POPULATION STATUS AND TRADITIONAL USES OF ADANSONIA DIGITATA L. (AFRICAN BAOBAB) IN QUARA DISTRICT NORTH WEST LOW LAND OF ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Adansonia digitata L. (African baobab) is one of the most important NTFPs in the lowland area. However, currently in the lowland of Ethiopia the species is underutilized. The structure and abundance of the species, the current management and regeneration status of the species as well as its traditional use is not investigated and documented in different parts of the country. This study was conducted in Quara district of West Gondar zone to generate information on the abundance, population structure, management, regeneration status and traditional uses of A.digitata L. for local community. To measure dbh, height and grown diameter of A.digitata L., a total of six plots that measure 1000m*100m and five plots 500m*100m that were selected randomly at the topography map of forest, agricultural and homestead landuse type respectively. About 10 and 5 randomly selected sub-plots that measure 25 X 25 were employed to record name and number of coexisting woody plant species and measure their dbh at the forest and agricultural landuses, respectively. Numbers of regeneration were counted in five sub-sub plots that measure 5 X 5m and placed at each corner and center of the selected sub-plots. To document uses of A.digitata L. in three ethnic groups (Gumuz, Amhara and Agaw) in the study area were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. Totally 101 households and 18 participants were interviewed and discussed using open and closed ended questioners. Diversity of the vegetation was determined using different type of diversity indices. The densities of A.digitata L. in all landuse types were determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The regeneration status of woody plant species were evaluated based on the number of seedlings and saplings per hectare. Quantitative socio-economic data were analyzed using Chisquare

test and qualitative data were summarized through narrations. The result showed that homestead (2.24+ 2.06) and agricultural (1.57+ 1.27) landuse types had higher A.digitata L. density than forest landuse type (0.32 + 0.41) but statically it was not significantly different(P>0.05). A.digitata L. was highly associated with Combretum-Terminalia, Ziziphus and Acacia tree species. Seven main uses of A.digitata L. products (Food, Sale, Medicine, Fiber, Fodder, Soil fertility and Niche for bees) were documented among three ethnic groups in Quara district. In general, there were no more appropriate existed silvicultural management practices and no regeneration of A.digitata L. in the study area.