Soil Seed Bank and Seedlings Bank Composition and Diversity of Wondo Genet Moist Afromontane Forest South Central Ethiopia

Wondo Genet Afromontane forest is one of the few remnant forests in the country. However, it is experiencing deforestation and fragmentation that limits restoration possibilities. The soil seed and seedling banks of the this forest were studied to better understand the potential contribution of the soil seed and seedling banks to the natural regeneration and generate information that would assist in selecting appropriate rehabilitation and restoration activities. A total of 75 (20x20 m) quadrats were sampled. Diameter at breast height ≥2 cm and stem height ≥2 m were measured for all woody species encountered and the number of seedlings and saplings were counted. Elevation, slope and aspect were also recorded. At the center of each quadrat, a 10x10 cm plot was marked and three separate soil layers were collected and incubated in a glasshouse for 12 months. Data was analyzed using a combination of analytical methods, such as descriptive statistics, correlation of environmental variables with seedling density using R-Software and ordination techniques using software for Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data (PC-ORD). A total of 72 woody species from standing vegetation and 60 plant species from incubated soil seed bank were identified. Seedling and sapling density of 1,330 and 917 ha-1, respectively, were recorded. While seedling density was positively correlated with tree density (r = 0.4248, p<0.001), a negative relationship was observed with elevation (r = -0.3772, p<0.001). Elevation explained 51.21% and slope 24.4% of the variation in regeneration abundance. Wondo Genet forest exhibits a deficiency of seedling and soil seed bank warranting assisted regeneration and reduction of anthropogenic disturbances to allow natural regeneration.