WOODY PLANT SPECIES COMPOSITION, DIVERSITY, AND STRUCTURE IN BORENA SAYNT WOREHIMENO NATIONAL PARK,NORTHERN ETHIOPIA

<strong>ABSTRACT</strong>: The natural forest of Borena saynt worehimeno national park was studied to determine the composition and population structure of woody species in the Park. Systematic sampling method was used to collect data for woody plant species. Structural analysis was carried out on the basis of diversity, DBH, height, frequency, and basal area per hectare. The composition and population structure of woody species, with diameter at breast height (DBH) &gt;2.5 cm and height&gt;2 was assessed in 98 sample plots of 400 m2 each. A total of 93 plant species belonging to 78 genera and 54 families of vascular plants were recorded, in which Family Fabaceae and Asteraceae represented by 6 species followed by Rosaceae 5 species, Moraceae, Myrsinaceae and Celastraceae each represented by 4 species. Sapindaceae was found to be the most frequent family followed by Oleaceae and Rutaceae because of the people found around the park believe as the park is the home of hidden saints and such trees like Allophyllus abyssinicus, Dodonaea angustifolia Olea europaea subsp cuspidata, Olinia rochetiana and Teclea nobilis, used as food and shelter for hidden saints found in the park and then they thought for their children as some body cut such trees he/she bring curse from hidden saints. Dueto this reason such plant families get the chance to be the most frequented species in this study area. On the other hand, Myrsine africana, Psydrax schimperiana, and Ficus thonningii have the least frequency. That is because of Ficus thonningii is needed by Ethiopian orthodox tewahido church for making religions material of “kebero” and Myrsine africana, Psydrax schimperiana are the best flammable fire wood and the people focus on these trees to use for firewood. Such trees species faced for to have least frequency in the Parkwood plant species in Borena saynt worehimeno national park. Podocarpus falcatus, Apodytes dimidiata, Olea europaea subsp cuspidata, and Allophyllus abyssinicus are the most important plant species in Borena saynt worehimeno national park for their largest contribution in BA and IVI. Overall, Shannon-Wiener diversity and evenness of woody species in Borena saynt worehimeno national park was 3.71 and 0.82, respectively. The density for trees and shrubs with DBH &gt;2.5 cm was 3293 individuals per hectare, and the basal area of the study area was 182 m2 per hectare. This forest is of national and international conservation importance given its high biodiversity. Managing the remaining forest would be an appropriate option for sustainable management of biodiversity.