Impact of Prosopis juliflora L. (Fabaceae) on Plant Biodiversity at Alledeghi Wildlife Reserve and Surrounding Local Community, Ethiopia
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Date
2015-06
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the impact of Prosopis juliflora on diversity of plant species found in Alledeghi wildlife Reserve and the surrounding local community. Preferential sampling method was used to collect vegetation data. Plots were laid from the main road to inside the reserve following three roads that lead into the reserve. A total of 60 quadrats, each 400 m2, were established along three lines for woody species data collection. Herbaceous species data were collected from 1m2 subplots at the four corners and center of the 60 main plots and 5m2 for shrub. Community perception on invasion and impact of P. juliflora was collected administering questionnaire and semistructured interviews interviewing a total of 80 people. The results showed that P. juliflora affects density, richness, diversity and evenness of other species. Higher proportion of respondents indicated that P. juliflora affects negatively their life because of its low beneficial traits for them. Higher proportion of respondents (87.5 %) put cattle dung as the main disseminating agent of P. juliflora in to the Reserve. Communities attempted to control P. juliflora spread in their land by cutting and applying used motor oil to stumps, burning, hand pulling and both cutting and burning. Nothing was done controlling by utilization in the area; however management strategies were recommended to minimize the ecological and socioeconomic impacts of the invasion and to make use of P. juliflora as a valuable resource to support rural livelihoods in the drylands and at the same time there is a dire need to control the spread of P. juliflora to new areas.
Key words: Prosopis juliflora, Impact, Dissemination Utilization, Control, Plant diversity
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Keywords
Prosopis juliflora, Impact, Dissemination Utilization, Control, Plant diversity