College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Role of Forest Ecosystems in Climate Regulation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Dawro Zone, South West Ethiopia

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Role of Forest Ecosystems in Climate Regulation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Dawro Zone, South West Ethiopia Difabachew, Endale Forest ecosystems play a critical role in climate regulation and disaster risk reduction (DRR), particularly in mountainous regions that are highly vulnerable to climate-induced hazards. This study evaluates the contribution of forest ecosystems to carbon sequestration, microclimate regulation, and mitigation of foods and landslides in Dawro Zone, South West Ethiopia. A mixed methods approach was employed, integrating multitemporal remote sensing analysis (2000–2020), feld-based forest biomass and carbon stock assessment, microclimate monitoring, and socioinstitutional surveys. Forest cover change was analyzed using Landsat imagery, achieving an overall classifcation accuracy of 89.3% (κ = 0.86). Aboveground biomass was estimated using the Brown (1997) allometric equation, and carbon stocks were derived using a carbon fraction of 0.47 with associated uncertainty estimates. Results indicate that natural moist forests store signifcantly higher carbon stocks (84.84 ± 8.79 t C ha−1 ) than plantation forests (65.94 ± 7.14 t C ha−1 ), agroforestry systems (46.34 ± 5.36 t C ha−1 ), and degraded forests (35.44 ± 4.51 t C ha−1 ). Micro climate observations show that intact forests reduce air temperature by up to 7.2°C, enhance relative humidity, and increase soil moisture compared to degraded landscapes. Spatial and statistical analyses reveal a strong inverse relationship between forest cover and disaster occurrence, with higher forested areas experiencing signifcantly fewer food and landslide events (r = −0.87 for foods; r = −0.81 for landslides; p <0.01). Remote sensing results further indicate a 27.6% decline in natural forest cover between 2000 and 2020, largely driven by agricultural expansion. Community surveys show high local awareness of forest-based climate and disaster bufering functions, while institutional analysis reveals gaps in coordination between forestry and disaster management sectors. The study concludes that forest ecosystems in Dawro Zone function as natural infrastructure for climate regulation and DRR. Integrating forest conservation, restoration, and ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) into regional devel opment and climate adaptation policies is essential for enhancing landscape resilience and sustaining ecosystem services.

Ethnoveterinary medicinal plants of Kulbo Forest, Ethiopia: cross-regional comparison and conservation implications

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Ethnoveterinary medicinal plants of Kulbo Forest, Ethiopia: cross-regional comparison and conservation implications Jewar, Jewar; Assefa, Biniam Ethnoveterinary medicine is still the primary livestock healthcare system for forest-dependent communities in southwest Ethiopia, where access to modern veterinary services is limited. Although numerous ethnoveterinary studies have been conducted in Ethiopia, most remain largely descriptive, with limited hypothesis testing, cross-regional comparison, and conservation integration. Kulbo Forest, a moist Afromontane ecosystem in Maji District inhabited mainly by Dizi communities, has not previously been studied from an ethnoveterinary perspective

Morphological and Morphometric Characterization of Indigenous Goat in Their Native Environment in West Omo and Bench-Sheko Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Morphological and Morphometric Characterization of Indigenous Goat in Their Native Environment in West Omo and Bench-Sheko Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia Bayou, Eliyas This study was conducted on Morphological and Morph metric characterization of indigenous goat in West Omo and Bench-Sheko zone of in their native environment. About 660 goats were taken for body measurements of both sexes from 1PPI to 4PPI. Sex, districts and age class effect were considered in this study. The main frequently observed coat color patterns of goats were patchy and plain in Meanit Goldiya and Guraferda area, respectively. The main dominantly observed coat color type were white dominate with black for both sexes in Meanit Goldiya and brown for female and white for male goats were dominantly observed coat color in Guraferda area. Majority of goats had concave head profile in both districts. Body weight of goats increased as the age increased from 1pair of permanent incisor (PPI) to 4 PPI in the studied areas. Body weight and all the body measurements were significantly (P<0.01) affected by age group. Average body weight of males at age of 1PPI, 2PPI, 3PPI and 4PPI were 23.4±0.29, 26.4±0.81, 31.6±0.99 and 34.0±0.55kg, respectively. The corresponding values for female goats were 20.2±0.12, 23.6±0.44, 26.2±0.18and 30.0±0.16kg, respectively. Therefore, the present study suggests that indigenous goat population might possess useful genetic potential for improving productivity under extensive feeding-based production system. Similarly, morphological and phonotypical variations have been observed between the indigenous goat populations; hence a profoundly molecular evaluation is needed to show the level of genetic differentiation and relation between them

Effect of estrus synchronization with prostaglandin (PGF2α) hormone on reproductive performances of Bonga sheep ewes flushed with different local forages in Kaffa zone, Ethiopi

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Effect of estrus synchronization with prostaglandin (PGF2α) hormone on reproductive performances of Bonga sheep ewes flushed with different local forages in Kaffa zone, Ethiopi Begna, REGASSA; Masho, Worku; Bayou, Eliyas This study was conducted in Adiyo and Telo districts of Kaffa zone, aiming to evaluate the performances of Bonga sheep and their response to estrus synchronization flushed with indigenous feeds under different management conditions. Eight representative kebeles were purposively selected based on CBBPs and sheep population presence. From each kebele, the farmers with ewes were registered and 200 respondents were randomly assigned using Kothari, (2004). In the current study LI 9.4 ± 0.18 months, DO 20.2 ± 0.13 days and LS 1.4 ± 0.04 were obtained and LI was shorter (8.5 ± 0.22 months) in CBBP than 10.5 ± 0.28 months in non-participants. The BWT, WWT and 6 MWT were 3.8 ± 0.06, 16.0 ± 0.10 and 27.8 ± 0.33 kg and the values for PrWDG and PoWDG were136.0 gm/day and 133.0 ± 0.02 gm/day respectively. In the experimental study the onset and duration of estrus were 45.9 ± 2, 43.1 ± 2.37 and 48.0 ± 2.61; 45.6 ± 1.55 hours in short and long flushed ewes accordingly. Estrus response, conception, lambing rate and LS were 68, 70.59, 72.22%, 1.38 and 84, 83.3, 90% and 1.42 for short and long flushing sequentially. Flushing with indigenous feeds in long-term flushing presented better results regarding the positive manifestation of estrus, conception lambing rate, liter size and onset, and duration of estrus. Therefore, long term (28 days) flushing was an effective strategy to increase ewes’ reproductive performance. Keywords: Bonga sheep, Ewe flushing, Reproductive performance, Indigenous feed