The Role of Eucalyptus Globulus Plantation in Promoting Natural Regeneration of Native Florstic Species: a Case Study at Entoto Hillsides in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2024-08
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the eucalyptus forest plantation at Entoto Mountain, which is located roughly 10 km north of Addis Ababa's downtown, permits natural regeneration: a case study at Entoto Park in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Sixty plots (each size: 20 × 20 m) size were established along a transect lines at every 300 m distance between them. A total of 68 woody species belonging to 55 genera and 32 families were identified. Asteraceae (8 species) was the most dominant family. Forty-one of the 68 plant species identified in the Entoto Eucalyptus plantation were naturally regenerated woody species. They represented 33 genera and 25 families. For the analysis of vegetation diversity, woody species density and soil environmental factors, the individual Eucalyptus plantation stands were used to classify the plots into three categories. These are C1 (plots with less than 64 Eucalyptus stands), C2 (plots consists of 64 to 82 Eucalyptus stands) and C3 (plots with greater than 82 Eucalyptus stands). Twenty plots were identified for each category. There was significance difference (P < 0.05) in the species diversity (H‟) between C1 and C2, as well as C1 and C3 while there was no significant difference between C2 and C3. The species richness was also significantly different (P < 0.05) among the three categories of Eucalyptus plantations. The species diversity and species richness increased with the decrease in Eucalyptus plantation and vice versa. Sorenson similarity index showed highest similarity between C1 and C2 while C2 and C3 showed relatively weak similarity. The density of naturally regenerated woody species showed a decreasing trend with the increase in the density of Eucalyptus plantation and vice versa. However, the study on vegetation and population structure showed that the density of tree species was high at the lower DBH class and there was good regeneration status. Density of naturally regenerated woody species greater than 2.5 cm DBH (cal.932.1 ha-1), height, frequency, basal area and the respective IVI values for naturally regenerated woody species were also calculated. Therefore, in the research region, responsible stakeholders should prioritize the conservation of huge trees that are significant for both ecology and economy through the use of appropriate conservation techniques. Since the regeneration status under eucalyptus depend on the number of individual eucalyptus stands, there should be a certain distance between individual eucalyptus plantations to promote regeneration.
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Conservation, Diversity, Regeneration, Restoration, Species Diversisity