Abstract:
This study was conducted in Anbesit Giworgis church forest in North Gojjam of Yilmana Densa
woreda Amhara National Regional State, northwest Ethiopia. The objective of this study is to
investigate species composition, structure, regeneration status and human disturbances of woody
plants in this church forest. Reconnaissance survey was done to determine sampling method and
identify sampling plots in the forest. Systematic random sampling method was used to collect
vegetation data by using 24 sample plots with the size of 20m x 20m (400m
2
) for adult woody
species that were laid across 4 transects line arranged in 4 cardinal directions. In addition to this,
three sub plots with 5m x 5m (25m2
) sub plots were established in each main plot two at the
corner and one at the middle to collect seedling and sapling data. The main sample plot was laid
at every 50m interval on each transect line. The composition and structural data for all mature,
saplings, and seedlings woody species, and human disturbance data were recorded in each plot.
The diversity, evenness, structure, regeneration status, and human disturbances data of the forest
were analyzed. Totally, 84 woody plants species were identified distributed in 56 families in
Anbesit Giworgis Church forest. Among 84 species, 41 (49%) shrubs, 32(38%) were trees, and
11(13%) were climbers.. From those Fabaceae (7 species, 7.1%) was the most dominant family
in number of species folowed by Euphorbiaceae (with 5 species, 5.9%), Asteraceae (with 5
species, 5.9%), Oleaceae (with 3 species, 3.57%), Rosaceae (with 3species, 3.57%) Sapindaceae
(with 3 species, 3.57%) and Solanaceae (with 3 species (3.57%). The forest has higher seed
dispersal with good regeneration status; Mature 421(23.54%), Sapling 452 (25.27%), & Seedling
915(51.17%). Logging & clearing (1.916%), grazing (1.5%), and exotic species plantation
(1.3%) mainly eucalyptus were the dominant human disturbance in the study site. The densest
species of this study area was Juniperus procera and the most frequent species was Pittosporum
viridiflorum (3.8%). Species such as Juniperus procera and Olea europaea were countered from
higher DBH classes. The species that contribute a lot with high Iportant value Index are
Juniperus procera, Ficus vasta, Eucalyptus globulus, and Olea europaea. The analysis of
regeneration status of the forest revealed that the forest is in good status. As the IVI analysis
result indicated that there are some species which needs immediate conservation measures.