Threatened Woody Plant Species and Factor of Threat in Adjacent Area of Babile Elephant Sanctuary, Eastern Hararghe, Ethiopia

Protected areas plays important role in conservation of biological diversity. Assessment of threatened plant species and factor associated with this threat is of immense importance in managing protected area. This study was conducted on around Babile Elephant Sanctuary buffer zone located. This study aimed at documenting threatened plant species, factors of threat and challenges around BES. The data were collected from total number of informants 96 using semi-structured questionnaire, observation and guided field walks. The result of the assessment revealed a total of 61 threatened plant species among these 30 were shrub, 28 Tree, 2 climber and 1 herb and were represented by 25 families and 47 genera. Fabaceae, Tiliaceae, and Capparidaceae were the three dominant plant species respectively and each comprise 12, 4, and 3 species respectively. Regarding level of threatened plant species, 38 (45.7%) species were categorized under highly threatened, 23 (38%) species were categorized under medium threatened and 10 (16%) species were categorized under low/least threatened. The response of informants from six kebele suggested that the presence of ten factors which were exposing highler threat level on BES. Top three factors that threaten plant species includes agricultural expansion, illegal settlement, and Charcoal which accounts for 97.9%, 81.25%, and 62.5% respectively. Eight major challenges were identified for current conservation BES. Lack of alternative job as the major challenge as responded by communities 90 (93.75%) followed by Lack of community Incentive when elephant browsing and damage local crop 87 (90.62%) and Lack of strong regulation and relation of park administration with community was the third factor as responded by 85 (88.54%). The current study suggest that important intervention is necessary to conserve threatened plant species in BES.