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Forest Structure and Composition Changes in a Tropical Montane

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Forest Structure and Composition Changes in a Tropical Montane AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Theresa Ramona Arechiga for the degree of Master of Science in Forest Resources presented on January 2, 2014. Title: Forest Structure and Composition Changes in a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest Surrounding an Illegal Village in Bale Mountains National Park: Anthropogenic Disturbance along Forest Resource Trails and Implications for Conservation and Management Strategies Abstract approved: John D. Bailey Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP) is currently considered the most important conservation area in Ethiopia. BMNP was established over forty years ago to protect Ethiopian endemic fauna and to preserve an array of habitat types including Afroalpine, Afromontane, and the second largest natural humid forest (Harenna forest) left in Ethiopia. In the 1980’s and 1990’s assertions of a potential seasonal tropical montane cloud forest were made concerning areas in the upper Harenna forest. Despite these claims no additional evidence or research has been provided to verify the presence of a tropical montane cloud forest. Since the initial claims BMNP has faced increasing human and livestock population growth throughout the park including the elevation belt believed to contain the tropical montane cloud forest. This observational study was undertaken in Rira, the largest permanent village in the 2700 m to 3200 m above sea level belt. There were two goals to this research: one, to document rainfall amounts, temperature averages, and provide evidence of forest structure and characteristics consistent with tropical montane cloud forests; second, to identify the strongest detectible gradients affecting current forest structure and composition of herbaceous, shrub, and tree communities. A stationary weather station was installed at BMNP Subheadquarters at 2800 m to collect pertinent weather data. Variable-radius plots and fixed area plots were used along forest resource trails to collect the vegetation data. Nonmetric Multi-dimensional Scaling (NMS) was used to identify important gradients affecting forest structure and composition in the forest surrounding Rira. The vegetation matrix consisted of percent cover for the herbaceous layer, basal area and count for shrubs, basal area and size classification information for the trees, which resulted in a 15 plot x 96 species matrix. Twenty-three environmental and anthropogenic variables were used in a second matrix to identify primary gradients influencing the vegetation structure and composition. Average monthly rainfall in Rira was 673 mm based on 18 months of rainfall data. The overall forest canopy height and physical characteristics are consistent with tropical montane cloud forests. These findings suggest that the upper portion of the Harenna forest should be officially classified as tropical montane cloud forest. The primary gradient affecting forest structure and composition was consistent with anthropogenic disturbance. The variables which were statistically significant covariates included herbaceous layer height, distance to village, and presence of fuel wood collection with Pearson’s r (13) = -0.86, -0.84, 0.82, p<0.05 respectively. Due to the small sample size additional studies are required to clarify and understand the anthropogenic disturbance trends identified in this research. Studies concerning weather and to verify the role the Harenna forest plays in moderating moisture outflow to surrounding lowlands areas could provide additional incentives for conservation and management strategies. © Copyright by Theresa Ramona Arechiga January 2, 2014 All Rights Reserved Forest Structure and Composition Changes in a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest Surrounding an Illegal Village in Bale Mountains National Park: Anthropogenic Disturbance along Forest Resource Trails and Implications for Conservation and Management Strategies by Theresa Ramona Arechiga A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Presented January 2, 2014 Commencement June 2014 Master of Science thesis of Theresa Ramona Arechiga Presented on January 2, 2014. APPROVED: Major Professor, representing Forest Resources Head of the Department of Forest Engineering, Resource, and Management Dean of the Graduate School I understand that my thesis will become part of the permanent collection of the Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my thesis to any reader upon request. Theresa Ramona Arechiga, Author ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work would not have been possible without the help, support, and encouragement of my husband, Tracy Hruska. He jumped on board with me to join Peace Corps and their Master’s International program. He spent half a year out in the clouds and rain collecting data for my research. There are no words to convey my appreciation for all that you have done and continue to do for me. This research would not have occurred without Dr. John Bailey’s belief in my skills and abilities to be Oregon State University’s first PCMI student. His incredible personal and professional support has been integral to my success. I am lucky to consider him both a friend and mentor. My deep appreciation goes to Dr. Dave Hibbs who provided considerable guidance during the process of finalizing my data analysis and thesis direction. He continued to challenge me to rely on the skills I have developed at OSU. Dr. Badege Bishaw’s insights into Ethiopian forestry and his continued efforts to connect me to relevant Ethiopian researchers was invaluable. Additional thanks to Dr. Bruce McCune who’s multivariate course provided a clear path for my data analysis. His thoughtful advice on preliminary analysis was critical in developing a deeper understanding of my data and multivariate analysis techniques. While at Oregon State I have met colleagues who have helped me become a better researcher and writer. I am lucky to call Emily Comfort, Lauren Magalska, and Chris Dunn friends. They have all helped provide me with support while I was at OSU and in Ethiopia. The relationships have enriched both my research and life. Thank you. In Ethiopia I counted on my fellow PCMI volunteers for moral support and resources, and research ideas. Brian Barbre, Carl Reeder, and Derek Lowstuter I don’t know what I would have done without your friendship and support. I count myself lucky to have served as a volunteer with you three. MYDs. Lastly, this research would not have been possible without the support of the United States Peace Corps and my Peace Corps partner organizations the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority and Frankfurt Zoological Society. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER 1: A CONTEXTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR FOREST RESOUCES IN ETHIOPIA: THE IMPORTANCE OF CLOUD FORESTS AND THE STATE OF CLOUD FOREST RESEARCH IN ETHIOPIA .………….……….....…... 1 Ethiopia …….………………………………………………….......................................... 1 Physical characteristics and population …..…………….................................. 1 Political framework …………………………………………………….…….……. 2 Forest history and context ……………………………………………....……...... 6 Forest resource assessment ……………….……………................................. 9 Current threats …………………………………………..……………………….. 12 Importance of forests and related resources …………………………………. 13 Bale Province ……………………………………….….................................................. 14 Bale Mountains National Park ………………………...................................... 15 Conservation importance ……………………………...................................... 16 Current conservation enforcement and challenges ...................................... 18 Research history ………………….……………………………………………... 20 Human activities and potential threats ………………………………………… 21 Tropical Montane Cloud Forests ………………………………………………………… 25 Peace Corps and my research …………………………………………………………... 29 Informing the literature …………………………………………………………………..... 31 CHAPTER 2: INVESTIGATING TROPICAL MONTANE CLOUD FOREST CHARACTERISTICS AND DRIVERS OF FOREST COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE CHANGE WITHIN THE UPPER FOREST BELT IN BALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK ……………………………………..…………………………… 36 1. Introduction …………………………………………………….................................... 36 1.1 Study Objectives ………….………………………………………………..... 37 2. Methods ………………………………………………………………………………..... 38 2.1 Study area ………………………………………………………………….... 38 2.2 Physiography ………………………………………………………………… 40 2.3 Vegetation associations …………………………………………………….. 41 2.4 Field data collection ……………………………………………………….... 44 2.5 Statistical Analyses ………………………………………………………….. 49 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page 3. Results …………………………………………………………………………………… 53 4. Discussion ...…………………………………………………...................................... 68 5. Conclusions ……………………………………………………………………………... 77 6. Recommendations ……………………………………………………………………… 79 REFERENCES …………………………………………………………….................................... 81 APPENDIX …………………………………………………………………………………………… 92 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1.1 Map of Eastern Afromontane hotspots …………………………...…………………….. 15 1.2 Map of Bale Mountains National Park ……………………………...………….............. 19 1.3 Map of African rainforests, known, and potential tropical montane cloud forests ...…………………………………………….………....... 27 1.4 Picture of Rira forests ...…………………………………………….…………………….. 29 2.1 Map of Ethiopia with national forest priority areas and Bale Mountains National Park .....………………………………………….............. 39 2.2 Bale Mountains National Park elevation belts …..………………………….…............. 40 2.4 Rira village study design and forest resource trails ..……………………...................
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