DOCSLIB.ORG

Download the Full Paper

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Download the Full Paper J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2021 Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) ISSN: 2220-6663 (Print) 2222-3045 (Online) Vol. 18, No. 6, p. 18-28, 2021 http://www.innspub.net RESEARCH PAPER OPEN ACCESS Identification and pharmacological properties of coastal plants from Barangay Diguisit, Baler, Aurora Zedrick A. Ventura1, Diana C. Castillo*2,3, Evaristo A. Abella2,3 1Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Central Luzon State University, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines 2Faculty, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Central Luzon State University, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines 3Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, Interactive Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Central Luzon State University, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines Article published on June 30, 2021 Key words: Coastal plants, Pharmacological properties, Antibacterial properties, Antioxidant activities Abstract This study was conducted to screen the pharmacological properties of the different coastal plants located along coastal areas of Diguisit, Baler, Aurora. Six coastal plants were collected and were identified as Dracaena fragrans, Pueraria montana var. lobata, Sphagneticola trilobata, Urticaceae, Nephrolepis cordifolia, and Pandanaceae. Ethanol extracts of plants were evaluated for antibacterial properties against S. aureus and E. coli using disc diffusion method. Positive results were revealed in S. aureus both in 24 and 48 hours as zones of inhibitions were manifested. S. trilobata and P. montana var. lobata has the largest zone of inhibition. On the other hand, only the P. montana var. lobata, S. trilobata, and Urticaceae showed positive result against E.coli at 24 hours. At the 48th hour of incubation, a decrease in zones of inhibition was observed. Antioxidant activity assay was evaluated in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), trolox equivalent. All of the coastal plants collected showed antioxidant activity; Pandanaceae and S. trilobata were recorded with the highest antioxidant activity. The results in test for antibacterial properties and antioxidant activities suggested that the coastal plants collected had the potential for pharmacological properties. *Corresponding Author: Diana C. Castillo [email protected] 18 | Ventura et al. J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2021 Introduction leaf parts of the plants were collected by handpicking Higher plants have been described as chemical before assaying. The leaves were rinsed with water factories that are capable of synthesizing unlimited and placed in a clean, separate, and sealed plastic number of highly complex and unusual chemical bags until extraction process. substances. The World Health Organization (2004) estimated that 80% of the people in developing For the samples needed for authentication, vegetative countries of the world rely on traditional medicine for and reproductive part of the plants were collected and their primary health care needs, and about 85% of instantly washed with ethyl alcohol before placing in traditional medicine involves the use of plant extracts. clean plastic bags. This means that about 3.5 to 4 billion people in the world rely on plants as sources of drugs. Plant Extraction Pharmacology, by definition, is the branch Plant samples were cut into small pieces for air-drying of biology concerned with the study of drug action and were powderized. Ethanolic extraction and which exerts a biochemical or physiological effect on concentration using rotary evaporation was done in the the cell, tissue, organ, or organism (Vallance & Smart, Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division, Philippine 2006). If substances have medicinal properties, they Rice Research Institute, Nueva Ecija. The extracts are considered pharmaceuticals (Finkel et al., 2009). obtained were stored in a refrigerator until use. The Philippines is high in terms of plant diversity that Evaluation of Antibacterial Property an estimated 30-40% of these plants is endemic to the Test Microorganisms country and found nowhere else in the world The pure culture of the gram positive Staphylococcus (Amoroso, 2012). The municipality of Baler in Aurora aureus and the gram negative Escherichia coli is present with coastal areas. Beaches in Baler, Aurora bacteria were provided by the Department of were abundantly rearing with different coastal plants Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, growing along the shore and rock formations. Central Luzon State University. The Philippine Government RA No. 8423 or the Preparation of Bacterial Suspension “Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of Ten milliliters of nutrient broth (NB) was prepared 1997” was declared and stated to improve the quality and dispensed into test tubes and sterilized on an and delivery of health care services to the Filipino autoclave at 121°C, 15 psi for 15 mins. A loopful of the people. One of the objectives is to promote and two bacteria was inoculated on the prepared nutrient advocate the use of traditional, alternative, preventive broth. The suspension was then incubated at sanitize and curative health care modalities that have been room temperature for 6 hours before adjusting the proven safe, effective, cost effective and consistent turbidity using 0.5mcFarland Turbidity Standard. with government standards on medical practice. This study of the different coastal plants located along the Preparation of Culture Media beaches of Barangay Diguisit, Baler, Aurora was The Mueller-Hinton Agar (MHA) was prepared based evaluated for its pharmacological properties through antibacterial properties and antioxidant analysis. on the instruction given. The MH agar powder was boiled in distilled water until totally dissolved in a Materials and methods flask. It was sterilized in an autoclave at 121°C, 15 psi Plant Materials for 15 mins, then cooled in a water bath at 45-50°C. Different coastal plants from Diguisit, Baler, Aurora Twenty milliliters of the prepared medium was were collected and authenticated. For the samples aseptically pour plated into sterilized petri plates in a needed for extraction, the healthy and undamaged clean and sanitize chamber. 19 | Ventura et al. J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2021 Antibacterial Activity Assay Table 1. Collection site of the collected coastal plants. Antibacterial activity was tested by disc diffusion Collection Sites Treatments Total method in which sterilized 6mm filter paper disc was 1 2 3 4 5 Dracaena ✓ 2 ✓ used. About 100 µL of the bacteria was pipetted into fragrans Pueraria montana ✓ ✓ 3 the media and swabbed with sterile cotton swabs. ✓ var. lobata Furthermore, the filter paper discs were soaked with Sphagneticola 1 ✓ 0.01mL of the streptomycin, ethanol, and the trilobata Urticaceae ✓ ✓ 2 different ethanol plant extracts. Streptomycin and the Nephrolepis ✓ 1 ethanol solvent were used as the positive and negative cordifolia Pandanaceae ✓ 1 control, respectively. Plates were incubated at room temperature (37ºC) for 24 and 48 hours. Antioxidant Activity Assay The plant extract samples were analyzed in Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines for the determination of their antioxidant properties in terms of DPPH Radical Scavenging Assay in trolox equivalent. Results and discussion Coastal Plant Collection Sites Fig. 1 showed the map of the coordinates of the collection sites of the coastal plants. Five 10 x 10 m Fig. 2. Collection sites of the coastal plants; (A) quadrat were laid in the area in the coast of Barangay Collection site 1, (B) Collection site 2, (C) Collection Diguisit, Baler, Aurora. Table 1 showed the coastal site 3, (D) Collection site 4, and (E) Collection site 5. plants and the collection sites where they can be found growing. Some of the plants can also be found Collection site 2 has a sandy-soil substratum wherein growing in other collection sites (Fig. 2). S. trilobata invades most of the area along with the Urticaceae that grows in the area. The 3rd collection site was an area of sand substratum with vastly growing Pandanaceae along with palms and trees. The 4th collection site was located near a waterfall Fig. 1. Map of the coordinates of the collection sites with large boulders of rocks. P. montana var. lobata of coastal plants; (A) Collection site 1, (B) Collection was found creeping in this area. It was a soil-rocky site 2, (C) Collection site 3, (D) Collection site 4, (E) substratum and located about 3 m from the water at Collection site 5. the coast. Collection site 1 was an area of a rocky-soil and sand Collection site 5 was located in a more elevated area. substratum located about 4 m from the water. D. The plants collected in this area were N. cordifolia, D. fragrans, P. montana var. lobata and Urticaceae fragrans, Pandanaceae, P. montana var. lobata, and were collected in this area. some trees. 20 | Ventura et al. J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2021 Authentication of Coastal Plants Stems may reach up to 30cm diameter on old plants. A total of 6 coastal plants belonging to 6 families, 4 The leaves are glossy green, lanceolate, 20–150cm long genera, 4 species and 1 variety were collected and and 2–12cm wide; small leaves are erect to spreading, recorded from the coastal areas of Barangay Diguisit, and larger leaves usually drooping under their weight Baler, Aurora. These were Cornstalk Dracaena (Huxley, 1992). The flowers are produced (Dracaena fragrans), East Asian Arrowroot in panicles 15–160cm
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Dissertation Submitted for Partial Fulfillment Of
    DIVERSITY OF NATURALIZED PLANT SPECIES ACROSS LAND USE TYPES IN MAKWANPUR DISTRICT, CENTRAL NEPAL A Dissertation Submitted for Partial Fulfillment of the Requirmentment for the Master‟s Degree in Botany, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal Submitted by Bhawani Nyaupane Exam Roll No.:107/071 Batch: 2071/73 T.U Reg. No.: 5-2-49-10-2010 Ecology and Resource Management Unit Central Department of Botany Institute of Science and Technology Tribhuvan University Kirtipur, Kathamndu, Nepal May, 2019 RECOMMENDATION This is to certify that the dissertation work entitled “DIVERSITY OF NATURALIZED PLANT ACROSS LAND USE TYPES IN MAKWANPUR DISTRICT, CENTRAL NEPAL” has been submitted by Ms. Bhawani Nyaupane under my supervision. The entire work is accomplished on the basis of Candidate‘s original research work. As per my knowledge, the work has not been submitted to any other academic degree. It is hereby recommended for acceptance of this dissertation as a partial fulfillment of the requirement of Master‘s Degree in Botany at Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University. ………………………… Supervisor Dr. Bharat Babu Shrestha Associate Professor Central Department of Botany TU, Kathmandu, Nepal. Date: 17th May, 2019 ii LETTER OF APPROVAL The M.Sc. dissertation entitled “DIVERSITY OF NATURALIZED PLANT SPECIES ACROSS LAND USE TYPES IN MAKWANPUR DISTRICT, CENTRAL NEPAL” submitted at the Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University by Ms. Bhawani Nyaupane has been accepted as a partial fulfillment of the requirement of Master‘s Degree in Botany (Ecology and Resource Management Unit). EXAMINATION COMMITTEE ………………………. ……………………. External Examiner Internal Examiner Dr. Rashila Deshar Dr. Anjana Devkota Assistant Professor Associate Professor Central Department of Environmental Science Central Department of Botany TU, Kathmandu, Nepal.
    [Show full text]
  • Molecular Phylogenetics and Character Evolution of Cannabaceae
    TAXON 62 (3) • June 2013: 473–485 Yang & al. • Phylogenetics and character evolution of Cannabaceae Molecular phylogenetics and character evolution of Cannabaceae Mei-Qing Yang,1,2,3 Robin van Velzen,4,5 Freek T. Bakker,4 Ali Sattarian,6 De-Zhu Li1,2 & Ting-Shuang Yi1,2 1 Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Biogeography, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, P.R. China 2 Plant Germplasm and Genomics Center, Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, P.R. China 3 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, P.R. China 4 Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands 5 Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands 6 Department of Natural Resources, Gonbad University, Gonbad Kavous 4971799151, Iran Authors for correspondence: Ting-Shuang Yi, [email protected]; De-Zhu Li, [email protected] Abstract Cannabaceae includes ten genera that are widely distributed in tropical to temperate regions of the world. Because of limited taxon and character sampling in previous studies, intergeneric phylogenetic relationships within this family have been poorly resolved. We conducted a molecular phylogenetic study based on four plastid loci (atpB-rbcL, rbcL, rps16, trnL-trnF) from 36 ingroup taxa, representing all ten recognized Cannabaceae genera, and six related taxa as outgroups. The molecular results strongly supported this expanded family to be a monophyletic group. All genera were monophyletic except for Trema, which was paraphyletic with respect to Parasponia. The Aphananthe clade was sister to all other Cannabaceae, and the other genera formed a strongly supported clade further resolved into a Lozanella clade, a Gironniera clade, and a trichotomy formed by the remaining genera.
    [Show full text]
  • Floristic Diversity of Vascular Plants in Gyasumbdo Valley, Lower Manang, Central Nepal
    2019J. Pl. Res. Vol. 17, No. 1, pp 42-57, 2019 Journal of Plant Resources Vol.17, No. 1 Floristic Diversity of Vascular Plants in Gyasumbdo Valley, Lower Manang, Central Nepal Pratikshya Chalise1*, Yagya Raj Paneru2 and Suresh Kumar Ghimire2 1 Department of Plant Resources , Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal 2Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal *Email: [email protected] Abstract The study documented a total of 490 vascular plant species belonging to 288 genera and 92 families, including 50 species of ferns and fern allies, 10 species of gymnosperms and 430 species of angiosperms from the Gyasuvmbdo valley of Manang district. Asteraceae with 21 genera and 40 species was found to be the largest family, followed by Ranunculaceae (8 genera, 28 species), Rosaceae (13 genera, 23 species), Orchidaceae (18 genera, 23 species), Apiaceae (13 genera, 18 species), Pteridaceae (10 genera, 17 species) and Lamiaceae (13 genera, 17 species). Thalictrum was found to the largest genera with 11 species, which was followed by Pedicularis (9), Carex, Saxifraga, Primula with eight species each. The rich flora of Gyasumbdo valley reflects that the valley serves as a meeting place for both western and eastern Himalayan floristic elements. Keywords: Checklist, Compositae, Enumeration, Flora Introduction status and provide effective management strategies for the particular vegetation type (Sahu & Dhal, Biodiversity is the variation of life at different levels 2012). The results of such floristic works mostly of biological organizations. Thus, it includes come in the form of floras (Palmer et al., 1995) which diversity within species and between species and may be local, regional, country-wise and so on or ecosystems (Chaudhary,1998).
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring Patterns of Phytodiversity, Ethnobotany, Plant Geography and Vegetation in the Mountains of Miandam, Swat, Northern Pakistan
    EXPLORING PATTERNS OF PHYTODIVERSITY, ETHNOBOTANY, PLANT GEOGRAPHY AND VEGETATION IN THE MOUNTAINS OF MIANDAM, SWAT, NORTHERN PAKISTAN BY Naveed Akhtar M. Phil. Born in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Academic Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the Georg-August-University School of Science (GAUSS) under Faculty of Biology Program Biodiversity and Ecology Georg-August-University of Göttingen Göttingen, 2014 ZENTRUM FÜR BIODIVERSITÄT UND NACHHALTIGE LANDNUTZUNG SEKTION BIODIVERSITÄT, ÖKOLOGIE UND NATURSCHUTZ EXPLORING PATTERNS OF PHYTODIVERSITY, ETHNOBOTANY, PLANT GEOGRAPHY AND VEGETATION IN THE MOUNTAINS OF MIANDAM, SWAT, NORTHERN PAKISTAN Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultäten der Georg-August-Universität Göttingen Vorgelegt von M.Phil. Naveed Akhtar aus Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Göttingen, 2014 WHEN WE ARE FIVE AND THE APPLES ARE FOUR MY MOTHER SAYS “I DO NOT LIKE APPLES” DEDICATED TO My Mother Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Erwin Bergmeier Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute ofPlant Sciences Department of Vegetation & Phytodiversity Analysis Georg-August-University of Göttingen Untere Karspüle 2 37073, Göttingen, Germany Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dirk Hölscher Department of Tropical Silviculture & Forest Ecology Georg-August-University of Göttingen Büsgenweg 1 37077, Göttingen, Germany Table of Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Tamuniyah, January to June 2000 Jabel Tallan, January to June 2000
    Tamuniyah, January to June 2000 TN2(2520m) ％ TN1(2505m) Maximum Average Minimum ％ 100 100 80 80 60 60 40 40 Relative Humidity Relative 20 20 0 0 January February March April May June January February March April May June 2000 2000 Fig. 1-35. Daily maximum, daily average, and daily minimum relative humidity in Tamniyah from January to June 2000 JabalJabel Tallan, Tallan, Januar Januaryy to toJune June 2000 2000 ％ Jabel Tallan(2100m) Maximum Average Minimum 100 80 60 40 Relative Humidity Relative 20 0 January February March April May June 2000 Fig. 1-36. Daily maximum, daily average, and daily minimum relative humidity in Jabal Tallan from January to June 2000 Tamuniyah, July to December 2000 ％ TN1(2505m) Maximum Average Minimum ％ TN2(2520m) 100 100 80 80 60 60 40 40 Relative Humidity 20 20 0 0 July August September October November December July August September October November December 2000 2000 Fig. 1-37. Daily maximum, daily average, and daily minimum relative humidity in Tamniyah from July to December 2000 JabelJabal Tallan,Tallan, JulyJuly toto December December 2000 2000 ％ Jabel Tallan(2100m) Maximum Average Minimum 100 80 60 40 Relative Humidity 20 0 July August September October November December 2000 Fig. 1-38. Daily maximum, daily average, and daily minimum relative humidity in Jabal Tallan from July to December 2000 37 Tamuniyah, January to June 2001 ％ TN1(2505m) Maximum Average Minimum ％ TN2(2520m) 100 100 80 80 60 60 40 40 Relative Humidity 20 20 0 0 January February March April May June January February March April May June 2001 2001 Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • Nature Detectives E-Book – – the Project Was Co-Financed by the EU (Erasmus+) Agreement Number: 2015-1-PLO1-KA219-017195
    Nature Detectives E-book – – The project was co-financed by the EU (Erasmus+) Agreement number: 2015-1-PLO1-KA219-017195 1 Nature Detectives E-book – – The project was co-financed by the EU (Erasmus+) Agreement number: 2015-1-PLO1-KA219-017195 Content 1. About us .......................................................................................................................................... 6 2. Description of the project ............................................................................................................... 7 3. Biodiversity ...................................................................................................................................... 9 4. Invasive species ............................................................................................................................. 11 a) Poland ........................................................................................................................................ 11 1. Niecierpek gruczołowaty (Impatiens glandulifera) ............................................................... 11 2. Rdestowiec ostrokończysty (Reynoutria japonica) ............................................................... 11 3. Barszcz Sosnowskiego (Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.) .................................................... 12 4. Kolczurka klapowana (Echinocystis lobata) ........................................................................... 12 5. Sumak octowiec (Rhus typhina) ...........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • WHEAT Tacrt1 CONTRIBUTES to DROUGHT TOLERANCE
    Pak. J. Bot., 50(3): 1093-1112, 2018. CLIMATIC AND FLOWERING PHENOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS OF WESTERN HIMALAYAN FLORA OF MUZAFFARABAD DISTRICT, AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR, PAKISTAN ARSHAD MAHMOOD KHAN1, RAHMATULLAH QURESHI1.*, MUHAMMAD ARSHAD1 AND S. N. MIRZA2 1Department of Botany, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan 2Department of Forestry and Range Management, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan *Corresponding author’s email: [email protected] Abstract Anthropogenic climate change is influencing many aspects of biodiversity hotspot of the western Himalaya. Muzaffarabad district as part of western Himalayan is a strongly seasonal area, thus studies on interrelationship of timing of phenological periodic events and climatic seasonality is of obvious significance. A first ever detailedeco-taxonomical field survey of the whole district was conducted to explore floral diversity, plant habit associated with microhabitats. Timing of flowering response of species within the different months was also recorded during two consective years (2014-16) and flowering phonological data was stored as binary data matrix. The influence of studied climatic variables on the flowering phenological response was tested through canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). A total of 748 vascular plants (740 species, 3 sub-species, 5 varieties) belonged to 490 genera and 120 plant families were recorded including 77 species as new to the study area. The leading plant family was Compositae (69 spp., 9.22%), followed by Poaceae (57 spp., 7.62%), Leguminosae (54 spp., 7.22%), Lamiaceae (42 spp., 5.61%) and Rosaceae (29 spp., 3.88%); while the leading genus was Euphorbia (10 spp.), followed by Cyperus, Ficus, Geranium and Prunus (7spp.
    [Show full text]
  • Check List 8(3): 321-348, 2012 © 2012 Check List and Authors Chec List ISSN 1809-127X (Available at Journal of Species Lists and Distribution
    Check List 8(3): 321-348, 2012 © 2012 Check List and Authors Chec List ISSN 1809-127X (available at www.checklist.org.br) Journal of species lists and distribution Vascular plants, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India PECIES S Amit Chawla 1*, Om Parkash 1, Varun Sharma 2, S. Rajkumar 3, Brij Lal 1, Gopichand 1, R.D. Singh 1 and OF A.K. Thukral ISTS 4 L Pradesh, India 176 061. 1 Biodiversity Division, CSIR - Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Palampur, Himachal 3 NRC in DNA Fingerprinting, B202, NBPGR, IARI, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, India 110 012 2 Nature India Eco Solutions, #14, Thakker’s Pride, Opposite Siddharth Hotel, Nashik-Pune Road, Nashik, India 422 011. * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] 4 Guru Nanak Dev University, Department of Botanical & Environmental Sciences. Amritsar, India 143 005 Abstract: In the present study, we provide a checklist of the vascular plants of Kinnaur district situated in the Himachal Pradesh state of India in the western Himalaya. This checklist includes 893 taxa (viz., species, subspecies and varieties) of pteridophytes. Information about the growth habit, threat and endemicity status is also provided. Our results show thatbelonging family to Compositae 881 species is of by angiosperms far the most and species gymnosperms rich family distributed with 122 among species, 102 followed families by and Poaceae 433 genera, (69), Rosaceaeand 30 species (58), Artemisia is the most diverse genus with 19 species, followed by Potentilla Saussurea (13), Polygonum (11), Astragalus (10), Lonicera (10) and Nepeta (10). Similar to other regions Leguminosae (49) and Lamiaceae (38).
    [Show full text]
  • Importance of Teaching and Practices of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Forest Biodiversity Conservation: Implications for National Conservation Policy
    Importance of teaching and practices of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in forest biodiversity conservation: Implications for national conservation policy Abate Gobena Supervisors: Eugene E. Ezebilo, National Research Institute, Papua New Guinea Vilis Brukas, SLU Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre Examiner: Eric Agestam, SLU Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Master Thesis no. 290 Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre Alnarp 2018 Importance of teaching and practices of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in forest biodiversity conservation: Implications for national conservation policy Abate Gobena Supervisors: Eugene E. Ezebilo, National Research Institute, Papua New Guinea Vilis Brukas, SLU Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre Examiner: Eric Agestam, SLU Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Master Thesis no. 290 Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre Alnarp 2018 Master thesis in Forest Management Advanced Level (A2E), SLU course code EX0630, 30 ECTS Abstract In Ethiopia, natural forests and woodlands cover only 12.3 million hectares, of which the remaining closed natural forests are 4.12 million hectares or 3.37%. Between 1990 and 2005, Ethiopia lost over 2 million ha of its forests with an average annual loss of 140,000 ha. amidst of the successive wave of deforestation and depletion, however, unique and valuable natural forest remnants survived in and around churchyards and monasteries of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC). EOTC is one of the oldest Christian churches with about 50 million followers, of which 450,000 clergy serving in about 40,000 parish Churches and 2,000 monasteries distributed all over Ethiopia. The Church, through its immense contributions, has influenced and shaped what is believed today to be the Ethiopian culture, which can be exhibited from literature, architecture, art, music, environment and medicinal heritages.
    [Show full text]