Assisted natural regeneration of selected tree species through silviculture interventions as a tool for restoring degraded natural forests in northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Natural forest ecosystem assets and services are increasingly deteriorating due to forest degradation and deforestation in Northern parts of Ethiopia. Enhancing the natural regeneration status of native tree species through different silviculture practices is highly Forest regeneration method recommended. Thus, this study aims to investigate the role of different silvicultural interventions in enhancing the regeneration condition of selected ecological and economical important tree species. Three natural forests stands from different agro-ecologies were chosen and three silvicultural treatments including Fencing, Fence + hoeing, Fence + gap creation, and control (without any intervention) with 400 m2 plot areas established with three replications and randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a total of 36 plots. In each plot, seedling, and saplings under different mod of regeneration were recorded while height and diameter at breast height were measured and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics using R version 4.1. There was a significant difference (p