The Role Of Coffee Based Agroforestry System In Woody Species Diversity Conservation: The Case Of Mana District, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Conversion of forest to agriculture has already been taking place in southwest Ethiopia. Many of biodiversity are conserved in agricultural landscapes. In the long-term conservation of native species, highly depends on agricultural landscapes. Coffee agroforestry has been promoted as a means for preserving biodiversity in the tropics. The study was conducted to assess woody species composition, diversity, regeneration, and forest resource utilization of coffee agroforestry and natural forest at Mana district, Southwest Ethiopia. Vegetation data were collected from coffee agroforestry and natural forest. In coffee agroforestry, 30 plots were laid in coffee agroforestry at the center of coffee farms based on observation (one plot per household farm). Similarly in natural forest, 30 plots were laid along transect at a distance of 100 m between each transects lines and plots. A total of 60 plots of 20 m x 20 m for trees, 10 m x 10 m for saplings and 5 m x 5m for seedlings were laid for vegetation data collection. Household interview was conducted to collect forest resource utilization between coffee agroforestry users and natural forest users. A total of 60 sample households (30 households for each land uses) were randomly selected for the interview. The collected vegetation data were tested by independent t-test and forest resource utilization data were analyzed descriptively using Microsoft Excel and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The vegetation data results showed that a total of 25 woody species belong to 20 families in coffee agroforestry and 30 woody species belonging to 23 families in natural forest were identified and recorded. Although more woody species were recorded under the natural forest, the difference was not statistical significant (p>0.05) between coffee agroforestry and natural forest. Regeneration status of seedlings and sapling of the woody species indicated significant (P < 0.05) differences between coffee agroforestry and natural forest. This showed that natural forests have higher regeneration status than coffee agroforests. However, the mean density of woody in coffee agroforests and natural forest show no statistically difference (p > 0.05).Forest resource utilization result shows that coffee agroforestry users were creates an opportunity to obtain forest resource utilizing from their own coffee form. The natural forest resources were accessible to any community member because lack of enforcement of the rules that protect the forests. Consequently, there is forest degradation due to deforestation and illegal harvesting. Coffee agroforestry contributes to conservation of woody species through retention of woody species on the farm and reducing pressure on the natural forest, which may contribute to conservation of woody species. Therefore, conservation of woody species and forest resource utilization must be linked in the arena of conservation approaches.