Abstract:
ire plays a crucial role in the Ericaceous forest ecology within the World Heritage Site of Simen Mountains
National Park. Objectives of our study were to evaluate the potential of E. arborea epicormic shoot formation
in different tree diameters and heights after forest fire occurred, and investigate establishment of woody
species in the fire affected ericaceous forest. Two 40 m x 40 m sample plots were established, one at a fire
affected site and another at an unaffected site. Within each plot, 1m x 1m subplots were placed at 2 m intervals
along diagonal transects 51 in each site. Experimental treatments (soil scarification, mowing, fire and total
enclosure) were assigned to subplots. A non-parametric t-test for two independent samples of unburned and
burned plots was applied to test the degree of significance. From the crown-fire affected plots 56.3% of the
trees were re-sprouted from the base in the first diameter class (0-4.9 cm). Out of 993.7 individual trees ha-1 in
the second height class (1.5-3 m), 73 % were sprouted. Erica arborea is favoured by fire since re-sprouting of
shoot from the remaining stumps is widespread. Prescribed burns for E. arborea regeneration should consider
in future management p
