FLORISTIC COMPOSTION AND STRUCTURE OF HANDOSHE RIVERINE FOREST, SANKURA DISTRICT, SILTIE ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

<strong>Abstract</strong>: This study was conducted in Handoshe Riverine forest, Sankura district, Siltie Zone Southern Ethiopia with the objective to study composition, vegetation structure of Handoshe Riverine forest. A total of 56(20m×20m) systematically arranged sample plots were employed to collect vegetation data.DBH and height of trees and shrubs with DBH&gt;2.5cm were measured and recorded and voucher specimens were collected pressed and brought to the Herbarium of Dilla university and identified and deposited there. R-program version 3.0.2 software and Microsoft Excel spread sheet were used to analyze plant community classification and structural analysis respectively. A total of 78 species representing 69genera and 34 families were recorded from the 56 sample plots in the forest. Fabaceae was the dominant family followed by Asteraceae. Five community types were identified by using the synaptic value of each species in the each plot. Those were Podocarpus falcatus –Acacia siberiana community;.Ekebergia capensis Zanthoxylum chalybeum community; Syzygium guineense –Prunus africana community; Ficus vasta-Millettia ferruginea community; Celtis Africana Croton macrostachyus community. The total density of trees and shrubs with DBH&gt;2.5cm was 815individuals ha-1. Species with the highest density were Syzygium guineense and Podocarpus falcatus respectively. The DBH and height class distribution of individuals in the forest shows inverted J-shaped pattern which indicates good reproduction and regeneration potential. The most frequently observed species in the study area was Celtis africana with62.5 % occurrence. The total basal area of the trees and shrubs of the forest was 56.68m2ha-1. Ficus vasta contribute 33.89 % of the total basal area. The composition of seedling, sapling, and adult tree/shrubs of the forest were 1728individuals ha-1, 2136individuals ha-1and 815 individuals ha-1 respectively. DBH profile and regeneration status result indicated that the forest is under anthropogenic disturbance. Therefore; raising xii community awareness on the conservation and sustainable use of the forest was recommended on this study.