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Woody plants composition, structure and regeneration status of Muger Zala natural forest, Central Ethiopia

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Abstract

Natural forests in Ethiopia are significant biodiversity repositories and climate change regulators, but they are under growing pressure from anthropogenic activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the composition, structure, and regeneration status of the Mugere Zala natural forest in Asagrit District, Central Ethiopia. A systematic sampling strategy was utilised to collect samples from 20 m × 20 m sample plots for trees, 10 m × 10 m for shrubs, and 5 m × 5 m subplots for saplings and seedlings. The sample plots were placed 400 m apart along transects laid at 200 m intervals. The composition and population structure data for woody species (diameter at breast height (DBH) > 2.5 cm and height > 2 m) were documented. To assess plant diversity, quantitative species diversity, richness, and evenness were calculated. A total of 62 species were identified in 47 genera and 43 families. With 5 (11.6%) species, the Rosaceae family had the highest species richness. In total, 557 mature trees, 747 saplings, and 1036 seedlings ha-1 were observed in the sampled plots. Clutia abyssinica, Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, Maesa lanceolata, Allophylus abyssinicus, Carissa spinarum, Phytolacca dodecandra, and Jasminum abyssinicum were associated with about 49.98% of the importance values. Compared to other similar forests in Ethiopia, the vegetation structure is similar and distinct. The forest is dominated by small plant species and largest native tree species despite its poor regeneration status. This is because highland forests are particularly difficult to manage due to population pressure, which is associated with grazing effects.

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Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Asagirt District Agriculture Office and Mension Furt Mension for their support and cooperation during data collection. We are grateful to the Meti village Administrators and Security officials for their assistance during our stay in the field. The contributions and assistants of Solomon Bahiru, Dirsha Getachew and Zinash Shewangizaw, who were development agents of the study area, were unforgatble. The national Herbarium workers of Addis Ababa University are highly thankful for their cooperation during species identification.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, PO Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Mengistu Asmamaw

  2. Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia

    Gebremicael Fisaha

  3. Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, PO Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Kindye Belaye Wassie

Authors

  1. Mengistu Asmamaw
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  2. Gebremicael Fisaha
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  3. Kindye Belaye Wassie
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Contributions

M. A., G.F., and K.B. W. wrote the main manuscript and prepared Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to
Kindye Belaye Wassie.

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The authors state that this publication does not contain any information concerning human experiments or the use of human tissue samples. Plant species data was collected from forests in collaboration with the Asagirt District Agriculture Office. The research followed the IUCN policy guidelines and restrictions.

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Asmamaw, M., Fisaha, G. & Wassie, K.B. Woody plants composition, structure and regeneration status of Muger Zala natural forest, Central Ethiopia.
Sci Rep (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-33509-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-33509-2

Keywords

  • Dry afromontane
  • Diversity
  • Regeneration
  • Structure
  • Woody vegetation

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