Woody Species Diversity, Community Structure, and Regeneration Capacity in Central Ethiopian Urban Forest Patches

Arayaselassie Abebe Semu, Tamrat Bekele, Paloma Cariñanos, Tauseef Anwar and Huma Qureshi
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Arayaselassie Abebe Semu: Range Ecology and Biodiversity Program, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa P.O. Box 138, Ethiopia
Tamrat Bekele: Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 3434, Ethiopia
Paloma Cariñanos: Andalusian Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA-CEAMA), 18006 Granada, Spain
Tauseef Anwar: Department of Botany, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63000, Pakistan
Huma Qureshi: Institute of Biological Sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan 29050, Pakistan

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-12

Abstract: Land cover change in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, is driven by recurring drought and the economic problems of society-initiated afforestation. The goal of this study was to learn about the state of woody species regeneration in Yeka’s urban forest patches. Thirty plots (20 m × 20 m in size) were sampled to identify plants for this purpose. All wooden trees with a height greater than 1.3 m in each plot were identified, enumerated, and their diameter were measured. Acacia decurrens was determined to be the predominant species, with an importance value index (IVI) of 161.09, followed by Acacia melanoxlon (IVI = 44.69). The bootstrapping PERMANOVA test was used to show how the species in the community overlapped. The result reveals that dissimilarity is low ( p > 0.05), which is supported by the assumption of multivariate dispersion homogeneity. The area’s generalized linear model (GLM) showed all species statistically significant for characteristics associated with closure year and presence of mature trees and the entire closure year. Two of the twenty tree species, i.e., Acacia decurrens and Acacia melanoxylon were found in nearly equal numbers in all three growth stages as well as having strong regenerating potential. The rapid expansion of exotic Acacia spp. necessitates careful attention to their regeneration. To reinforce and improve ecosystem services, conservation and restoration efforts should encourage the regeneration of native plant species.

Keywords: plantation; pre-urban; afforestation; native species; urban forests (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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