Abstract

Sustainable use of forest biodiversity through comprehensive studies are gave better life and survival of life on earth. This study was conducted in the western escarpment of the Rift valley of the Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. The main objective was to investigate forest ecology and sustainable management of the study area. A systematic sampling method was used to collect vegetation data from a total 58 quadrats, each 20 × 20 m (400 m2) and five 1 × 1 m (1 m2) sub-quadrats were established at the four corners and at the centre for sapling and seedling estimation. Tree and shrub species were listed; Height (H ≥ 1.5 m) and DBH ≥ 2 cm were measured and recorded. R-statically software and origin were used to analyse the data. A total of 69 woody plant species represented by 48 genera and 29 families were recorded of which Fabaceae was comprised the highest number of species (n=11). Four plant community types were identified and community type 1 had the highest H’ (3.2) and evenness (0.80) whereas the lowest H’ (2.00) and evenness (0.59) was recorded in community type 2. The highest similarity index was observed between community types 4 and 1 while the lowest was between community 3 and 1. The high density of saplings (440.2/ha) and seedlings (825.49/ha) were dominated by few species. However, 3 species (2.9%) had no seedlings and/or saplings at all. Therefore, human induced pressure will be minimizing to investigate current forest ecology and sustainable management, and raising awareness to surrounding community.