Woody Species Diversity and Traditional Management Practices of On-Farm Trees In Gombora Woreda, Hadiya Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Abstract

Woody species conservation is an issue of scientific, economic, ecological and political concern at global level. Farmland plays significant role in the woody species conservation. The study was conducted to investigate traditional woody species management practices on farmland in Gombora Woreda, Hadiya Zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia. Simple random sampling method was used to select representative kebeles in the woreda. Eight kebeles, a total of 24 key informants (KI) (3 from each) and a total of 134 households were selected for study and interview. A line transect was used to collect woody species data from a total of 80 plots with an area of 40m × 40 m which were laid at 300 m intervals on farmland. The result shows that a total of 32 woody species belonging to 22 plant families were identified and recorded. The Shannon diversity index and evenness of woody species on farmland were 2.70 and 0.42 respectively. The average basal area of woody species on farmland in study sites was 2.71 m2 . The important value index of individual woody species on farmland was assessed and Croton macrostachyus was ranked first with mean IVI of 70.99. In the study area, woody species that are preferred by farmers those species that have a value for fuel wood, timber, shade, construction. The most preferred tree species was Cordia africana (39.09%) followed by Croton macrostachyus (26.15%). The management practices employed includes coppicing, pollarding, Lopping and thinning. The socioeconomic factors like farm size, educational background, and wealth status had significant influence (P < 0.05) on the management of woody species diversity on farmland across the study sites. Therefore, based on this study it can be concluded that farmers have traditional management practices to wood species on their farmland but this practice has not been supported well by extension to solve the problem.