Floristic Composition, Structure and Regeneration Status of Woody Plants in Wonjeta St Micheal Church Forest, Northwestern Ethiopia

AbstractThe study was conducted in Wonjeta St Micheal Church Forest, Northwestern Ethiopia. Fifty plots of 20m x 20m (400m2) were laid along five-line transect for vegetation data collection. In addition, 5m x 5m subplots were laid within the main plot to sample seedlings and saplings. All plots were laid at a distance of 50m along the transect lines. The diversity and population structure of woody individuals of trees and shrubs with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 2.5cm and height ≥ 2m were measured and DBH < 2.5cm and height < 2m were counted as seedlings and saplings. All trees and shrubs recorded in the 50 plots were used for vegetation structure analysis. A total of 65 woody plant species in 53 genera and 33 families were recorded. Out of the total number of species three were found to be endemic to Ethiopia.The family Fabaceae had the highest number of species, followed by Moraceae, and then Euphorbiaceae with 14, 6, and 4 species respectively.The results of Shannon Wiener diversity and evenness indices of woody species were 2.8 and 0.68 respectively. Woody species densities for mature individuals were 2,202.5 stems ha− 1, seedling 2419.2 stems ha− 1, and sapling 1737.6 stems ha− 1. Priority for conservation should be given using population structure, important value index, and regeneration status as criteria. Results of the structural analysis revealed that the Forest is highly dominated by small-sized trees and shrubs indicating that it is in the stage of secondary development and there are species that require urgent conservation measures.