Abstract:
This study was conducted on Jilwa Markos and Kirstos Semra Church Forest in the northern part
of Wag Himra Administrative Zone, Amhara National Regional State. The main objective of the
study was to estimate the role of church forests on climate change mitigation through carbon
sequestration and biodiversity conservation. Both biological and social data were collected for the
study. For biological data collection, plots were laid along transect lines radiating from the peak
of JMC and KSC forests. Accordingly, 29 plots each with 100 m2 (10 m x 10 m) tree parameter
measurement (diameter and height measurement) and subplots of 5 m x 5 m within the main plots
for woody seedling counting. For socioeconomic data collection, purposive (to select church
forests) and simple random sampling (household selection) techniques were employed. Both
quantitative and qualitative data were collected through individual interviews and focus group
discussions (FGDs) using questionnaires and checklists. The data were analyzed using descriptive
statistics and Likert scale techniques. A total of 54 species in 46 genera and 30 families were
identified from the forest, out of which 51 were new records from the JMC and KSC floristic regions
for the flora of Ethiopia. Fabaceae, Rutaceae, Capparidaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Tiliaceae are
the dominant families in terms of species richness. The study reveals that JMC and KSC forests
have significant biomass and carbon stocks, with key species contributing to carbon sequestration.
Key species like Terminalia brownie in JMC and Acacia abyssinica and Ficus vasta in KSC are
crucial for supporting carbon storage and climate mitigation efforts. According to the respondents,
Ziziphus abyssinica, Terminalia brownie, and Juniperus procera were identified as important
woody species by 18.3%, 18.3%, and 9.2% of respondents, respectively, while a majority (54.1%)
of respondents recognizes all species were important for the community. Regarding the uses of
trees in the church, the household survey showed that about 47.2% of respondents explained that
providing shade during church ceremonies was their primary preference as their primary use. The
result revealed a high scare of an overall average of 3.938, which implied a generally positive
perception of the importance and benefits of church forests to the community. Based on the results
of this study, detailed ecological studies about various environmental factors such as soil type and
properties, ethnobotanical studies to explore Indigenous knowledge on the diverse uses of plants,
and sound management and maintenance of biodiversity that promote sustainable use of the forest
and its products are recommended.