On the Woody Species Diversity and Population Structure of the Gola Natural Vegetation, Eastern Hararghe, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

The present study has analyzed the diversity and population structure of woody species in Gola natural vegetation. So far, the expected form of vegetation diversity relationships with different land use in study sites has not been known. A total of 73 quadrats were established systematically within three land-use types. Vegetation parameters and species type were recorded. There were 52 woody species found in total. The Fabaceae family had the most species, accounting for 15.3% of the total plant species. The PA site had Shannon’s diversity index value that was significantly higher than the other two land-use types (P= 0.042). The dynamics of woody plants diversity about land use is of major need for sustainable management of forests, and the present study provides valuable information for forest management, and it may help to develop testable hypotheses on other tropical forests.