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<p>Tropical forests are biodiversity hotspots that provide critical ecosystem services but are increasingly threatened by deforestation and intensive land use, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Ethiopia, forest loss due to agricultural expansion underscores the need for sustainable landscape strategies. Agroforestry (AF) systems contribute to biodiversity conservation; however, their role in maintaining woody species composition and diversity across landscape gradients and in supporting adjacent natural forests remains insufficiently understood. This study evaluated the contribution of AF systems to woody species conservation in and around the Tulu Korma Natural Forest, Central Ethiopia. This study evaluated the contribution of AF systems to woody species conservation in and around the Tulu Korma Natural Forest, Central Ethiopia. A stratified sampling design was employed across three agroforestry systems (homegardens, scattered trees on farmland, and woodlots) and three distance gradients from the forest edge (0–100&#xa0;m, 100–300&#xa0;m, and &gt; 300&#xa0;m). A total of 180 households were selected proportionally across distance gradients and wealth categories (rich, medium, and poor) using simple random sampling. The study recorded 124 woody species from 89 genera to 47 families. Natural forests exhibited the highest species richness and diversity, followed by homegardens, scattered trees, and woodlots. Beta diversity and NMDS analyses showed clear differences in species composition across land-use types, with woodlots dominated by exotic species and contributing least to native species conservation. Within AF systems, woody species richness and Shannon diversity tended to be lower at greater distances from the forest, with β-diversity patterns associated primarily with species turnover. Homegardens and scattered trees retained higher native species richness and compositional similarity to natural forests than woodlots. These findings demonstrate that agroforestry systems near forests play a significant role in maintaining woody species diversity and conserving native species, supporting the integration of AF into biodiversity management, sustainable land-use planning, and forest restoration initiatives.</p>

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Agroforestry systems maintain woody species composition and diversity in and around the Tulu Korma Natural Forest, Central Ethiopia

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月10日

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  • Gadisa Demie,
  • Mulu Asefa

摘要

Tropical forests are biodiversity hotspots that provide critical ecosystem services but are increasingly threatened by deforestation and intensive land use, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Ethiopia, forest loss due to agricultural expansion underscores the need for sustainable landscape strategies. Agroforestry (AF) systems contribute to biodiversity conservation; however, their role in maintaining woody species composition and diversity across landscape gradients and in supporting adjacent natural forests remains insufficiently understood. This study evaluated the contribution of AF systems to woody species conservation in and around the Tulu Korma Natural Forest, Central Ethiopia. This study evaluated the contribution of AF systems to woody species conservation in and around the Tulu Korma Natural Forest, Central Ethiopia. A stratified sampling design was employed across three agroforestry systems (homegardens, scattered trees on farmland, and woodlots) and three distance gradients from the forest edge (0–100 m, 100–300 m, and > 300 m). A total of 180 households were selected proportionally across distance gradients and wealth categories (rich, medium, and poor) using simple random sampling. The study recorded 124 woody species from 89 genera to 47 families. Natural forests exhibited the highest species richness and diversity, followed by homegardens, scattered trees, and woodlots. Beta diversity and NMDS analyses showed clear differences in species composition across land-use types, with woodlots dominated by exotic species and contributing least to native species conservation. Within AF systems, woody species richness and Shannon diversity tended to be lower at greater distances from the forest, with β-diversity patterns associated primarily with species turnover. Homegardens and scattered trees retained higher native species richness and compositional similarity to natural forests than woodlots. These findings demonstrate that agroforestry systems near forests play a significant role in maintaining woody species diversity and conserving native species, supporting the integration of AF into biodiversity management, sustainable land-use planning, and forest restoration initiatives.