ASAMINEW EXTERNAL NEW new

ABSTRACT

Assessment of forest diversity, perception of community towards forest and socioeconomic interaction is very important in order to maintain better forest management. This study was carried out to assess indigenous woody species diversity, socio-economic importance of the forests & drivers of degradation & deforestation in Tolitokal forest. Systematic sampling techniques were applied to collect vegetation data.  Six transect lines were laid along the gradient and a total of 30 plots with an area of 20x20 m were established at a distance of 50 m interval using the GPS navigation system to collect the vegetation data. Diversity and richness were calculated using the Shannon- Wiener diversity index. Excel version 2010 software were used to analyze vegetation data. All Woody species population was examined by estimating Frequency, relative Frequency, density, relative density and dominance & relative dominance. Basal area was calculated using the cross-sectional area of a tree trunk measured at diameter at breast height (DBH, 1.3 m height). A total of 446 individuals belonging to 36 woody species with 23 families were recorded from Tolitokal forest. Of all the species recorded 83% were trees, 17% shrubs. Species diversity and evenness was (H' = H' =3.16) and evenness value (E =0.87). The dominant families were; Fabaceae followed by Sapotaceae, Moraceae. The forest has a density of 854.25 stem/ha and a total basal area of (99.36 m2 ha-1). The overall distribution of woody species show inverse J- shape.The analysis of socioeconomic importance data indicated the forest is sources of medicines, bee forage, shades & provide edible fruits. The community revealed that clearing of land, family size, land holding size & unwise resource extractions were drivers of Tolitokal forest. To minimize the risk, continuous mobilization of the local communities and building a sense of ownership is crucial.

Key Words/phrases: Drivers, Socio economic value, Tolitokal forest, & Woody species Diversity

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents                                                                                                                         Pages

DEDICATION.. I

STATEMENT OF THE AUTHOR.. II

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.. II

ACKNOWLDGEMENT. ………………………………………………………………..III

TABLE OF CONTENTS. ……………………………………………………………………..IV

APPENDIXES. ……………………………………………………………………………….VII

LIST OF TABLE.. ……………………………………………………………………………..VII

LIST OF FIGURE.. ……………………………………………………………………………VIII

LIST OF APPENDIX.. ………………………………………………………………………….IX

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS. …………………………………………………………………XI

ABSTRACT. ……………………………………………………………………………………XII

1. INTRODUCTION.. ……………………………………………………………………………...1

1.1 Back ground and justification. 1

1.2 Statement of the problem.. 3

1.3 Objectives of the study. 3

1.3.1 General objective. 3

1.3.2       Specific objectives. 3

1.4 Research question. 4

1.5 Significance of the study. 4

1.6. Focus of the study. 4

1.7. Limitation of the Study. 5

2. LITERATURE REVIEW... ………………………………………………………………………6

2.1 Overview of Ethiopian forests diversity. 6

2.2 Woody Species diversity. 7

2.2.1 Values of species diversity. 8

2.2.2 Factors Affecting Species Diversity. 9

2.2.3 Measuring diversity. 10

2.3. Socio-economic significance of forests. 11

2.4 Farmer’s perception about threats of forest12

2.4.1. The threats of Ethiopian forests. 12

3. MATERIAL AND METHODS. ………………………………………………………………14

3.1 Description of the Study Area. 14

3.1.1 Location. 14

3.1.2 Climate and agro-ecology. 14

3.1.3 Socio-economic activity. 16

3.2 Methods of data collection. 17

3.2.1 Site selection. 17

3.2.2 Vegetation survey. 18

3.23 Socio economic survey. 18

3.3. Data analyses. 20

3.3.1 Analyses of vegetation structure. 20

3.3.2 Diversity analysis. 21

3.3.3 Socio economic data analysis. 22

4. RESULTS & DISCUSSION.. ………………………………………………………………….23

4.1 Woody species composition. 23

4.2 Diversity of woody species. 25

4.3 Major woody species. 26

4.3.1 Woody species Important Value Index (IVI)26

4.3.2 Major Woody species density. 27

4.3.3 Woody species DBH Distribution. 28

4.3.4 Woody species Height distributions. 30

4.3.5 Woody species Basal Area. 32

4.4 Socio economic importance of Tolitokal forest33

4.4.1 Socio-demographic characteristics of informants. 33

4.4.2 Selection of indigenous woody tree from Tolitokal forest34

4.4.3 Socio economic values of Tolitokal forest35

4.5 Drivers of forest degradation & deforestation in Tolitokal forest38

5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.. ………………………………………….……42

6. REFERENCES. ………………………………………………………………………….…….45

APPENDIXES. …………………………………………………………………………….…….58