify the major threats that cause the loss of woody
plants. The major threats to the conservation of the Ethiopian vegetation are the intensive
use of forest lands for agriculture and livestock, need of fuelwood and construction
materials, forest fires and human settlement (FAO, 1996). Plant diversity can be affected
by biotic and a biotic factors. The major reason for forest degradation, biodiversity loss
and an increase the area of bare land are the conversion of forests to farm land shifting
cultivation, fire wood, charcoal production, overgrazing, inappropriate investments and
lack of viable land use policy (Ramirez-Maricial et al., 2001) .According to Belay Tefera
(2014), farmers throughout the world deliberately maintain trees and shrubs that are used
for cropping or grazing. Farmers protect and promote woody species within and around
their home gardens and fields. Plant regeneration by naturally and plantation is essential
for preservation and maintenance of biodiversity. Lack of integration of the local people
living around the conservation areas into the conservation efforts is the major constraint
 3

to the overall conservation effort in Ethiopia. Study on floristic composition and

structure of woody plant species is useful to know the forest resources we have together
with their conservation status so as to design appropriate conservation measures. Telet
forest is one of the forests in Amhara Sayint District which needs great managing
policies. Telet forest has been affected by deforestation for timber, charcoal, fuel wood
collection and overgrazing. This study, conducted on Telet forest is important to provide
information for the stakeholders to tackle the problem of losing this forest by setting
meaningful conservation plan, effective management and giving awareness for the
people for sustainable utilization of the forest and the resources. Therefore, this study
was designed to carry out ecological study on the vegetation of Telet with the following

General objective

To assess the woody plant species diversity, structure and regeneration status of
vegetation of Telet in Amhara Sayint District, South Wollo Zone, Amara region,

Ethiopia

Specific objectives
 To document woody plant species in Telet forest
 To investigate the diversity, species richness and evenness of woody
plant species in Telet forest
 To analyze the population structure of the forest
 To identify the natural regeneration status of woody plant species in Telet
forest.
 4

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. Woody plant diversity and distribution in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has large natural and cultural diversity with a wide range of climate but the
dense forest exists in the southern and south west part of Ethiopia. The differences in
altitude and latitude have resulted in a wide variation in climate. The various ecological
location and environment have a different diversity of plants. The vegetation of our
country is heterogeneous and it varies from semi-desert to Afro-alpine vegetation type
(Dinkissa Beche, 2011). There are more than 6000 higher plant species in Ethiopia,
from the total plant species, 428 are endemic and near-endemic and 107 are trees and
321 are shrubs (Vivero et al., 2005). The forest and woody vegetation resource of
Ethiopia were estimated to cover greater than 11.7% of the land, of this the woodlands
cover about 45% of the total land of Ethiopia. The woody plant species in Flora of
Ethiopia and Eritrea was estimated to be 1100; out of these, about 300 are tree species
(Dinkissa Beche, 2011). The majority of the economic activities and life of most
Ethiopian is related to the forest resources (Demel Teketay, 2001).

2.2. Threats to Woody plant diversity in Ethiopia

According to Wondie Mebrat and Temesgen Gashaw (2013), the mountainous land
scapes of Ethiopian high lands were characterized by high woody plant species diversity
but they have been degraded and fragmented. Degradation is the result of population
pressure that increases crop cultivation and livestock grazing in marginal areas.
Agricultural investment, charcoal production and relentless expansion of very aggressive
invasive species are having a profound and determinant effect on the woody plant
resource availability. The above activities contributed to increasing deforestation and soil
erosion in the high lands of the country (Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egzeabhare, 1988).
Land degradation indicates temporarily or permanent long-term decline in ecosystem
function and productive capacity and it is the primary cause of species loss at local,
regional and global scales through urban development, road building, recreation, forest
fires, agriculture and tree logging. The factors that would suppress woody species
diversity accelerate the degradation of natural habitats with many woody plant species to
 5

a great extent. Such practice is leading to the extinction of moisture-loving species and
promoting the hardy and spiny species having least value for the society. Therefore, the
loss of biodiversity and changing the pattern of woody species has necessitated the
assessment of woody species diversity of the region and prioritize habitats, communities
and species for conservation (Wondie Mebrat and Temesgen Gashaw, 2013).

2.3. Conservation strategies of woody plants

Conservation is the management of human use of biosphere to give the greatest

sustainable benefits to the current generation. It is also preservation, maintenance,
sustainable utilization, restoration and enhancement of the natural environment.
Conservation is important for sustainable development in agriculture, livestock, and
economic outputs. The accelerating pace of species extinction is the greatest challenges
facing in most part of Ethiopia. This challenge has leads to the emergence of the practice
of conservation in the country. It seeks to learn how to preserve species, communities,
and ecosystems and it studies the cause of declines in species richness. To do these two
approaches are being used to protect and conserve vegetation diversity. These are the in-
situ and ex-situ conservation approaches. The in situ approach species within their
natural habitat, while the ex situ approach, does so outside the habitats of the species by
collecting and protecting them in gene bank (FDRE, 2003). As a result, conservation of
woody plant species at the levels of ecosystems, landscapes, community, populations,
individuals, and genes, is essential to sustain the health and vitality of ecosystems.
Conservation practice includes the establishment of protected area as well as
management strategies based on beneficial balance between resource development and
satisfaction of human needs

2.4. Vegetation concept

Vegetation can be defined in different ways according to different scientists; vegetation

is a general term for the plant life of a region, it refers to the ground cover provided by
plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms,
structure, special extent, or any other botanical or geographic characteristics. It is
broader than the term flora which refers exclusively to species composition. Perhaps the
 6

closest synonyms is plant community, but vegetation can, and often does, refer to a wide
range of special scales than that term does, including scale as large as the global.
Primeval redwood forests, coastal mangrove stands, sphagnum bogs, desert soil crusts,
road side weed patches, wheat fields, cultivated gardens and lawns; all are encompassed
by the term vegetation. According to Box and Fujiwara (2005) vegetation, a term of
popular origin, refers to the aggregate of all plants found in an area and it involves the
species (populations) of the local flora, which intern involve different genetic, migration,
historical or ecological elements.

Several scientific organizations have classified the world’s vegetation to create a series
of biomes, zones on earth with shared characteristics which can be defined by the plant
life they contain. There are number of classification systems in use; which describe
biomes in terms such as the types of plants found there, the soil conditions, the climate
and the historical use of the land. Some examples of vegetation biomes include tropical
plants, high alpine plants, and desert plants. (Girma et al..2004). Vegetation ecology, the
study of the plant cover and its relationships with the environment also called
synecology, is a complex scientific under- taking both regarding the overwhelming
variation of its object of study in space and time, its intricate interactions with a biotic
and biotic factors. It is a comprehensive account of plant communities and their
environments (Lemma, 2011). It covers the composition, structure, ecology, diversity,
distribution and dynamics of plant communities with an emphasis on functional
adaptations to abiotic and biotic processes governing plant community.

The vegetation of a region is shaped by environmental influences; including climate,

substrate, soil microbes and disturbance regimes. The simplest concepts of vegetation
types have been based on physiognomy that is the general physical structure and
appearance of the vegetation (Box and Fujiwara, 2005). Vegetation types, though, are
also often recognizable as and loosely equivalent to plant communities. Plant
communities are also usually part of some larger ecosystem that involves the different
populations of both plant and animal species that occur together at the particular site. It is
common experience of plant ecologists that vegetation is not a random assemblage of
individuals of many species, but that plant are associated in communities, which have a
 7

definite structure and often a regular specific species composition. A careful analysis of
vegetation is a means of revealing important information about other components of
ecosystem (Goldsmith et al., 1986). Vegetation study could also help and promote
selecting and employing an appropriate conservation and management plan for
sustainable use of ecosystem (Kershaw, 1973). Floristic data are relevant for establishing
the present situation for environmental impact assessment and for monitoring changes in
ecosystem quality in terms of changing species composition. The structure and
composition of vegetation is often a consequence of environmental gradients, which can
be defined as a change in the value of a particular parameter, such as temperature, soil
pH, and soil moisture or species composition over space (Whittaker, 1975) this
methodology requires complete inventory of all species composing the vegetation.

2.5. Vegetation Sampling

According to Maarel (2005), the species composition of a plant community, the key
element in its definition, is described in its simplest form by a list of species occurring in
the sample plot. The following quantitative measures can be used to quantify the level
that species attains: 1. Abundance, the number of individuals on the sample plot.
Abundance is the number of plant per unit area. Measurement of plant abundance
requires the counting of individual plants by species in a given area. It can be used to
show spatial distribution and ranges over time. 2. Frequency is the number of times a
species occurs in a particular area from the total sampled plots. It is the proportion of
plots in which a species occurs. It indicates how the species are dispersed and is an
ecologically meaningful parameter. In other words, it gives an approximate indication of
the homogeneity of the stand under consideration (Kent and Coker, 1992). It gives an
approximate indication for homogeneity and heterogeneity of vegetation. Hambrecht
(1989) pointed out that high value in higher frequency and low value in lower frequency
classes indicate constant or similar species.

2.6. Plant Cover Estimate

Cover is among the most widely used measures of abundance of plant species because it
is not biased by the size or distribution of individuals. So, cover can be used to compare
 8

the abundance of species of widely different growth forms (Floyd and Anderson, 1987).
Plant species cover is a popular variable for plant community description. In particular,
vegetation cover most often is expressed as percentage of a two- dimensional soil surface
area covered by a vertical projection of plants on to that surface (Grain-Smith, 1983).
Cover data usually are obtained by individual plant species and these data are summed to
obtain total plant cover. However, if cover of individual species overlaps in a vertical
position, a summation of cover by species over estimates total plant cover. A plant cover
data have also been useful for ecological interpretation of changes in plant species
composition associated with climatic fluctuations and with surface disturbances such as
mineral extraction and livestock grazing. As stated above, plant cover has been
commonly defined as a percentage of ground area covered by plant parts. Comparisons
of plant cover estimates obtained by any on-ground methods produce estimates that
require visual examination by an observer.

2.7. Diversity Indices

Diversity is synonymous with heterogeneity (Krebs, 1999), comprises, species richness

and evenness. Indicates that combine both richness and evenness (heterogeneity) into a
single value are diversity indices. Ecologists also use species diversity as one important
measure of the structural heterogeneity of a community. There are many ways a
community can be diverse in species. They may vary in number (richness) of species,
degree of dominance by one or a few species, relative abundance of all species or
evenness, number of rare species, number of nonnative species, vertical stratification of
species, horizontal patchiness, number of growth or life forms, and so on (McIntosh,
1967), Whittaker (1975) distinguished different kinds of species diversity along certain
environmental gradient that he called alpha, beta and gamma diversity. Alpha diversity
refers to the number of species within a sample area. Beta diversity describes the
difference in species composition between two adjacent sample areas along transects.

Beta diversity is low when the overlap between the species composition of two quadrats
is high, and the highest when the sample have no species in common at all. Gama
diversity describes regional difference in species composition. In addition to this idea,
 9

Rosen Zweig (1995) defined the above three terms as: Alpha diversity (α)-refers to the
diversity of species within a particular habitat of community. Beta diversity (β)-is a
measure of the rate and extent of change in species along gradient from one habitat to
another. It is between habitat diversity that measures turnover rates. Beta diversity is
sometimes called habitat diversity (Kent and Cooker, 1992). Gama diversity (γ)-on the
other hand is the diversity of species in comparable habitats along geographical gradients
and is independent of the two (Kent and Cooker, 1992). Similarly indices measure the
degree to which the species composition of the quadrats samples is alike.

Ecologists have proposed other diversity indices that combine species with various
weightings for relative abundance. The first kind of indices, called heterogeneity or
diversity indices ( Schmitz, 2007), quantify either the likely hood that two individuals
sampled randomly from an area are not the same species ( Simpson’s indices), or the
likely hood that one cannot predict to which species the next individual collected in an
area belongs (Shannon-Weiner index). In both cases, larger values of the indices imply
more heterogeneity and hence diversity, than do smaller values of the indices. These two
indices differ in their sensitivity to the weighting given to rare species. Weiner index is
the most sensitive to changes in the number of rare species sampled in an area.

Shannon diversity index has emerged as the most widely used criterion to assess the
conservation potential and ecological value of a site. It is the most applicable index of
diversity (Abiyot Tilahun, 2009). Like Simpson’s index, Shannon’s index accounts for
both abundance and evenness of species present. The proportions of species relative to
the total number of species (pi) are calculated, and multiplied by the natural logarithm of
these proportions (ln.pi). The Shannon diversity index (H’) was calculated using the
following formula:

H’= -∑is = pi. ln.pi

Where, H’ = Shannon-Weiner diversity index, s= total number of species, pi= the

proportion of individuals or abundance of the ith species as a proportion of total cover
and ln= log base. Evenness: is a measure of the relative abundance of the different
 10

species making up the richness of an area. Evenness compares the similarity of the
population size of each of the species.

According to Mclean and Ivimer-cook (1973), Kumar (1981) and Paul (1993), species
diversity can be viewed in terms of species richness (total number of species in a given
area), species endemism (total number of species confined to that specific area),
evenness distribution or the relative abundance of the individuals within each species and
taxonomic diversity (measurement of magnitude of differences between species as seen
by their taxonomic distribution in genera, orders, classes and phyla).

The most commonly employed element of diversity index is species richness. It is a

simple count of the number of species in an area. This index gives equal weighting to all
species, whether they occur frequently and there by dominate an area or they are rare.
Because it does not account for commonness or rarity, species richness can be conflated
by the contribution of rare species to the measure of species diversity. In many cases, we
want to understand the richness of species relative to their relative abundance. Richness
is a measure of the number of different species in a given site and can be expressed in
mathematical index to compare diversity between sites (Abiyot, 2009). Species richness
index has a great importance in assessing taxonomic, structural and ecological value of a
given habitat. Richness simply quantifies how many different types the data set of
interest contains. For example, species richness (usually notated S) of data set is the
number of different species in the corresponding species list. Richness is a simple
measure, so it has been a popular diversity index in ecology, where abundance data are
often not available for the data sets of interest. Because richness does not take the
abundances of the types in to account, it is not the same thing as diversity, which does
take abundances in to account. For example, if there were four different sub species
observed in zone 1 and zone 2 the richness would be equal.

This does not indicate what percentage of the abundance there were of each sub species.
Species richness increases as a function of ecosystem size and appears to increase even
within established communities, overtime (Putman, 1994). Moreover, diversity is a
 11

function of time: all community tends to diversify with time; there for older communities
will be to more species rich than young once.

Evenness is a measure of abundance of the different species that make up the richness of
the area. Species diversity shows the product of species richness and evenness. Species
diversity indices provide information about species endemism, rarity and commonness
(Muller- Dubois and Ellen Berg, 1974). Evenness, according to Molinari (1989), is
defined as the degree to which the abundances are equal among the species present in a
sample or community and is a fundamental attribute of any multi species sample. To
quantify evenness, as mentioned by this author, one must rely on an evenness index,
which is a mathematical formula conceived to summarize evenness by assigning an
evenness value to each sample. As is the case with other statistics, such as the mean, the
median, the mode, and the standard deviation, evenness values are merely numbers: their
relevance to an ecological problem must be judged by the ecologists on the bases of
observed correlations with ecological or environmental variables of his or her interest.
Evenness indices as Schmitz (2007) accomplish this by scaling the heterogeneity indices
to a theoretical maximal value of diversity when all species are equally represented in the
sample. In this case, large index values imply that the species are equally represented or
equally abundant in a sample.

2.7.1 Frequency

Frequency is the proportion of plots in which a species occurs. It is a measure of the

occurrence of a given species in a given area. It indicates how the species are dispersed
and is an ecologically meaningful parameter. In other words, it gives an approximate
indication of the homogeneity of the stand under consideration (Kent and Coker, 1992).

2.7.2 Species importance value index

Species importance value index permits a comparison of species in a given location and
reflects the dominance, occurrence and abundance of a given species in relation to other
associated species in an area (Kent and Coker, 1992). Therefore, for setting conservation
 12

priority, it is a good index for summarizing vegetation characteristics and ranking

species for management and conservation practices

2.8. Regeneration and Recruitment of vegetation

Regeneration refers to the natural process by which plants replace or re-establish

themselves, usually from an abundant production of seeds (Mlcolm, 1999; cited in
Lekoyiet, 2006). According to Riedel and Zacher (1987; cited in Desta Hamito, 2001),
the concept of regeneration includes: reforestation, harvesting of old timbers, seeding
depleted range and reintroduction of wild species. Seedlings represent the final stage in
the process of regeneration from seeds. Recruitment is a transition from juvenile stage to
the seeds or seedlings and then to vegetative plant parts. It is a multiphase process
involving several sequential life history stages (i.e. seeds, seedlings and saplings)
connected by transitional processes (i.e. dispersal, emergence and survival) (Silvertown,
1982).

The recruitment of a seedling population from the available seeds relies on environment
sieve. Hence, a good understanding of natural regeneration in any plant community
requires information on the presence and absence of persistent soil seed banks or
seedling banks, quantity and quality of seed rain, durability of seeds in the soil, losses of
seeds to predation and deterioration, triggers for germination of seeds in the soil and
sources of regrowth after disturbances. Environmental factors such as soil moisture,
temperature, canopy cover (light conditions), deep leaf layers and micro scale
disturbances affect tree seedling dynamics .Seedling may fail to occupy a particular site
because seeds do not arrive at the site (dispersal limitation) or because the site is not a
suitable environment for establishment (establishment limitation). Hence, the availability
of seeds and the lack of suitable microsite for seedling recruitments are increasingly
identified as major constraints governing species diversity (Holzel, 2005).

Ensermu Kelbessa and Teshome Soromessa (2008) stated that some species are unable to
establish in the under story environment while other seedlings and saplings are favored
by herbivores. A tree species with no seedling and sapling in a forest is under a threat of
local extinction (Taye Bekele et al., 2002). Moreover, Tree species that have been over
 13

utilized and lack replacement would eventually disappear from the forest (Ensermu
Kelbessa and Teshome Soromessa, 2008). One of the most effective adaptations for
ensuring successful seedling establishment is, therefore, possession of a large seed,
which provides an ample reserve of nutrients during the period immediately after
germination (Foster, 1986).

They are usually much more sensitive to both harsh abiotic conditions and competitions
from neighboring plants. In general, a tree species with no seedling and sapling in a
forest is under risky condition and it is suggested that these species are under threat of
local extinction. Hence, for a successful regeneration and establishment of seedlings, a
sufficient volume of viable seeds, appropriate climatic and edaphic conditions are
indispensible (Taye Bekele et al., 2002). In addition, vegetative regeneration of forest
gap can be affected by size, shape and orientation of gap to the sun, soil type,
topography, soil seed bank. Height and species composition of the surrounding
vegetation, extent of damage to vegetation upon formation of the gap, temperature aspect
of the gap and its spatial disturbances can also affect vegetative regeneration (Demel
Teketay, 2006).
 14

3. MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1. Description of the study area

The present study was conducted in South Wollo Zone Amhara Sayint District, Amhara
National Regional State. The District is 590 km far from Addis Ababa and 189 km away
from zone capital. Sayint District is bordered in the south by Densa district, North by
Mekidela District, East by Legambo District and West by Simada (Sayint District
communication affairs, 2019). It lies between the coordinates of 10o 53' to 10o57' N and
38o 54' to 39o 49' E and Adjbar is the Town of Saint District. The total area of the District
is 144,240.95 ha (Amhara Sayint Woreda Administration Office plan communication
Team, 2019).

Figure 1 Map of Ethiopia, Amhara region and Amhara Saint District

 15

Metrological data for the district is taken from the nearest town (temperature from
Dessie and rain fall from Legambo District). Accordingly, the study area obtains high
rainfall between July to August and low rainfall from October to January. The dry season
is between January to February and November to December. The lowest monthly rain
fall from the total is 9.31 mm recorded in December.

The highest mean annual rainfall of the district is 724 mm. The averages annual
maximum temperature of the study area is 16.1oC. The area also has a mean
monthly minimum and maximum temperature of 5.20c and 26.30crespectivelyFigure2).

Figure 2 Climatic diagram of the study area (Source: National Metrological Service
Agency).

3.2. Reconnaissance Survey and vegetation data collection

Reconnaissance survey was made in the study area in October 2019 to familiarize with
environment so that the number and direction of transects to be laid are determined
easily across the forest. Accordingly, 11 transects lines oriented to north-south direction
separated by a distance of 400 m were laid down. Then after, 64 sample plots with size
20 x 20m were systematically laid down at 50 m interval on each transect line. In each
main plot, 5 subplots with size 5 x 5m were established one at each corner of the main
plot and one at the center of the main plot to collect data related to seedlings and saplings
(Fig. 3). Woody plant species was classified in three size classes (seedlings, saplings and
 16

mature plants) based on their height and diameter at breast height. In each sample plot,
all adult woody individuals with DBH ≥ 3cm and height > 3 m were considered as adult
plants; woody individuals with DBH < 3cm and height >2 m but < 3 m were counted as
saplings, and individuals with DBH < 3 cm and height less than 2 m were counted as
seedlings.

25m2 25m2

25m2

20m

25m2 25m2

20m

Figure 3 Sampling Design

All trees/shrub species found in the main plots, and saplings and seedlings of woody species
found in sub-plots were recorded with their densities and voucher specimens were also
collected with their vernacular names. For those woody species with DBH>3cm,
circumference at breast height (1.3 m above the ground) was measured for later conversion
into DBH. For those tree boles branched at 1.3m, measurements were taken separately and
averaged. The height of the individual wood plants was also measured using a meter-marked
stick. The pressed and dried plant specimens were later identified using literatures such as
Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea (Edward.S, Mesfin T, Hedberg I. 1995; 1997 and 2000) and then
authenticated with preserved specimen in Haramaya University Herbarium. Further diversity
data including frequency, species richness, Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H') and
Equitability/evenness index (J), dominance, population structure and regeneration status were
extracted and analyzed as follows. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H') was calculated using
the following equation:

H’ = ∑
 17

Where, H’ = Shannon diversity index, s = the number of species, Pi = the proportion of

individuals of the ith species expressed as a proportion of total cover in the sample, and ln = the
natural logarithm. Species richness was calculated by summing up the number of woody plant
species identified in the sample plot. Shannon’s Evenness or Equitability Index was calculated
as follows: J=H’/Hmax=H’/lnS

Where: J = Evenness; H’ = Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index; Hmax = ln(S); S = total number

of species in the sample. The value of evenness index falls between 0 and 1.

Density of woody species was calculated by converting the total number of individuals of each
woody species encountered in all the quadrats across all transects used in the site to equivalent
number per hectare. (Kent and Coker, 1992),

Density =

Frequency of each woody plant species was computed as the proportion (%) of plots (quadrats)
within which a species is found out of the total number of quadrats used in the site. (Kent and
Coker, 1992),

Frequency =

Diameter at Breast Height (DBH): was obtained from the measured circumference as follows

DBH =

A B C
DBH measurement ≥ 2cm (A), height measurement ≥ 2m (B) and local name Identification
(C)

Figure 4 Photo of some vegetation taken by Getachew Abere

 18

Dominance of the woody species was determined from basal area obtained by converting DBH
data to basal area as follows. That is, BA = π d2/4. Where, BA = Basal area in m2 per hectare, d=
diameter at breast height, π = 3.14159265 (Kent and Coker, 1992),

Therefore, Dominance =

Importance value index (IVI) was obtained by summing up of relative frequency, relative
density and relative dominance, i.e., IVI= Relative density + Relative frequency + Relative
dominance. Where,

Relative density = X 100,

Relative frequency = X 100,

Relative dominance = X 100

The population structure and regeneration status were derived based on height class vs density
of each height class. That is, by comparing individual number of seedling with sapling and
sapling with mature tree/shrub (Chauhan et al., 2008: Gebrehiwot and Hundera, 2014). And
regeneration status was assigned: ‘Good’, if the number of seedlings > saplings > mature
strata; ‘Fair’, if the number of seedlings > saplings< mature strata; ‘Poor’, if the number of
mature > saplings> seedlings strata; ‘None’, if a species is absent, both in saplings and
seedling stages, but present as mature; and New’, if a species has no mature, but only saplings
and/ or seedling stages
 19

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Floristic composition of woody plant species in the study area

Totally, 48 woody plants distributed in 47 genera and 29 families were identified in Telet
forest. Of the 48 spp, 60.4 %, 35.4% and 4.2% were shrub, tree and shrub/tree,
respectively. Fabaceae (5 species, 10 .4 %) was the most dominant family in the study
area followed by Euphorbiaceae (with 4 species, 8.3 %), Lamiaceae and Moraceae with
3 species, 6.3 % each. The remaining 8 families were represented by 2 species (4.2) each
and 17 families were represented by single species (2.1 %) each (Table 1). Compared to
some previous studies conducted in a similar ecosystem of Ethiopia, for example,
Denkoro Forest in South Wollo with 64 spp (Abate Ayalew, 2003), Menagesha Amba
Mariam Forest with 70 species in Central Shewa (Abiyou Tilahun, 2009) and Gedo
Forest with 130 species in West Shewa (Birhanu Kebede, 2010) species richness of this
study area is relatively low. However, species richness of this study area is greater than
that of Yemrehane Kirstos Church Forest (39 species) in North Wollo (Amanual
Ayalew, 2016) and Kurib forst (39 species) in Awi zone of Amhara regional state (Molla
Belay, 2016).

This difference may be due to differences in some environmental variables and

anthropogenic effects. The overall Shannon–Wiener diversity and evenness of the Forest
were 3.49 and 0.83, respectively. This indicates that the species in the study forest are
more or less evenly distributed. The value of Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index usually
was found to fall between1.5-3.5, and rarely surpasses 4.5 (Magurran, 1988). The
Shannon diversity index values observed in Telet forest falls between the above ranges.
Based on this assumption, the diversity index obtained for this forest shows that Telet
forest is of good species diversity with the different species having uniform abundance.
Alemayehu Wassie (2002) describes high species diversity and evenness could be
attributed to the presence of optimum environmental factors such as altitude, slope and
adequate nutrient and moisture.
 20

Table 1. List of woody species in the study area

No Scientific name Family name Local name Habit Code

1 Acacia abyssionica Hochs Fabaceae Bazera girar T GA01

ex. Benth
2 Acokanthera schimperi Apocynaceae Mirenz S GA34
(A.DC.) Schweinf
3 Albiza gummifra Fabaceae Sesich T GA26
(J.F.Gmel.)C.A.Psms
4 Allophylus abyssinicus Sapindaceae Embies T GA45
(Hochst).RadlkOfer
5 Arundo donax L. Poaceae Shenbeko S GA41
6 Bersama abyssinica Fersen Melianthaceae Azamir S GA31
7 Buddleja polystachya Loganiaceae Anfar S GA37
Feresen.
8 Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Fabaceae Digtsa S GA30
Benth
9 Carissa spinarum L. Apocynaceae Agam S GA35
10 Celtis Africana Burm.f. Ulmaceae Kawet T GA11
11 Clerodendrum myricoides Lamiaceae Misrich S GA50
(Hochst) vatke
12 Clutia abyssinica Jaub.& Euphorbiaceae Fiyelefeji S GA29
spach
13 Croton macrostachyus Euphorbiaceae Bisana T GA07
Del.
14 Cupressus lusitanica Mill. Cuperssaceae YeferenjiTid T GA18
15 Discopodium Penninevium Solanaceae Amreraro S GA05
Hochst.
16 Dodonea angustifolia .f sapinadaceae Kitkita S GA08
17 Dovyalias abyssinica Flacourtiaceae Koshim T/S GA13
 21

(A.Rich) Warb
18 Dombeya tottid (j.F.Gmel.) streculiaceae Wulkifa T GA14
P.Bamps
19 Duranta erecta Verbanaceae Muatis S GA21
20 Echinopus sp.A.Rich Astreceae Kushashele S GA15
21 Eucalyptus globulus Labill Myrtaceae Nechibahrzaf T GA17
22 Euclea racemosa Hiern Ebenaceae Dediho S GA16
23 Euphoribia abyssinica Euphorbiaceae Kulkual S GA19
Gmel
24 Euphorbia tirucalli L Euphorbiaceae Kinichib S GA28
25 Ficus sycomorus Moraceae Beles S GA23
26 Ficuss surForssk Moraceae Sholla T GA27
27 Ficuss vasta Forssk Moraceae Warka T GA49
28 Grewia ferreginia Hochst Tiliaceae Lenqutsa S GA25
,ex.A.Rich
29 Hetromoropha arborescens Apiaceae Yegibmerkuze S GA24
(spreng) Cham.& Schldl
30 Hypericum revaltium Vahl Hypericaea Amuja S GA12
31 Jasminum abysinicum Oleaceae Tsenbelel S GA56
Hochest. ex.Dc
32 Juniperus procera Cupressaceae HabeshaTid T GA55
Hochest .Ex. Endel
33 Lippia adoensis Hochst Verbenacaea Kessie/koseret S GA54
.ex. Warb
34 Mytenus arbutifolia celastracaea Atsat S GA38
(A.Rich) Wilczek
35 Millettia ferruginea Fabaceae Birbra T GA53
(Hochst ) Bak
36 Myrica salicifolia A.Rich. Myricicaeae Shinet T GA03
37 Myresine Africana L. Myrsinacaeae Kechemo T GA06
 22

38 Myrtus communsis L. Myrtacaeae Ades S GA04

39 Ocimum urticifolium Roth. Lamiacaeae Damakassie S GA44
40 Oleae europaea L. oleacaeae Woyira T GA33
41 otostegia integrifolia Benth Lamiacaeae Tsunjut S GA32
42 Phytolacca dodecandra L Phytolaccaca Endod S GA46
Herit
43 Pruns aficana (Hook.f) Rosaceae Tikureenchet T GA51
44 Pterolobium stellatum Fabaceae Kentsefa S GA52
(Forssk) Brenan
45 Rhus natalesis Krauss Anacardiaceae Tsakima S GA39
46 Rhus vulgaris Vahl Anacardiaceae Tilem T/S GA47
47 Rosa abyssinica Lindley Rosaceaeae Kega S GA02
48 Rumex nervosus Vahl Polygonaceae Enbuacho S GA36

Note: T=tree, S=shrub, T/S =Tree/ Shrub

4.2. Density and Frequency of Woody Plant Species

From 64 quadrats, a total of 2380 individuals (405mature, 1111 seedlings and 864
saplings) of woody species were counted. This means the entire density of vegetation in
the study area was about 37 per main plot. Converting this into hectare, the entire woody
species density was 976.15 (158.12 mature, 434.1 seedlings and 430 saplings) per
hectare (Table 2). The densest species of this study area was Acacia abyssinica followed
by other species such as Acokanthera schimperi, Albizia gummifera, Allophylus
abyssinicus (Table 2). Compared to many other previous similar researches in similar
ecosystem, for example that of Dodola forest (Hundera et al., 2007), Wof Washa forest
(Fisaha et al., 2013), Boditi forest (Yineger et al., 2008), Gemechis forest (Sudi Dawud,
2018), Abebaye forest (Zegeye et al., 2011), Zengena forest (Tadele et al., 2014) and
Yegof forest (Mesfin et al., 2018) vegetation of the current study was less dense.
Topographic, climatic and anthropogenic variations occurring in different sites affect
density of given vegetation.
 23

Table 2 Density and relative density (RD) of woody species (no. of individual/ha)

Scientific name Density ha-1 Relative density (%)

Acacia abyssionica Hochs ex. Benth 142 14.35

Acokanthera schimperi (A.DC.)

Schweinf 76.7 7.6

Albiza gummifra (J.F.Gemel.)

C.A.Psm 71.6 7.24

Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochst.)

RadlkOfer 66.5 6.72

Arundo donax L. 55.3 5.59

Bersama abyssinica Feresen

54.5 5.51

Buddleja polystachya Feresen 50.6 5.12

Calpurnia aurea (Ait.)Benh 50.2 5.11

Carissa spinarum L. 40.9 4.13

Celtis africana Burm.f. 30.5 3.08

Clerodendrum myricoides(Hochest)
Vatke 22.7 2.89

Clutia abysincia Jaub&spach 20.3 2.25

Phytolaca dondocandra L. Hiret 16.4 1.65

Croton macrostachyus Del 16 1.60

 24

Cuperss lusitanica Mill 14.5 1.46

Dodonaea angustifolia L.f. 14.5 1.46

Discopodium penninervum Hochest. 14.1 1.42

Dombeya torrida (J,F.Gmel.)

P.Bam ps 14.1 1.42

Dovyalis abyssinica (A.Rich.)Warb. 12.5 1.26

Duranta erecta 12.1 1.22

Echinopus sp. A.Rich 11.3 1.14

Eucalyptus globulus Labill. 10.9 1.10

Euclea racemosa Hiern 10.5 1.06

Euphorbia abyssinica Gemel 10.5 1.06

Euphorbia tirucali L. 10.2 1.03

Ficuss sycomors 9.77 0.98

Ficus sur Forssk 9.38 0.95

Ficus vasta Forssk 8.98 0.91

Grewia ferruginea Hochest. ex. A.

Rich. 8.59 0.86

Hetromoropha arborescens (Spreng)

Cham.&Schldl 8.2 0.85
 25

Hypericum revalitum Vahl 8.2 0.85

Jasminum abyssinicum Hochest. ex.

Dc 7.42 0.84

Juniperus procera Hochest. ex Endle. 7.03 0.78

Lippia adoensis Hochst.exWarb 7.03 0.78

Mytenus arbutifolia (A.Rich)Wilczek 7.03 0.78

Millettia ferruginea (Hochst)Bak 7.03 0.78

Myrica salicifolia A.Rich. 6.64 0.74

Myrsine Africana L. 6.25 0.67

Myrtus communis L. 5.08 0.61

Ocimum urticifolium Roth 4.3 0.43

Olea europaeaSubsp.cuspidata 3.52 0.35

Otostegia integrifolia Benh 2.73 0.27

Pruns aficana (Hook.f) 2.34 0.23

Pterolobium stallatum (Forssk)

Brenan 1.56 0.15

Rhus vulgaris Vahl 1.56 0.15

Rhus natalensis Kauss 1.42 0.14

Rosa abyssinica Lindley 1.40 0.14

 26

Rumex nervosus Vahl 1.35 0.13

976.15 100

Frequency reflects the pattern of distribution and gives an approximate indication of the
heterogeneity of a stand (Lamprecht, 1989). The most frequent species in the study area
were Dodonaea angustifolia (8.49%),Albizia gummifera (6.37%), Allophylus
abyssinicus (5.94),Myrica salicifolia (5.94%), Carissa spinarum (5.12%), Duranta
erecta (4.37%), Rhus Vulgaris (4.37%) ,and Acacica,byssinica (4.09 %), The least
frequent species in the study area were Myrtus communis with 0.25%, Heteromorpha
arborescens, Arundo donax, Ficus vasta, and Euphorbia abyssinica which accounts
0.47 % for each (Table 3). Ermias Lulekal, (2014) pointed out, species with highest
relative frequency has a wide range of seed dispersal mechanisms by wind, livestock,
animals and birds.

Table 3 .Frequency of woody species in Telet Forest

Scientific name Frequency (%) Relative frequency (%)

Dodonaea angustifolia L.f 53 8.49

Albiza gummifra (J.F.Gemel.) 33 6.37
C.A.Psm
Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochst.) 31 5.94
Radlk Ofer
Myrica salicifolia A.Rich 31 5.94
Carissa spinarum L. 29 5.12
Duranta erecta 25 4.37
Rhus vulgaris Meikle 25 4.37
Acacia abyssinica Hochest .ex. 23 4.09
Benth
Rumex nervosus Vahl 22 3.44
 27

Cuperss lusitanica Mill 20 3.12

Olea europaea subspcuspidata. 20 3.12
Acokanthera schimperi (A.DC.) 19 2.30
Schweinf
Millettia ferruginea (Hochest.)Vatk 15.6 2.44
Dovyalis abyssinica (A.Rich.)Warb 14 2.19
Grewia ferruginea Hochest .ex . 14 2.19
A.Rich
Celtis africana Burmf 13 1.73
Croton macrostachyus Del 13 1.73
Otostegia integrifolia Benth 13 1.73
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) 13 1.73
Brenan
Rosa abyssinica Lindly 13 1.73
Buddleja polystachya Fersen 11 1.52
Calpurnia aurea (Ait.)Benth 11 1.52
Dombeya torrida (J.F.Gmel.) 11 1.52
P.Bamps
Lippia adoensis Hochest.ex.Walp 11 1.52
Discopodium penninervum Hochest 9 1.21
Maytenus arbutifolia (A.Rich.) 9 1.21
Wilczek
Echinopus sp. A.Rich 8 1.3
Euclea racemosa Hiern 8 1.3
Ficus sycomorus. 8 1.3
Ficus sur Forssk 8 1.3
Hypericum revalitum Vahl 8 1.3
Jasminum abyssinicum Hochest. 7.7 1.23
ex. Dc
Juniperus procera Hochest. ex. 7.7 1.23
 28

Endel
Bersama abyssinica Fersen 6 0.96
Clutia abyssinica Jaub.&spach 6 0.96
Myrsine Africana L. 6 0.96
Clerodendrum myricoide(Hochest.) 5 0.77
Vatke
Cordia africana Lam 5 0.77
Eucalyptus globulus Labill 5 0.77
Euphorbia tirucali L. 5 0.77
Ocimum urticifolium Roth 5 0.77
Prunus africana (Hook.f) 5 0.77
Rhus natalensis Karuss 5 0.77
Arundo donax L. 3 0.47
Euphorbia abyssinica Gmel 3 0.47
Ficus vasta Forssk 3 0.47
Heteromorpha arborescens 3 0.47
(spreng. )Cham.&Schldl
Myrtus communis L. 1.6 0.25
Total 639.3 100

4.3. Basal area and Important value index

Mean basal area of woody species with DBH>2cm was computed and shown in Table 4
below. Of this spp., Albizia gummifera with 16.66 % relative BA ranked first followed
by Myrica salicifolia (16.45 %), Juniperus procera (9.67 %) and Olea europaea subsp.
cuspidate (9.65 %). Plant species which have large basal area are said to be most
ecologically important (dominant) species in a given ecosystem. Whereas Bersama
abyssinica, Heteromorpha arborescens, Acokanthera schimperi, Clerodendrum
myricoides, Calpurnia aurea and some others have less contribution for total basal area
(Table 4 ). Species with the highest basal area do not necessarily have the highest density
 29

(Tamrat Bekele, 1994; Simon Shibru and Girma Balcha, 2004). According to Tamirat
Bekele (1994) and Dereje Denu (2006), basal area provides the measure of the relative
importance of the species than simple stem count. If we consider density rather than
basal area, shrubs could have been the dominant species. Species with largest
contribution in dominance value through higher basal area could be considered as the
most important species in the study area.

Table 4 Basal area and percentage contribution of woody specie

Scientific name BA/ha RBA (%)

Albizia gummifera 6.621094 16.66074

Myrica salicifolia 6.535156 16.45013

JuniperusproceraHochest.ex. Endel 3.84375 9.679525

Oleaeuropaea subsp.cuspidaa 3.808594 9.652548

Ficus vasta Forssk 2.738281 6.89457

Millettia ferruginea 2.070313 5.56122

Croton macrostachyus Del 1.286719 3.35260

Eucalyptus globulus 1.267578 3.136017

Ficus sur Forss 1.240234 3.068368

Arundo donax 1.240234 3.068368

Euphorbiaabysinica 1.240234 3.068368

Euclea racemosa 1.240234 3.068368

Euphorbiatirucalii 1.204689 3.032823

Acacia abyssinica 1.186719 2.935969

 30

Rosa abyssinica 0.872656 2.158971

Dodonaea angustifolia 0.862109 2.132878

Dombeya torrida 0.676563 1.673831

Allophylus abyssinicus 0.614453 1.520171

Dovyalis abyssinica 0.502734 1.243776

Carissa spinarum 0.150781 0.373036

Buddleja polystachya 0.142969 0.353708

Rumex nervosus Vahl 0.082813 0.20488

Grewia ferruginea 0.076172 0.188451

Celtis africana 0.059375 0.146895

Maytenus arbutifolia 0.051172 0.1266

Prunus africana 0.032422 0.080212

Clerodendrum myricoides 0.026953 0.066683

Ficus sycomorus 0.019531 0.0498321

Calpurnia aurea 0.017969 0.018671

Acokanthera schimperi 0.0125 0.031825

Heteromorpha arborescens 0.000391 0.00123

Bersama abyssinica 0.000234 0.000160

Total 39.73 100.0014

Key - BA, Basal Area

 31

Importance value index (IVI) can be computed from relative density, relative basal area
and relative frequency (Kent and Coker, 1992). It permits a comparison of the ecological
significance of species in a given Forest type. It is useful for making comparison among
stands in reference to species. In this study the highest IVI values were recorded for
Myrica salicifolia, Albizia gummifera, Dodonaea angustifolia, Acacia abysinica,
Myrsine africana, Carissa spinarium, Juniperus procera and Olea europaea subsp.
cuspidata. Species with small contribution to the total IVI were Heteromorpha
arborescens, Prunus africana and Petrelobium satellium (Table5). IVI value indicates
the ecological importance of species in species in the community.(Lamprecht, 1989).
Species with the greatest importance value are the leading dominant of specified
vegetation (Amanual Ayanaw, 2016; Simon Shibru and Girma Balcha, 2004). In line to
this authors’ report, species such as Myrica salicifolia, Albizia gummifera, Dodonaea
angustifolia, Juniperus procera and Olea europaea can be considered as the leading
dominant species of this study area. Woody species which have lower rank to IVI are
more threatened and need immediate conservation.

Table 5 Important value index of Telet forest

No Scientific name RD RF RBA IVI

1 Acacia abyssinica (Hochst) Benth.

14.35 4.09 2.94 21.38
2 Acokanthera schimperi (A.D.)
Schweinf.
7.76 2.97 2.99 13.72
3 Albizia gummifera (J.F. Gemel.
)C.A.Ps
7.24 6.37 6.38 19.99
4 Allophylus abysinicus (Hochst)
RadlkOfer
6.72 0.94 1.52 9.18
5 Arundo donax L
5.59 0,47 0.923 6.513
 32

6 Bersama abyssinica Fersen

5.51 0.94 0.994 7.444
7 Bulddleja polystachya Fersen
3.8 1.52 0.354 5.674
8 Calpurnia aurea (Ait.)Benth
3.8 1.52 0.244 5.564
9 Carissa spinarum L.
3.63 5.12 0.573 9.323
10 Celtis africana Burm.f.
3.59 3.73 0.567 7.887
11 Clerodendrum myricoides(Hochst.)
vatke
3.58 0.78 1.94 6.3
12 Clutia abyssinica Jaub. & spach
3.54 1.07 3.168 7.778
13 Croton macrostachyus D el 1.04 1.73 1.984 4.754

14 Cupressus lusitanica Mill.

1.22 3.12 3.433 7.773
15 Discopodium penninevium Hochst.
1.51 1.21 5.755 8.475
16 Dodonea angustifolia L.F
1.44 8.49 2.133 12.063
17 Dovyalis abyssinica (A.Rich) Warb
1.99 3.4 1.674 7.064
18 Dombeya torrida (J.F.Gmel.) P.Bam
1.46 1.87 1.674 5.004
19 Duranta erecta
1.42 4.73 1.243 7.393
20 Echinops sp.A.Rich
1.35 1.1 1.589 4.039
21 Eucalyptus globulus Labill
1.3 0.78 3.136 5.216
22 Euclea racemosa Hiern
1.26 1.1 3.0675 5.4275
23 Euphorbia abyssinica Gmel
1.09 0.67 2.9234 4.6834
 33

24 Euphorbia tirucalii L.
1.07 0.78 1.733 3.583
25 Ficus sycomorus L
1.05 1.5 0.048 2.598
26 Ficus sur forssk
1 1.5 3.068 5.568
27 Ficus vasta Forssk
0.57 0.47 6.77 7.81
28 Grewia ferreginia Hochst, ex. A.Rich

0.47 1.49 0.188 2.148

29 Heteromoropha arborescens(Spren)
Cham.&Schldl
0.85 0.87 0.0096 1.72096
30 Hypericum revaltium Vahl
0.73 1.1 1.356 3.186
31 Jasminum abysinicum Hochest. ex.Dc
0.81 1 4.0509 5.8609
32 Juniperus procera Hochest. ex. Endel
0.75 3 4.5098 8.2598
33 Lippia adoensis Hochst.exWarb
0.71 1.4 0.136 2.246
34 Mytenus arbutifolia( A.Rich) Wilczek
0.71 1.21 0.1266 2.0466
35 Millettia ferruginea (Hochst)Bak
0.71 1.1 5.122 6.932
36 Myrica salicifolia A.Rich.
3.23 4.04 5.755 13.025
37 Myresin africana L.
0.63 5.94 2.645 9.215
38 Myrtus communsis L.
0.47 0.25 0.9874 1.7074
39 Ocimum sp.Roth.
0.44 0.78 2.506 3.726
40 Oleae europaea L.
0.35 2.26 7.423 10.033
41 Otostegia integrifolia Benth.
0.23 1.73 0.1454 2.1054
 34

42 Phytolacca dodecandraLHerit 0.3231

0.19 0.78 92 1.293192
43 Prun saficana (Hook.f) 0.1435
0.15 0.78 67 1.073567
44 Pterolobium stellatum Forssk)
0.0186
Brenan
0.15 0.73 8 0.89868
45 Rhus natalensis Krauss 0.7094
0.14 0.78 5 1.62945
46 Rumex nervosus vahl
0.13 3.31 0.0001 3.4401
47 Rhus vulgaris Meikle
0.14 4.22 0.8312 5.1912
48 Rosa abyssinica Lindley. 0.2048
0.13 1.73 8 2.06488
Total 100.00 300.001
100 100 14 4

Key: - RF Relative frequency, RD Relative density, RBA, Relative basal area

4.4. Population structure and regeneration status of the entire vegetation

In this study, population structure of woody plants was shown using height class vs
density in each height class. Result showed that the number of seedlings, saplings and
mature individuals were 434.15, 430 and 158.12 ha-1, respectively. Here we see that the
number of seedlings, sapling, mature individual, suggesting that regardless of individual
species, the entire vegetation appears to be in a good regeneration status. The fact that
the number of mature individuals is less than seedlings and saplings may suggest that
selective cutting of mature plants for various purposes is occurring in the study area.
 35

5. CONCULUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1. Conclusion

Telet forest is one of the dry Afro mountain forests found in Sayint District; South Wollo
Zone of Amhara regional state. Ecological study was conducted to investigate plant
diversity, population structure and regeneration status of this forest. The results showed
that Telet forest contains about 48 woody plant species distributed in 47 genera and 29
families. Fabaceae (5 species, 10.4 %) was the most dominant family in the study area
followed by Euphorbiaceae (with 4 species, 8.3 %), Lamiaceae, and Moraceae with 3 or
6% species each. The remaining 10 families were represented by 2 species (4.2 %) each
and 15 families were represented by single species (2 .1%) each (Table 1). The overall
Shannon–Wiener diversity and evenness of the Forest were 3.49 and 0.83, respectively.
Based on height classification, the number of seedlings >saplings>mature individuals,
suggesting good regeneration status. Telet forest has less species richness compared to
other similar studies done somewhere in the country in similar ecosystems

5.2. Recommendations

Based on the results of the study the following recommendations are forwarded:

 The present study was limited to Woody Species Composition and Diversity in
Vegetation of Telet forest thus; further studies on soil characteristics should be
conducted.
 Tree growing project should be encouraged by the local communities and
agricultural development office and sustainable utilization of the resources should be
encouraged.
 Promoting private and community plantations specifically those with fast growing
species (indigenous) to ensure self-reliance with respect to demand for wood in the
end and decreasing human pressure on natural forest.
 Raising awareness of local communities on the value of forest resources and
ecological consequences of deforestation.
 36

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Appendix 1 Altitude, Northing and Easting of plots in Telet Forest

Quadrats Northing Easting Altitude(m)

1 1 37p0486096 1222904 2201

2 37p0486072 1222905 1820
3 3p0486052 1222908 2161
4 37p0486027 1222876 2157
5 37p0486002 1222857 2139
2 6 37p0486120 1222893 2210
7 37p0486107 1222860 2198
8 37p0486113 1222793 2176
9 37p0486092 1222764 2164
10 37p0486269 12227846 2127
11 37p0486057 1222754 2135
3 12 37p0486242 1222928 2116
13 37p0486247 1222897 2186
14 37p0486241 1222854 2140

15 37p0486242 1222818 2147

16 37p0486251 1222752 2138

17 37p0486221 1222695 2131

4 18 37p0486452 1222987 2220
19 37p0486408 1222936 2119
20 37p0486404 1222890 2163
21 37p0486370 1222852 2159
22 37p0486346 1222822 2124
23 37p0486342 1222738 2127
24 37p0486334 1222655 2143
5 25 37p0486508 1222897 2196
 43

26 37p0486502 1222862 2150

27 37p0486490 1222813 2112
28 37p0486481 1222792 2110
29 37p0486472 1222788 2191
30 37p0486464 1222739 2137

31 37p0486458 1222704 2130

6 32 37p0486598 1222832 2190
Transect Quadrats Northing Easting Altitude(m)

33 37p0486572 1222797 2197

34 37p0486568 1222761 2144
35 37p0486553 1222712 2088
36 37p0488632 1222708 2623
7 37 37p0488639 122274 2626
38 37p0488649 1222750 2616
39 37p0488637 1222773 2589
40 37p0488593 1222762 2607
8 41 37p0488576 1222735 2587
42 37p0488512 1222712 2540
43 37p0488472 1222688 2536
44 37p0488413 1222601 2532
45 37p0488371 1222554 2522

46 37p0488630 1222776 2564

9 47 37p0488563 1222758 2594
48 37p0488540 1222743 2564

49 37p0488523 1222725 2541

50 37p0488488 1222713 2532
51 37P0488632 1222673 2673
52 37p0488483 1222664 2667
 44

10 53 37p0488511 1222733 2648

54 37P0488467 1222722 2630
55 37P0488453 1222665 2612
56 37P0488376 1222550 2567
57 37P0488352 1222312 2521
58 37P0488532 1222750 2672
59 37p0488437 1222718 2661
11 60 37p0488437 1222729 2664
61 37p0488429 1222737 2631
62 37p0488463 1222770 2610
63 37P0488454 1222743 2545
64 37p0488478 1222839 2539
45