Abstract:
Homegardens are important reservoir of diversity of woody species and have immensely
contributed to in-situ conservation of plant genetic resources and provide a multiple contribution
for household. Traditionally, local communities’ carried out homegarden woody species
management practice in their garden, and have accumulated a vast indigenous knowledge in
managing homegarden woody species. The present study was carried out in two different
altitudes in Alarigeta Kebele (highland) and Beyemmo kebele (midland) of Kafa Zone, South
Western Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to assess woody species diversity in homegarden and
traditional knowledge of woody species management practices. A total of 104 households from
both study sites were randomly selected for the study by considering wealth category.
Management related data were collected by using both informal and formal surveys. For species
diversity and related parameters, woody species inventory were carried out in homegardens of
xiii
104 households. Accordingly, 10 m x 50 m rectangular sized plots established in the
homegardens of sampled households. In each sample plot, all woody species with DBH ≥5 cm at
breast height were measured using caliper, diameter tape and recorder. Woody species having
less than 5 cm DBH and ≤1. 3 height at each plot were also counted to check regeneration
potential. In the two study sites, a total of 77 woody species that belong to 68 genera and 35
families were identified and recorded. When considered separately, 39 woody species belonging
to 37 genera and 25 families were recorded in Alarigeta (highland) site, whereas 63 woody
species under 55 genera and 31 families were recorded in Beyemmo (midland) site. Tweenty six
of the identified woody species were common to both study sites.The basal area of the two study
sites are 1.69 m
2 per plot and 33. 87 m2
per ha and 2.21 m
2 per plot and 44.24 m2
per ha for Alari
geta and Beyemmo study site, respectively. This result shows that, the basal area value per plot
and per ha of Beyemmo (midland) study site is greater than that of Alarigeta (highland) study
site. Traditionally, both midland and highland agro ecology local communities’ carried out
woody species domestication and management in their homegarden in the two kebeles. This is
because of the fact that farmers have accumulated indigenous knowledge in managing
homegarden woody species and management knowledge gained by experience and transferred
one generation to next generation. The assessment result shows that 18 and 3 exotic woody
species introduced and domesticated in Beyemmo and Alarigeta study sites respectively.
