Bekele Tamrat (PhD)Kelebesa Ensermu (PhD)Tamene Bayafers2018-06-222023-11-092018-06-222023-11-092000-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/2934A floristic and ethnoboatnical study was carried out in Chetta plain, South Welo, between 20 November 1999 and 30 February 2000. A total of 74 quadrat were established in semiwetland and relict forest Islands. Cover-abundance values were taken for 115 plant species. From each quadrat one after the other, soil samples were taken at 0-20 cm depth and analyzed for pH, organic carbon and cation exchange capacity. Soil analysis result was computed in one way ANOVA to compare communities in relation with their environment. A significant difference on organic carbon and moisture content was obtained. Vegetation data was classified using computer program named Syn -Tax, multivariate data analysis, Version 5.02 Podani (1994) .Hierarchical clustering, average linkage classificatory technique and the following plant communities .were obtained: Bolhriochloa insculpla - Heleropogon'conlortu.~ Type, Cynodon dacfylon-Xanlhium slrumarium Type, Echinochloa colona-Panicum coloralum Type, Panicum coloralum-Ludwigia slo/onifera Type, Trifolium rueppellianum-/solepis coslala Type, Cyperus alopecuroides-Echinochloa pyramidalis Type, Typha domingensisSchoenopleclus marilimus Type, Isolepis coslala-Schoenopleclus marilimus Type, Cyperus digilalus Type, Lanlana camara-Cordia africana Type. Ethnobotanical information of very important wild plants was obtained from local key informants, mainly based on semi-structured interviews. A total of 206 plant species distributed in 148 genera and 66 families were documented. Of these 54 species are noncultivated food plants, 83 medicinal, 38 forage, 39 cleal',Sing, laundry, tooth brush, fumigation, fragrance and other miscellaneous uses have been recorded. Edible plant parts, eaten fresh, raw, cooked or in combinations, include leaf (4 species), fruit (36), seed (6), flower (2), nectar (1), twig (1), stem (3), bark (2), resin (2), sap (1), above ground part (2), rhizo- me (1) and tuber (1). Depending on food scarcity, non-cultivated food plants were recognized and categorized as snack, seasonal, emergency and famine foods. The Chetta people utilize 79 and 31 medicinal plants for his and ethnoveterinary use respectively. Habit of medicinal plants includes shrubs (38 species), herbs (21), trees (13) and climbers (11). The most frequently used plant parts are leaves (33 species). Remedies are usually prepared by pounding, crushing and squeezing juice (79.69%). The two major routes of administrations are oral (53.60%) and dermal (20.72%). Medicinal plants are used to treat more than 48 human and 20 livestock ailments. Forage and other miscellaneous uses of plants were documented. The wetland is mainly used as a dry season grazing area. Relict forest islands are ritual, belief, religious and traditionalcommunity based in silu conservation sites . . ,. These ,traditional conservation activities and indigenous knowledge of, the people should be strengthened. Traditional community based in situ conservation shoutd be complemented with ex situ conser,ation activities.enBiologyThesis