THE UNDIFFERENTIATED AFROMONTANE FOREST OF DENKORO IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLAND OF ETHIOPIA: A FLORISTIC AND STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The floristic composition and vegetation structure of Denkoro forest, South Wello Zone
of Amhara Region, N. Ethiopia, were described during November–December, 2002. A total of 95
sample plots were analysed, and 174 species of vascular plants representing 66 families were recorded.
Out of these, 41 species were new records reported for the first time from Wello. Eleven endemic
species, which are included in the IUCN Red List categories, have been recorded. Based on the results of
vegetation classification, six clusters were recognized and designated as local plant community types: 1)
Erica arborea - Hypericum revolutum, 2) Myrsine melanophloeos - Dombeya torrida, 3) Myrsine africana –
Maesa lanceolata – Prunus africana, 4) Olinia rochetiana – Olea europaea, 5) Olinia rochetiana – Allophylus
abyssinicus – Apodytes dimidiata, and 6) Maytenus gracilipes – Teclea nobilis. Structural analysis of the forest
showed the density of individuals > 10 cm DBH to be almost twice as that of individuals with DBH >20
cm. A higher proportion of woody individuals (ca. 65%) fell in the low height classes (i.e., < 12 m).
Analysis of population structure revealed five patterns, depicting the species dynamics in the forest.
When compared with other forests in Ethiopia, Denkoro forest shows similarity to the dry evergreen
montane forests of the Central Plateau than those elsewhere