International Journal of Forestry Research

Owing to its variable topographic features, Ethiopia is endowed with rich biological resources. However, nowadays, these vital resources, mainly forests, are declining alarmingly, largely, due to agricultural expansion and energy consumption. This study was conducted at Gosh-Beret forest with the objective of investigating the status of forest species. Fifty-one main plots, spaced at a 100 m interval, were laid on north-south oriented transects. Within the main plots, five subplots, at each corner and center, were set to collect data for juveniles. In each plot, individuals of each woody species were identified and recorded. Percent cover abundance of each woody species per plot was genuinely estimated, which was later converted into the modified Braun–Blanquet scale. For each mature woody species, diameters at breast height (DBH ≥ 2 cm) were measured. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to identify community types. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index and Sorensen’s similarity coefficient were used to compare the species diversity and composition among communities, respectively. The structure and regeneration status of the forest species were analyzed using structural parameters and size-class ratios, respectively. A total of 52 woody species distributed in 35 families were recorded. Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Asteraceae were the most dominant families with 4 species each. The overall species diversity of the forest was 2.6, and five community types were generated from cluster analysis. In the study forest, frequency and density of species decrease with increasing frequency and density classes. Likewise, density of individuals in each class decreases as DBH classes increase. The total basal area of the forest was 19.81 m²ha⁻¹, and the forest was at fair regeneration status with species having small IVI values and few/no seedlings. Therefore, immediate conservation measures are required to save species with small IVI values and few/no seedlings.

Agroforestry has the potential to contribute to the improvement of household livelihood, since its various forms offer multiple alternatives and opportunities to farmers. This study assessed agroforestry practice in Mukura sector, Huye district, Rwanda. A sample of 100 households was selected by stage sampling, randomly choosing four cells and two villages per cell in Mukura Sector. Face-to-face interview was dispensed to household heads, and data were collected on agroforestry practices, on-farm tree species, tree spatial arrangements, tree products, and the adoption rate. Woody species diversity and similarity were determined by using Shannon–Weiner diversity and Sørensen’s indices, respectively. Sixty percent of the farmers practiced agroforestry. Ten woody species were observed to grow on farm, providing varied products of timber, firewood, food and fodder, stakes for climbing beans, and income. Low adoption of agroforestry practice was reported resulting from small land, land tenure, ignorance, unavailability of tree seedlings, and the avoidance of tree-crop competition. On-farm tree diversity was observed to be higher than several other sites in Rwanda. The different cells of Mukura Sector grow the same woody species on the farms as demonstrated by reasonably high indices of similarity. We recommend that efforts be made to reinforce extension services to improve farmers’ awareness on the contribution of agroforestry to their social wellbeing. Ways of making seedlings available for planting should also be explored.

The province of East Kalimantan is officially designated as the State Capital because the area has the least risk of disaster, even though it cannot be separated from disasters such as forest and land fires. This study aims to determine the spatial pattern of hotspots using SNPP-VIIRS for monitoring potential fires. The research used the descriptive-analytic method to identify the research area and collect secondary data. Secondary data is spatial and nonspatial data consisting of hotspot data from the recording of the SNPP -VIIRS image, including frequency and distribution of hotspots. The data usage from 2012–2021 using SNPP-VIIRS morning and evening recordings. The study results show that the spatial pattern of potential hotspots in the capital city of a new country is quite varied. The spatial pattern of hotspots shows that Kutai Kartanegara Regency as one of the locations for the new State Capital, has the highest number of hotspots, namely 38,970 with the highest accuracy in East Kalimantan Province, namely, 1,616 (low), 36,253 (nominal), and 1,101 (high). The potential for fire disasters in Kutai Kartanegara Regency as an IKN location is high, so planning is urgently needed for future fire prevention, mitigation, and prevention strategies. The spatial pattern of hotspots is known, so it can be used to monitor potential fires and minimize fire occurrences.

Sustainability in community forest (CF) is a very important issue but study regarding this is limited in Nepal. Thus, this research study was objectively conducted to assess the sustainability index including socioeconomic contribution and biodiversity status of tree species in Simpani, Bolde Setidevi, and Kalobhir community forests of Dolakha district. A total of 83 sample plots were established to collect the biophysical data. The sustainability index for overall and individual criteria was assessed on the basis of scoring provided by the community forest user groups (CFUGs). The study showed that there were 87% Braman and Chhetri in Simpani CF and their representation was 91% in the executive committee, and similar status was seen in Bolde Setidevi and Kalobhir CFs. The highest number of households were 29 receiving benefits from the timber in 2016/17. They used roughly 164.9 m³ wood from Kalobhir CF. The highest total income was US$1495 in 2016/17 in Simpani CF, but expenditure was the highest, US$1817 in 2017/18, in Bolde Setidevi CF. There was 6308 regeneration per ha in Simpani CF but growing stock was the highest, 177.7 m³/ha, in Bolde Setidevi CF. The Shannon Wiener index was the highest, 0.92 ± 0.087, in Bolde Setidevi CF. One-way ANOVA showed that there was no significant difference in values of the Shannon Wiener index and evenness index of the three community forests since value is <0.05. The importance value index (IVI) value of Schima wallichi (63.51), Rhododendron species (48.61), and Tsuga dumosa (81.50) was found to be the highest in the Simpani, Bolde Setidevi, and the Kalobhir community forest, respectively. The overall sustainability index of Simpani, Bolde Setidevi, and Kalobhir CFs was found to be 0.61, 0.67, and 0.58, respectively. The score of extent of forest resource was found to be highest (0.82) in Bolde Setidevi CF and this score of institutional framework and governance was the lowest (0.52) in Kalobhir CF. This research study will be used to determine the sustainability in community forests.

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of environmental and disturbance factors on plant community distribution in the Majang Forest Biosphere Reserve (MFBR) in south-west Ethiopia. A systematic sample design was conducted to collect vegetation and environmental factors in four study sites. In a nested plot design, the vegetation data were collected from 140 main plots, i.e., 400 m² (trees), 25 m² subplots (shrubs, lianas, seedlings, and saplings), and 1 m² (herbs), respectively. The plant community classification was performed using agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis (Ward’s Linkage method) in R software (version 4.0.1). The distribution of plant communities along an environmental gradient was computed using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). In this study, a total of 15 (9.5%) endemic plant species were recorded in MFBR. Four plant community types were identified, and these were Celtis zenkeri-Blighia unijugata, Pouteria altissima-Lecaniodiscus fraxinifolius, Antiaris toxicaria-Celtis toka, and Dracaena afromontana-Cyathea manniana. Environmental and disturbance factors, such as elevations, slopes, harvesting indexes, soil pH, silt, and herbaceous cover, were the most important for determining plant community distribution in the area. Elevation and slope were found to have a significant () negative and positive relationship with species diversity and richness, respectively. Therefore, the finding of this study provides baseline information that could be necessary for making further conservation and management in MFBR.

The purpose of this study was to assess charcoal producers’ perceptions of forest degradation and investigate governance in the dry Afromontane forests of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia. It also examines the socioeconomic contribution of charcoal production to livelihood improvement and the effect of charcoal production on forest degradation and biodiversity loss. Three Kebeles (smallest administrative subunits): Galda, Sere Esho, and Mancha Gugara were purposely selected based on their potential for charcoal production. Semistructured questionnaires were used for household surveys, while checklists were provided for the key informants and focus group discussions. From the total 4,739 charcoal producer households in the selected Kebeles, 98 households were randomly selected and interviewed considering time and budget limitations. Besides, 6 key informant interviews with elders, forestry experts, and farmers and 3 focus group discussions were conducted. A simple descriptive statistical tool was used to analyze descriptive statistical data and chi-square at was used to describe the association of forest degradation with socioeconomic characteristics. The findings reveal that charcoal production is dominated by males (68.4%) compared to females, who were within the age range of 20‒43 years. About 59.18% did not attend any formal education and 18.37% attended elementary education. Charcoal production (32.7%) is second, following agricultural expansion (39.8%) in its negative contribution to forest degradation. The majority (76%) of charcoal producers participated in charcoal production at all times throughout the year. The chi-square result shows a significant relationship between monthly incomes, educational status, family size, and gender with charcoal production and forest degradation at (). The indigenous trees, Acacia tortilis (34%), Combretum mole (22%), and Terminalia schimperiana (16%), were the most preferred tree species used for charcoal production. Overall, charcoal production has resulted in forest degradation. Charcoal producers have used traditional earth mound kiln technology. Providing alternative energy sources, training, starting rehabilitation programs, and implementing policies and legal frameworks are needed for the sustainable utilization of the resources and to improve the livelihood of the communities.