WOODY PLANT SPECIES DIVERSITY AND STRUCTURE IN TELET FOREST IN AMHARA SAYINT DISTRICT, SOUTH WOLLO ZONE, AMHARA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

A Study on woody plant diversity and structure were conducted on Telet Forest in Sayint District, South Wollo Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Sixty four main quadrats of 20m × 20m with which five small quadrats of 5mx5m were systematically laid along transects. In each main quadrat, all tree/shrub and saplings and seedlings of woody species within the subplots were counted and recorded. Tree height of plants was also measured using a meter-stick so as to categorize plants into height category corresponding to seedling, sapling and mature individuals. Moreover diameters at breast height, frequency, basal area and diversity evenness, etc of were derived from the vegetation data. Results of the study showed that Telet forest is composed of 48 woody plant species distributed in 47 genera and 29 families. The Shannon Weiner diversity index and evenness values of the forest were found to be 3.49 and 0.83, respectively. Fabaceae was the dominant family followed by Euphorbiaceae. Tree/shrub, sapling and seedling densities were 158.12, 430 and 434.15ha 1 , respectively. The most frequent species in the study area were Dodonaea angustifolia (8.49%),Albizia gummifera (6.37%), Allophylus abyssinicus (5.94),Myrica salicifolia (5.94%), Carissa spinarum (5.12%), Duranta erecta (4.37%), Rhus Vulgaris (4.37%) ,and Acacica,byssinica (4.09 %). Based on height classification, the entire vegetation of Telet forest is in a good regeneration status. In conclusion, although Telet forest appears to be in a good regeneration status, its species richness is low compared to some other vegetation of similar ecosystem. Therefore, especial attention should be given for it rehabilitation.