Woody Species Status and Community Perception at Dabkuli State Forest, Northwest Ethiopia A survey was conducted in Banja Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia with a general objective of investigating woody species and perception of local community. Forest inventory and socioeconomic survey were conducted to collect data. The vegetation data were collected and analyzed to assess the diversity, population structure and regeneration status of woody species along the edge and interior parts of Dabkuli state forest. The forest was categorized into two clusters, namely, edge (0–100 m) and interior (>100 m) depending on the distance from the forest margin. A total of 63 plots of 0.04 ha each were systematically placed along 7 parallel transect lines. From the total sample plots 20 and 43 were laid at edge and interior part respectively. Based on height and DBH woody species were classified as seedling, sampling and tree. Socio economic data were collected through focus-group discussion and household interviews to assess community perception on state forest management and the forest tenure system during different regimes of Ethiopia. All vegetative and socio economic data were collected on March/2016. The study result revealed that the population structure of Dabkuli forest was varied at the edge and the interior part of the forest. The density of seedlings in the interior part of the forest was significantly higher than the edge part. The present study revealed that, altitude was positively correlated to seedling density and slope was negatively correlated to seedling density in both edge and interior part. The mean density of seedlings had significant difference among the different classes of aspect. Human interference and grazing intensity was negatively correlated with seedlings density. Thirty eight woody species, representing 30 families and thirty six woody species, representing 29 families were recorded at interior and the edge part, respectively. Woody plant densities were 3747 and 32443 individuals’ ha in the interior and the edge, respectively. The interior forest had the shanon winner diversity index of 2.33, while the edge part of the forest had 1.96. Average basal area of all woody plants was 16.12 m 2 ha- 1 for the edge and 22.85 m 2 ha- 1 for the interior part of forest. Because of illegal cutting the edge part had significantly higher number of stumps/ha. The results revealed that the edge part of the forest had lower species richness, diversity, structural composition and regeneration status and indicating higher anthropogenic interference as compared to the forest interior. Household survey result indicated that poor households more dependent on timber forest products whereas rich households were highly dependent on the forest grazing service. Therefore, we recommend a change in aforest management from fully centralized control of the resource towards more participatory approach. Moreover, empowering the local community in forest management and securing their use right is a key priority to stop the ongoning forest degradation and deforestation. Key words: Diversity, Structure, Regeneration, edge, interior, Community perception, forest tenure and Dabkuli forest -1