Abstract

Agroforestry lands will be the most beneficial to the long-term preservation of biodiversity through preserving native species of plants and animals in tropical countries. Despites its vital roles, the contributions of agroforests and forest patches for biodiversity conservation in Ethiopia have few studded. The aim of this study was to investigate status of woody species diversity in natural forest patches and adjacent Enset-Coffee based agroforestry (ECAF) with particular emphasis on their contributions to biodiversity conservation in midland of Sidama zone, Ethiopia. The two study sites (Wonsho and Shebedino districts) were selected purposively based on presence of forest patches and extensive practices of ECAF. Similarly, the three kebele in each sites were selected based on the presence of natural forest patches. A total of 96 quadrats (48 in each systems), having 20 m x 20 m area were systematically sampled. Our results show that a total of 75 different woody species categorized under 31 families were recorded, of which 43 species under 30 families from the natural forest patches and the remaining 32 species under 21 families from ECAF. Twenty two woody species belonging to 15 families were common to both the natural forest patches and ECAF that makes 58.67% of similarity in woody species composition. Euphorbiaceae family had the highest number of woody species both in the natural forest patches and ECAF. Shannon and Simpson diversity indices of woody species from natural forest patches were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the ones from ECAF. Of all woody species identified, 86.67% were native. Finally, it is concluded that ECAF play a major role in the conservation of native woody species.