Plant diversity analysis for conservation of Afromontane vegetation in socio-ecological mountain landscape of Gurage, South Central Ethiopia

The present study was conducted for the conservation and management of vegetation in a socio-ecological mountain landscape through assessment of floristic composition, community types and structure of woody species in the Wabe River catchment of the Gurage Mountains in Ethiopia. The preferential sampling technique was applied to collect floristic and vegetation structure data, and within each plot, woody species diameter at breast height (DBH) was measured. R statistical software was used to analyze the vegetation cluster, diversity and structure. As a result of the heterogeneous nature of the catchment vegetation, the optimum number of six clusters (community types) were identified which were named through high ranked species. The majority of the community types had high diversity indexes and equitability or evenness. Most of the species had lower DBH classes and frequency. Besides, the important value index (IVI) for most of the species showed high value. This information facilitated for sustaining the biodiversity through identification of high plant diversity spot community types to be protected, degraded vegetation areas to be rehabilitated and fragmented vegetation areas to establish ecological connectivity. Further studies on the ecosystem services provided by the vegetation could be important for understanding their value and to advance the planning and management mechanisms.   Key words: Community type, floristic composition, diversity, equitability, structure, important value index (IVI), landscape planning.