Forest- Home Garden Iterface in Masha Woreda, Sheka zone, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

Conversion of forests to other land uses has significantly reduced the diversity of plant species. Many species are maintained along by home garden agroforestry practices. The present study has been conducted with the aims of assessing woody species across forest home garden agroforestry interface in Masha Woreda Sheka Zone, South Western Ethiopia. Thirty home gardens were selected randomly from the three selected Kebeles (Keja, Uwa and Abelo). 30 plots, 10 from each were selected for woody species assessment. A totlal of 289 households were randomly selected for an interview. The result of the study showed that a total of 90 woody species were recorded, of which 63 in the natural forest and 27 were in the home garden. The Shannon diversity index at natural forest and home garden was calculated and result showed 3.04 and 1.91, for the tree species and 3.12 and 0.69 for the shrubs, respectively.As one travel from home garden to the natural forest more woody species were recorded. There is positive correlation between the distance from the home garden to the natural forest and the number of plant species recorded along it. The covariance association between distance from home garden towards natural forest and plant species richness recorded in natural forest areas shows strong linear relationship R2 = 0.781 for Abelo Kebele to R2 = 0.934 Uwa Kebele. This indicated that there were few plant species recorded on areas at near distance to home garden and plenty of plant species were recorded as distance far away from home gardens towards center of natural forest increase. 256 respondents have additional extra land in addition to their farm land and they over exploite it. 243 respondents have no trend of replantation of tree in the forest and in their home gardens.Communities of Keja, Abelo and Uwa kebeles total have no alternative energy source other than firewood from forest products and charcoal. From the findings it is possible to conclude that plant species in intrfacing natural forest and home garden sites have great variation in their richness, eveness and dominance values. The trend of community to replace trees is poor and unpracticed.The energy utilization of the communities is totaly based on forest products.Therefore, forest plant species and home garden based trees have been facing problem in the study area and needs special focus from governmments and concerning bodies