A Comparative Assessment on Regeneration Status of Indigenous Woody Plants in Eucalyptus grandis Plantation and Adjacent Natural Forest

background

This study investigates and compares diversity, density and species composition of naturally regenerated woody plants under Eucalyptus grandis plantations and the adjacent natural forest in southwestern Ethiopia.

research goals & methods

Vegetation data was collected from 40 sample plots, 20 in natural forest and 20 in plantations. Within the plots plant species were identified, DBH of all trees measured using a caliper; total heights of larger trees were measured using hypsometer.

conclusions & takeaways

Adjacent natural forest had a higher species index than the E. grandis plantation. However, the number of species recorded in the plantation was much higher than that recorded in other exotic plantation stands elsewhere in Ethiopia.  Lower diameter classes species dominated natural and plantation forests.