Diversity of Shade Tree Species and Carbon Stock in Smallholder Coffee-Based Agroforestry System in Southwest Ethiopia

Coffee agroecosystems are essential for preserving woody species diversity and sequestering carbon. In a smallholder coffee-based agroforestry system, various shade tree species were identified, and the carbon stock was measured along an altitude gradient in the Gomma district. Two villages were selected randomly from each category after the elevation gradients were separated into upper, middle, and lower categories. Sixty sample plots with a coffee-based agroforestry system were used to gather soil samples and data on the number, diameter, and height of various shade tree species. According to the results, a total of 24 species of shade trees belonging to 17 families were found, and the diversity of tree species was higher at lower elevations (2 Å} 0.04), medium at middle elevations (1.73 Å} 0.029), and lower at upper elevations (1.63 Å} 0.02), according to the elevation categories. Coffee-based agroforestry systems are crucial for preserving wood species diversity and carbon sequestration at the farmer level in the Gomma district. Cite this article as: Deresu Wariyo, Z., Estifanos, S., & Derero, A. (2025). Diversity of shade tree species and carbon stock in smallholder coffee-based agroforestry system in Southwest Ethiopia. Forestist, 75, 0088, doi: 10.5152/forestist.2025.23088.