Diversity of woody species in homestead agroforestry practices in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Homestead agroforestry is a cornerstone of traditional farming systems in Ethiopia, significantly contributing to both livelihoods and biodiversity. While similar practices have been studied elsewhere, findings are often context-dependent. Therefore, this study was initiated to reveal the contribution of homestead agroforestry practices to woody species conservation in the Amhara Regional State. A multistage random sampling design was employed, in which 300 smallholder farmers were randomly selected from six Kebeles. The Six kebeles, Mankusa, Jiga, Chimt, Chertekel, Gedo, and Geshober, from three districts of Gozamen, Gubalafto and Jabitehnan that practiced homestead agroforestry, were selected for the assessment. Woody species diversity assessment was conducted using a total of 300 sampling plots (one 20 × 20 m plot per household) established directly within the managed homestead areas. Individual woody species were identified and counted based on their respective species classification. A total of 45 woody species belonging to 27 families were identified, of which 71.1% were both indigenous and endemic. The species composition results, analyzed using agglomerative hierarchical clustering based on Sørensen similarity index, revealed that Chertekel and Chimt kebeles grouped together, suggesting they possess relatively similar woody species compositions distinct from other kebeles. Statistical analysis indicated that the Shannon diversity index, species richness, and evenness were significantly different among the sites (P < 0.0001). These findings demonstrate that homestead agroforestry systems function as critical in-situ gene banks and reservoirs for indigenous woody species. The high prevalence of indigenous flora suggests these managed landscapes are essential for sustainable agricultural resilience. Future research should prioritize the biological functional traits of dominant species to better quantify their specific contributions to ecosystem services, such as soil fertility and pollinator support.