Abstract:
The study was conducted at Dangla town Church Forests, Awi Zone, Amhara Region,
Northwestern Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to determine and analyze the species
diversity, population structure and regeneration status of woody species of the Church forests.
Forty plots of 20m x 20m (400m
2
) were laid along twenty transect lines for vegetation data
collection. In addition, 5m x 5m subplots were laid within the main plots to collect the
regeneration status data of plant species of the forests. A total of 73 plant species in 64 genera
and 42 families were identified. Family Fabaceae was the most dominant contributing 9 (12.5%)
species to the total followed by Euphorbaceae, Acantaceae, Rosaceae and Moraceae with 7
(9.72%), 3 (4.17%), 3 (4.17%) and 3 (4.17%) species respectively. The remaining families
(65.27% of species) were represented by two or one species each. From the representative woody
species of the Church forests, a total of 548.13 seedlings/ha, 841.88 saplings/ha and 2180.6
mature individuals/ha were counted in the sample plots. Two population structure patterns were
revealed which were J-shape and inverted J-shape. Species were prioritized for conservation
based on their population structure, important value index and regeneration status.The historical
data of the Church forests showed the presence of deforestation and most of cultivated forests of
the Churches were covered by natural forests before. The growth forms of the forests species
were 43.06% tree, 12.5% tree/shrub, 36.11% shrub and 8.33% climber. The total density of
woody plant species in Dangla Church Forests was 3570.6ha
viii
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and ranged between 445.63ha
for
Eucalyptus camaldulensis and 0.63ha
-1
for Mimusops kummel, Argemone mexicana, Myrica
salicifolia and Podocarpus falcatus. The Shannon diversity index and evenness of woody plant
species of the forests were 3.5 and 0.82 respectively indicating that the diversity and evenness of
woody species in the forests are relatively high. The total basal area of the forests was
534.39m
2
/ha. Based on the results of the study more ecological studies with respect to various
environmental factors such as climate, soil type and properties, slope and ethnobotanical studies
are needed for wise and sustainable use of the forests resource.
Key words/Phrases: Conservation Status, Dangla Church Forests, Diversity, Population
Structure, Regeneration and Woody Plant Species
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the Study
Ethiopia, with its wide range of ecosystems ranging from low lands to rainforests