Abstract:
Ethiopia has a large coverage of gum and resin bearing species widely distributed throughout its
arid and semi-arid agro-ecological zones. Different studies show that, about 420,000 ha of gum
and resin producing vegetation distributed along Gambella lowland region. But there is scarce
data on their population structure, density, dominancy and regeneration status as well as the
diversity of species available in the region. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the
specie composition diversity, Population status and socio-economic importance of gum and resin
bearing woody species in two districts, Lare and Itang Gembella Region, southwest Ethiopia., A
total of 74 quadrates (38 at Lare and 36 at Itang) with an area of 20m x20m were established at
200 m interval along transect line to collect vegetation data. In each quadrant, vegetation data
such as identity, abundance, DBH, height, and counting of seedlings and saplings were
collected. To assess the socio-economic importance of the study species, 120 households were
randomly selected from four kebeles (two from each district) who’s surrounding the selected
study vegetation areas. A semis structured questionnaire was used to interview the household
respondents. In addition 9 key informants, 5 from Lare and 4 from Itang were invited for group
discussion. Based on the analyses of the vegetation data, a total of 52 woody species (30 at Lare
and 22 at Itang) distributed in 25 families and 38 genera. A total of 9 woody species, were
belonging to the genus Acacia, Boswellia and Sterculia were identified as sources of gum and
resins bearing species. Gum and resin bearing species were found to be the dominant species
comprising 76% and 81% of the species composition, 58.5% and 61.4% of density ha-1 and 56%
and 63% of the IVI of the study sites at Lare and Itang, respectively. The Shannon-Wiener
diversity and Shannon evenness values (H’=3.09 and 1.69) at Lare and (H’= 2.80 and 1.56) at
Itang respectively showed the most diverse and even distribution of the population of gum and
resin bearing species in the area. The socio-economic survey analysis also indicate that agro
pastoral activity is the major livelihoods occupation in the study area; while wood land products
such as fuel wood collection, charcoal production, wild fruit collection, construction materials
and grazing wood land products are playing a significant role in the overall socio-economic
conditions of the community and identified as the second predominant occupation. On the other
hand, collection and sell of other non-timber forest product in the form of gums and resins rarely
practiced and insignificant role in the livelihoods’ of the community in the area; unlike other
agro pastoralist gum and resin bearing woody vegetation species areas of the country.
