Landscape vegetation change and woody species diversity in agroforestry systems of Central Ethiopia

The study examined land use/land cover change on woody vegetation diversity status and farmers woody species management activities at Silti district in central Ethiopian. Land use/land cover dynamics were assessed using GIS techniques on 2015 and 2020 satellite images. purposive sampling was used to select Kebeles (Ajra, Toto Zogare, and Agode Lubrera) and villages in the study area. Stratified proportional sampling was used for wealth status stratification of households to select 100 households for questionnaire survey and 54 households for woody species inventory in 20 × 20 m sample plots. From 9254 ha (24.0%) to 4620 ha (12.0%) shrubland saw a dramatic decline. The standard deviation showed significant rising spatial heterogeneity in vegetation condition from 0.101 in 2015 to 0.137 in 2020.A total of 22 woody species representing 16 families and 19 genera were recorded, and Myrtaceae, Rutaceae, and Fabaceae were the most dominant families in the study area. There were significant differences in mean woody species richness, abundance, evenness, and Simpson and Shannon diversity indices among Kebeles and between wealth status ( p < 0.05). The mean Shannon diversity index was 1.94, 2.21, and 2.22 on Ajra, Toto Zogare, and Agode Lubrera Kebele, respectively. Catha edulis species was the most abundant ( n = 454) and the most frequently occurred ( n = 51) in the study area. Most farmers applied compost, pruning, and mulching to manage agroforestry system. Given the lower diversity and composition observed, farmers should plant more and various multipurpose tree species in the study area.