Papers by Kitessa Hundera
Ecological Indicators, 2018
The study of riparian plant communities along running streams offers information on the state of ... more The study of riparian plant communities along running streams offers information on the state of habitat and can help increase our knowledge on the use of bioindicators. We developed a riparian index of biotic integrity (RIBI) to evaluate the conditions of highland streams in response to anthropogenic disturbances in the southwest Ethiopian highland. To construct RIBI, we evaluated 22 potential plant metrics. Disturbance was quantified for each site using information on canopy openness, ground area without vegetation and exposed mineral soil. Five core metrics (floristic quality indexes, average C, native tree/shrub species, riparian status species and Shannon diversity index) were found to respond to anthropogenic disturbances. These metrics were significantly differentiated among sample sites categorized as low and high disturbance sites (p < .001). The core metrics and RIBI scores for this data set were also significantly correlated with environmental variables including riparian buffer width, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, turbidity, total suspended sediment, nitrate and orthophosphate. These findings provide support for the continued use of plants as indicators of highland stream condition in the East Africa, providing that the responses of plant based metrics to disturbances. Thus, the RIBI could be useful tool for the assessment and monitoring of stream ecosystems and evaluating the effect of stream restoration in the East African highland in the future.
Limnologica, 2017
Highlights We investigated the effect of riparian buffer zone deforestation on highland tropica... more Highlights We investigated the effect of riparian buffer zone deforestation on highland tropical streams. Stream status was assessed based on riparian index, water quality and plant metrics. Riparian and floristic quality index score were higher in forest site than agricultural site. Riparian vegetation index has relation with water quality in tropical African streams.
Ekológia (Bratislava), 2018
The southwest Ethiopian Afromontane moist forests are recognized as one of the biodiversity hotsp... more The southwest Ethiopian Afromontane moist forests are recognized as one of the biodiversity hotspots as they are the centres of origin and domestication of Arabica coffee. But they are under threat due to deforestation and conversion to coffee farms. Coffee agroforests are believed to buffer the natural forest from these threats. The study was conducted to investigate the importance of coffee agroforest adjacent to Belete forest southwest Ethiopia. Vegetation data were collected from 68 plots (34 each) and socioeconomic data were collected from 136 households (68 each). The results showed that statistically, there were no significant differences between the natural forest and adjacent coffee agroforests in the species composition, species richness and Shannon diversity index of the woody species(P > 0.05). The socioeconomic benefit result showed a number of forest products that are collected from the coffee agroforest. There were statistically significant differences between the ...
African Journal of Ecology, 2015
Ethiopian Afromontane moist forests where coffee grows as understorey shrub are traditionally man... more Ethiopian Afromontane moist forests where coffee grows as understorey shrub are traditionally managed by the local communities for coffee production through thinning of the shade tree canopy and slashing of competing undergrowth. This management practice has a negative impact on the coffee shrubs, because the removal of shade tree saplings and seedlings reduces the succession potential of the shade tree canopy, which threatens the very existence of the shade coffee production system. We assessed the functionality of small exclosures to initiate coffee shade tree canopy restoration through natural regeneration. Our results show that small exclosures have a strong restoration potential for the coffee shade trees preferred by farmers (Albizia schimperiana, A. gummifera and Millettia ferruginea), as evidenced from their seedling abundance, survival and growth. The regeneration of late-successional tree species of the moist Afromontane forest was not successful in the small exclosures, most probably due to the low abundance or absence of adult trees as seed sources for regeneration. Therefore, temporary establishment of small exclosures in degraded coffee forest fragments where shade trees are getting old or dying is recommended for sustainable shade coffee production.
Agriculture, 2018
Multi-story cropping systems are used to grow fruits and vegetables in rural homegardens, and it ... more Multi-story cropping systems are used to grow fruits and vegetables in rural homegardens, and it has been argued that they are crucial for the food and nutrition safety of rural populations. They also are considered as refuges for a number of plant species, and as one way to reduce pressure on the surrounding ecosystem by providing resources such as food, fiber, and firewood to farmers on their own farmland. This study was conducted to assess the contribution of fruits and vegetables in homegardens to household livelihoods and biodiversity conservation in the Yayo biosphere reserve in southwestern Ethiopia. The role of fruits and vegetables was evaluated for 96 households that were selected randomly from both fruit and vegetable users and only vegetable-user strata. To collect socioeconomic data, semi-structured interviews, direct observation, and focus group discussions were employed. A complete enumeration of plant species was done for diversity assessment in 48 homegardens from f...
In collaboration with Methods-Study Area Green crosses: natural forest survey sites Red dots: int... more In collaboration with Methods-Study Area Green crosses: natural forest survey sites Red dots: intensively managed coffee forest survey sites Yellow dots: tree survey sites 5 Methods-Field Survey 6 Date Activity
agriculture-08-00190, 2018
Multi-story cropping systems are used to grow fruits and vegetables in rural homegardens, and it ... more Multi-story cropping systems are used to grow fruits and vegetables in rural homegardens, and it has been argued that they are crucial for the food and nutrition safety of rural populations. They also are considered as refuges for a number of plant species, and as one way to reduce pressure on the surrounding ecosystem by providing resources such as food, fiber, and firewood to farmers on their own farmland. This study was conducted to assess the contribution of fruits and vegetables in homegardens to household livelihoods and biodiversity conservation in the Yayo biosphere reserve in southwestern Ethiopia. The role of fruits and vegetables was evaluated for 96 households that were selected randomly from both fruit and vegetable users and only vegetable-user strata. To collect socioeconomic data, semi-structured interviews, direct observation, and focus group discussions were employed. A complete enumeration of plant species was done for diversity assessment in 48 homegardens from four kebeles (the smallest administrative unit in Ethiopia) in the Yayo and Hurumu districts and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, independent t-test, and one-way ANOVA. The results indicated the highest plant diversity, with a total of 76 species identified from 38 families. Fruit and vegetable users were found to harbor more diversity in their homegardens compared to only vegetable-user homegardens. Homegarden size correlated significantly with species richness. Fruits and vegetables in homegardens were found to considerably contribute to household food consumption and total annual income independent of wealth categories. We also found a significant negative relationship between fruit and vegetable use and forest product harvesting, indicating the reduction of pressures on nearby forest ecosystems. This study supports the idea that fruits and vegetables contribute to biodiversity conservation directly as the entity of homegarden agrobiodiversity and indirectly through minimizing households' demand for forest harvesting by providing food and generating income. Nevertheless, fruits and vegetables were not contributing at their full potential, which was mainly due to disease problems, pests, and a lack of better market access. Therefore, further research and interventions are needed to help farmers confront these challenges affecting fruit and vegetable production and productivity.
ABSTRACT ABSTRACT The study was conducted on Jibat Forest to determine the floristic composition,... more ABSTRACT ABSTRACT The study was conducted on Jibat Forest to determine the floristic composition, vegetation structure and plant community types. Systematic sampling method was used to collect vegetation data. A total of 74 quadrats each with a size of 20 m x 20 m for woody species and with in each major plot, five sub plots of size 1 m x 1 m were established for herbacious data collection. All plant species in each quadrat were recorded. Height and DBH of each woody plant species with height ≥ 2.5 m and DBH ≥ 2.5 cm were measured. A total of 183 species representing 161 genera and 73 families were recorded. Of the total species, 16 (8.74%) species are endemic to Ethiopia. Herbs had the highest composition followed by shrubs and trees. Six plant community types were identified from the cluster analysis and were named after 2 to 3 dominant species in each cluster. The description of each community type was given. The total basal area of the forest was 59.79 m2/ha. Analysis of importance value index indicated that Ilex mitis had the highest value (27.7). The study revealed the prevalence of small-sized individuals in the Jibat Forest. Six population distribution patterns were recognized, i.e., inverted J, irregular, U-shape, bell-shape, Gauss-type and J- shaped patterns. Therefore, based on the results of this study, detailed study on regeneration potential of the forest is recommended.
Ethiopian Journal of Education and Sciences, Mar 4, 2008
Deforestation have been taking place in Ethiopia for hundreds of years. The chief reasons given f... more Deforestation have been taking place in Ethiopia for hundreds of years. The chief reasons given for reduction of the forest area are uncontrolled exploitation, shifting cultivation, forest fires and the expansion of permanently cultivated areas. So the assessment of these forests is the basis for meaningful planning to rationally utilize the remaining forest resources. Therefore, Woody species composition and structure of Gurra Farda forest was studied from November 2005 to September 2006. Thirty two sampling plots, each having sizes of 20 m X 20 m were laid in the forest based on their homogeneity. Diameter and height was measured for all trees and shrubs with DBH greater than 2 cm. Sixty six woody species belonging to 28 families were recorded in the forest. Moraceae was found to be the dominant family in the forest with 7 species comprising 10.6 % of the total species identified followed by Rubiaceae with 6 species or 9 % of the total woody species identified. From the identified plants five species were climbers, 32 shrubs and 29 trees. Tree density was 1373 individuals per hectare and the basal area was 90.6m2/ha. Most of the individuals were distributed in the lower DBH and height classes. Since this is forest is one of the remaining forests with wild populations of Coffea Arabica due attention has to be given to its conservation and sustainable utilization.
Forest Ecology and Management
ABSTRACT A major constraint to current REDD+ initiatives is the arbitrariness of the operational ... more ABSTRACT A major constraint to current REDD+ initiatives is the arbitrariness of the operational definition of ‘forest’. The UN-REDD+ framework ignores the high potential of other (tree containing) land uses for carbon sequestration and the generation of co-benefits, in contrast to a whole landscape approach known as ‘Reducing Emissions from All Land Uses’ (REALU). To indicate this potential, carbon stocks and biodiversity were assessed at the landscape scale around Jimma, SW Ethiopia. Notwithstanding the indigenous forests’ high carbon stocks per hectare (336.96 ± 120.6 Mg C ha−1), 80% of the total carbon stock of the 106 ha assessed landscape window was found to be stored in non-forest land uses. Especially local agroforestry systems, such as managed semi-forest coffee production fragments (179.92 ± 38.5 Mg C ha−1), homegardens (106.26 ± 16.8 Mg C ha−1) and pole wood plantations (112.36 ± 23.9 Mg ha−1) store large amounts of carbon. Together with local maize fields (69.45 ± 12.3 Mg C ha−1), teff fields (69.51 ± 6.5 Mg C ha−1) and grazing lands (76.90 ± 10.3 Mg C ha−1) these non-forest land uses play an important role in a prospective ‘high-carbon-stock rural-development’ under a REALU framework. A REDD+ approach, applying a stringent forest definition that disqualifies for agriculture and a 30% canopy cover threshold, would only account for 24 Gg C in the 106 ha landscape window. Applying the canopy cover threshold alone, would triple the amount to 72 Gg C, while a REALU project would account for the whole 116 Gg landscape carbon. The biodiversity assessment, based on tree community composition and Hill’s diversity indices, indicated important biodiversity co-benefits under a REALU approach. Biodiversity indices such as the Hill’s N1 diversity of abundant tree species showed a strong positive correlation with local carbon stocks (R2 = 0.56). Since the cover of indigenous forest is reduced to only 7% of the landscape window’s area, most of the remaining trees and biodiversity can be found within the surrounding landscape mosaic. Semi-forest coffee production fragments for example still harbour almost half of all encountered native tree species. An interesting result of the simultaneous biodiversity assessment was that a regrouping of plots based on tree biodiversity provides a more precise and cost efficient way to assess carbon stocks, reducing the number of plots needed with 23%, to achieve the same precision level.
The study was conducted on Kimphe Lafa natural forest, a dry Afromontane forest, located in Arsi ... more The study was conducted on Kimphe Lafa natural forest, a dry Afromontane forest, located in Arsi Negele woreda, West Arsi Zone, Oromia regional state in southeastern Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to assess floristic composition, vegetation structure and regeneration status of the forest. A total of one hundred thirty plant species belonging to 100 genera and 56 families were recorded and identified. Fabaceae was the most dominant family represented by eighteen species followed by Asteraceae with ten species and Euphorbiaceae with six species. Six plant communities: Vernonia urticifolia-Croton macrostachyus, Calpurnia aurea-Maytanus abuscura, Ficus sur-Podocarpus falcatus, Justicia shimperiana-Dodonaea angustifolia, community 5 without significant species and Maytanus arbotifolia-Caucanthus auricalatus were recognized. The densities for mature woody species, seedlings and saplings were 515.7, 1091.8 and 834.7 individuals ha-1 respectively. The basal area of the forest was ...
Deforestation rate in Ethiopia is estimated to be 150,000 to 200,000 ha/annum. Because of this a ... more Deforestation rate in Ethiopia is estimated to be 150,000 to 200,000 ha/annum. Because of this a considerable area of what was once a closed forest had been converted to a heavily disturbed forest. The chief reasons for reduction of the forest are uncontrolled exploitation, forest fires and the expansion of permanently cultivated areas. In order to maintain the ecological equilibrium and to meet the forest resources requirement of the population, scientific information is the basis. The Dodola forest is one of the few remaining dry Afromontane coniferous forests Ethiopia. It is dominated by Juniperus procera, Podocarpus falcatus and Maytenus addat at altitudes below 2800 m. Areas above 3200 m are dominated by Erica arborea. Juniperus procera is the most dominant species in the forest. Phytogeographically this forest is more related to the dry Afromontane forests of the central plateau of Shewa than to the moist Afromontane forests of Harenna and South West Ethiopia. This analysis ma...
Basic and Applied Ecology, 2015
Forest Ecology and Management, 2015
ABSTRACT A major constraint to current REDD+ initiatives is the arbitrariness of the operational ... more ABSTRACT A major constraint to current REDD+ initiatives is the arbitrariness of the operational definition of ‘forest’. The UN-REDD+ framework ignores the high potential of other (tree containing) land uses for carbon sequestration and the generation of co-benefits, in contrast to a whole landscape approach known as ‘Reducing Emissions from All Land Uses’ (REALU). To indicate this potential, carbon stocks and biodiversity were assessed at the landscape scale around Jimma, SW Ethiopia. Notwithstanding the indigenous forests’ high carbon stocks per hectare (336.96 ± 120.6 Mg C ha−1), 80% of the total carbon stock of the 106 ha assessed landscape window was found to be stored in non-forest land uses. Especially local agroforestry systems, such as managed semi-forest coffee production fragments (179.92 ± 38.5 Mg C ha−1), homegardens (106.26 ± 16.8 Mg C ha−1) and pole wood plantations (112.36 ± 23.9 Mg ha−1) store large amounts of carbon. Together with local maize fields (69.45 ± 12.3 Mg C ha−1), teff fields (69.51 ± 6.5 Mg C ha−1) and grazing lands (76.90 ± 10.3 Mg C ha−1) these non-forest land uses play an important role in a prospective ‘high-carbon-stock rural-development’ under a REALU framework. A REDD+ approach, applying a stringent forest definition that disqualifies for agriculture and a 30% canopy cover threshold, would only account for 24 Gg C in the 106 ha landscape window. Applying the canopy cover threshold alone, would triple the amount to 72 Gg C, while a REALU project would account for the whole 116 Gg landscape carbon. The biodiversity assessment, based on tree community composition and Hill’s diversity indices, indicated important biodiversity co-benefits under a REALU approach. Biodiversity indices such as the Hill’s N1 diversity of abundant tree species showed a strong positive correlation with local carbon stocks (R2 = 0.56). Since the cover of indigenous forest is reduced to only 7% of the landscape window’s area, most of the remaining trees and biodiversity can be found within the surrounding landscape mosaic. Semi-forest coffee production fragments for example still harbour almost half of all encountered native tree species. An interesting result of the simultaneous biodiversity assessment was that a regrouping of plots based on tree biodiversity provides a more precise and cost efficient way to assess carbon stocks, reducing the number of plots needed with 23%, to achieve the same precision level.
ABSTRACT Belete forest is one of the very few remnant moist evergreen montane forests in Ethiopia... more ABSTRACT Belete forest is one of the very few remnant moist evergreen montane forests in Ethiopia. The objective of this work was to study the vegetation structure, composition and Natural regeneration status of Belete moist evergreen montane forest. To investigate the plant community structure, composition and regeneration status of Belete forest, line transects were laid down on the longest transect starting from the bottom valley to the top ridge. Sample quadrats 20m x20 m, 5m x 5m, 1m x 1m were laid for trees, shrubs, sapling and seedling, and herbaceous layer respectively in a nested form. The sample quadrats were laid down along transects at a distance of 50m from each other. A total of 69 quadrats were sampled. Vegetation classification was performed using PC - ORD for windows version 5.0. Five communities were recognized. Results showed that a total of 157 plant species representing 69 families and 135 genera were recorded. These were composed of 31.2% Herbs, 28.7% Trees, 26.1% Shrubs, 5.7% Climbers, 5.1% Liana, 1.9% Epiphytic herbs, and 1.3% herbaceous Ferns. The major families were Fabaceae and Asteraceae each represented by 10 species (6.4%), followed by Lamiaceae 9 (5.7%) and Rubiaceae 6 (3.8%). Other thirty three families consisting 19.8% were represented by one species only. Regeneration status of the forest was analyzed by comparing saplings and seedlings with the matured trees. Results revealed that Belete moist evergreen montane forest is at good regeneration status. Planning and management of the forest should be assisted by research findings, such as detailed ecological studies in relation to various environmental factors.
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Papers by Kitessa Hundera