Journal of Biodiversity & Endangered Species

Ecological Performance of Economically Prioritized Indigenous Tree Species in Munessa-Shashemene Natural Forest, Ethiopia

Abstract

Gemedo Furo, Guo Jiao and Mi Feng

The Munessa-Shashemene forest is one of the dry Afromontane forests and is dominated by ecologically and economically important tree species that are being degraded at an alarming rate. Therefore, research on the structural status of preferable indigenous tree species is essential for providing information that can be used in the implementation of sustainable forest management. Different timber-based forest products and species-specific removal impact the ability of the forest to maintain functions valuable to both biology and humanity, including the future provision of forest products and services. The objectives of this study were to identify economically important indigenous tree species and to analyze their ecological performances. In 33 plots with areas of 30 m × 30 m each, all woody species, the number of stumps, the Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) of all woody species greater than 2.3 cm and their height were recorded. Tree prioritization was analyzed using matrix ranking procedures and some ecological variables (importance value index, Shannon Wiener’s diversity index, stand density indexand basal area ha^-1) were computed. A Multiple linear regression model was used to investigate the impact of the economic preference of tree species and other ecological variables on stem density ha^-1. The results revealed that Myrsineme lanophloeos, Haginea abysinica, Juniperus procera, Podocurpus falcatus and Maytenus arbutifolia were the top five economically important tree species. The Economic preference of tree species has a statistically significant (p<0.05) negative impact on the stem density ha^-1 of that species. At the Beseku site, a DBH class distribution of Myrsine melanophloeos repealed distinct inverted J-shape curves, which indicates good regeneration status. However, the DBH class distribution at the Heben and Shopha sites exhibit an interrupted Gauss type curve. The stand density ha^-1, relative density, relative frequency, and importance value index of economically prioritized tree species varied between three studied forest sites and their structural distribution were significantly different from those of inferior tree species.