Bekele Tamrat (PhD)Demissew Sebsebe (Professor)Belayneh Anteneh2018-06-202023-11-092018-06-202023-11-092006-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/2401A floristic description and ethnobotanical study of the < naturahvegetation . was carried out . between September 5, 2005 and June, 2006 in the Babile Elephant Sanctuary ( BES), which was established in 1970, in the semi-arid region of Ethiopia. Stratified sampling design was used and 75 quadrats each 400 m2 were analyzed. A total of 237 plant species in 155 genera and 57 families were identified. Fabaceae was represented by the highest number of species (36 species = 15.1%), followed by Poaceae (19 species = 8.0%) and Asteraceae (15 species = 6.3%). Using TWINSPAN program six community types were identified. These are: I. Tamarhuhts indicci II. Acacia robusta III. Acacia seyal -Balanites aegyptiaca IV. Acacia senegal-Acalypha fruticosa V. Terminalia brownii-Boswellia neglecta and VI. Acacia bussie-Grewia tenax community types. The Biodiversity professional version 2.0 soft ware result shows the six communities differ in species diversity where the smallest was 2.1 and the highest was 3.44. The total diversity and evenness of the study area were 3.55 and 0.72 respectively. SPSS program was used to analyze the density of woody species. About 67 woody species (22 tree, 36 shrubs -*v and 9 climber species) were identified having a total basal area of 17.8 m /ha. The mean density of these woody species was 385 ± 114.2 (S.E.) individuals ha'1 where the mean density of trees was 32 ± 9.96, shrubs 619 ± 203.3 and climbers 315 ± 103.4 individuals ha'1. Ethnobotanical information was collected from 40 informants where 15 are key informants selected by systematic sampling method. Semi-structured interview was administered both in Oromoo language and Somali language and guided field walk was conducted to gather ethnobotanical information. The local community make use of 32 species as food plants, 43 for human medicinal plants, 59 for forage, 20 veterinary medicine, 28 for construction and craft, 18 for fuel (firewood and charcoal), 8 for spice and condiments, 8 as cash crops (where plant products have market value) and 38 species for other uses. Preference ranking result show Opuntia Jicus-indica, Tamarindus indica and Balanites aegyptiaca ranked 1 up to 3 as a food plants and the direct matrix ranking result show Tamarindus indica, Berchemia discolor and Balanites aegyptiaca ranked 1 up to 3 as a multipurpose tree species. Anthropogenic impact was assessed and arbitrary number was assigned 1 up to 5 from the lowest to the highest threat. Then agriculture scored 5, human settlement and overgrazing 4, charcoal making and tree cutting 3, invasive species 2, and honey collection 1. Invasive species like Lantana camara and Parthenium hystrophorus are the other threat where L. camara was recorded in 43 quadrats having the density 2794.6 individuals ha'1. In general , as part of the country ’s remaining vegetation cover and as part of the habitat of the only living representative individuals of the elephant ( Loxodonta Africana Orleansi ) as well as a variety of other animals and as to the benefit of the local community, the BES should be afforded the highest protection possible as a matter of urgency before it is too late.enBiologyThesis