Forest (tree) species composition, diversity and utilization pattern of Sheka biosphere reserve: Shato forest, southwest Ethiopia

Abstract The impractical limits of the management plan make the biosphere reserve controversial despite its essential role in biodiversity conservation. This study aimed to assess the plant species composition, diversity, and utilization pattern of Shato forest of the Sheka Biosphere Reserve. A syst...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Workaferahu Ameneshewa, Yechale Kebede, Dikaso Unbushe, Abiyot Legesse
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-03-01
Series:Discover Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-00936-0
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850208331148296192
author Workaferahu Ameneshewa
Yechale Kebede
Dikaso Unbushe
Abiyot Legesse
author_facet Workaferahu Ameneshewa
Yechale Kebede
Dikaso Unbushe
Abiyot Legesse
author_sort Workaferahu Ameneshewa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The impractical limits of the management plan make the biosphere reserve controversial despite its essential role in biodiversity conservation. This study aimed to assess the plant species composition, diversity, and utilization pattern of Shato forest of the Sheka Biosphere Reserve. A systematic sampling technique was used to collect tree vegetation data from 45 quadrats with 400 m2 each, with sub-quadrats for saplings and seedlings. A purposive sampling technique was used to select sites and collect representative samples to evaluate anthropogenic impacts on the Shato Forest. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index was used to calculate species richness and evenness A total of 57 species of vascular plants belonging to 35 genera and 30 families were identified. Asparagaceae was found dominant in the study area with 281(31.9%) individual plants, followed by Rutaceae 131(14.9%) and Sapotaceae 71(8.07%). Three plant communities were identified in the study area. The overall Shannon–Wiener diversity (H’) and evenness (E) of tree species in the study area were 2.72 and 0.76 respectively. The total density of seedling, sapling, and mature trees was 441.7, 90.6, and 488.9 individuals per ha, respectively. Anthropogenic disturbances have recently had an impact on the ecology and status of plant (tree) biodiversity and conservation interventions needed to mitigate the tragedy of declining forest biodiversity the Shato forest.
format Article
id doaj-art-bcfe0cd30a644e60a1b2b4ec8a5de6c9
institution OA Journals
issn 2662-9984
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series Discover Sustainability
spelling doaj-art-bcfe0cd30a644e60a1b2b4ec8a5de6c92025-08-20T02:10:16ZengSpringerDiscover Sustainability2662-99842025-03-016111910.1007/s43621-025-00936-0Forest (tree) species composition, diversity and utilization pattern of Sheka biosphere reserve: Shato forest, southwest EthiopiaWorkaferahu Ameneshewa0Yechale Kebede1Dikaso Unbushe2Abiyot Legesse3Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, College of Social Science, Arba Minch UniversityDepartment of Geography and Environmental Studies, College of Social Science, Arba Minch UniversityDepartment of Biology, College of Natural Science, Wolaita-Sodo UniversityDepartment of Geography and Environmental Studies, College of Social Science, Dilla UniversityAbstract The impractical limits of the management plan make the biosphere reserve controversial despite its essential role in biodiversity conservation. This study aimed to assess the plant species composition, diversity, and utilization pattern of Shato forest of the Sheka Biosphere Reserve. A systematic sampling technique was used to collect tree vegetation data from 45 quadrats with 400 m2 each, with sub-quadrats for saplings and seedlings. A purposive sampling technique was used to select sites and collect representative samples to evaluate anthropogenic impacts on the Shato Forest. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index was used to calculate species richness and evenness A total of 57 species of vascular plants belonging to 35 genera and 30 families were identified. Asparagaceae was found dominant in the study area with 281(31.9%) individual plants, followed by Rutaceae 131(14.9%) and Sapotaceae 71(8.07%). Three plant communities were identified in the study area. The overall Shannon–Wiener diversity (H’) and evenness (E) of tree species in the study area were 2.72 and 0.76 respectively. The total density of seedling, sapling, and mature trees was 441.7, 90.6, and 488.9 individuals per ha, respectively. Anthropogenic disturbances have recently had an impact on the ecology and status of plant (tree) biodiversity and conservation interventions needed to mitigate the tragedy of declining forest biodiversity the Shato forest.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-00936-0Cover-abundanceDiversityShato forestStructure
spellingShingle Workaferahu Ameneshewa
Yechale Kebede
Dikaso Unbushe
Abiyot Legesse
Forest (tree) species composition, diversity and utilization pattern of Sheka biosphere reserve: Shato forest, southwest Ethiopia
Discover Sustainability
Cover-abundance
Diversity
Shato forest
Structure
title Forest (tree) species composition, diversity and utilization pattern of Sheka biosphere reserve: Shato forest, southwest Ethiopia
title_full Forest (tree) species composition, diversity and utilization pattern of Sheka biosphere reserve: Shato forest, southwest Ethiopia
title_fullStr Forest (tree) species composition, diversity and utilization pattern of Sheka biosphere reserve: Shato forest, southwest Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Forest (tree) species composition, diversity and utilization pattern of Sheka biosphere reserve: Shato forest, southwest Ethiopia
title_short Forest (tree) species composition, diversity and utilization pattern of Sheka biosphere reserve: Shato forest, southwest Ethiopia
title_sort forest tree species composition diversity and utilization pattern of sheka biosphere reserve shato forest southwest ethiopia
topic Cover-abundance
Diversity
Shato forest
Structure
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-00936-0
work_keys_str_mv AT workaferahuameneshewa foresttreespeciescompositiondiversityandutilizationpatternofshekabiospherereserveshatoforestsouthwestethiopia
AT yechalekebede foresttreespeciescompositiondiversityandutilizationpatternofshekabiospherereserveshatoforestsouthwestethiopia
AT dikasounbushe foresttreespeciescompositiondiversityandutilizationpatternofshekabiospherereserveshatoforestsouthwestethiopia
AT abiyotlegesse foresttreespeciescompositiondiversityandutilizationpatternofshekabiospherereserveshatoforestsouthwestethiopia