THE COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF WOODY SPECIES ALONG ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT AND CONSERVATION PRACTICE OF HADES FOREST, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

The dry Afromonatane natural forests of East and West Hararghe are under severe degradation. There are some remnant mountain forests in West Hararghe, which are under increasing anthropogenic threats and call up urgent conservation actions. This study was conducted at Hades dry Afromontane natural forest, West Hararghe zone of Oromia Regional state, Ethiopia with the objective of determining the woody species composition along altitudinal gradients and conservation status. The data generated could contribute in planning proper strategies for conservation action at the local level. The woody species data were collected using stratified sampling techniques from three different altitudinal gradients along the vertical transects established from top to the bottom of the mountain. Qualitative data analysis of informants were collected on the basis of quality like sex, cavity. Findings were tabulated and presented by text and quantities analyzed using descriptive statistic. The data of vegetation attributes were measured using thirty quadrant six 25mx25m quadrat sizes for trees and nested plot of 5m x 5m for shrub plant species. Three altitudinal gradients of the mountain forests were used i.e. 1600-2200, 2200 – 2800, and above 2800 m a.s.l.. Diameter at breast height and density of all woody species were measured. A total of 38 woody plant species belonging to 28 genera and 29 families were recorded and identified. The collected specimens were composed of 50 % of tree and 50 % shrubs. Rosaceae family had the highest number of taxa followed by Myricaceae, Meliaceae and Asteraceae families. Some dominant plant species recorded in area were indigenous like podocarpus falcatus and Lippia adoensis. The Shannon diversity index of Hades natural forest were recorded from higher (1.83), medium (2.172) and lower altitudinal gradient (1.253), respectively. The evenness value at the three-altitudinal xiii gradients was 0.398, 0.433 and 0.256. Due to local practice of the study area most people live in rural area depends on woody plants for wide range mainly for food, medicine, local construction, fire wood collection as a result most plant sp decline from time to time