iDiv Annual Conference 2026

Effects of Restoration Methods on Woody Plant and Bird Diversity in the Sidama Region, Ethiopia.

Not scheduled

20m

Talk Approaches of integrative biodiversity research

Speaker

Aklilu Wola (UFZ/MLU/iDiv)

Description

Abstract
Land degradation and subsequent biodiversity loss are serious environmental problems, especially in Ethiopia where soil erosion is high and the human population is rapidly growing. Exclosures to prevent heavy grazing either by passive restoration (natural regeneration without planting) or active restoration (with planting) are widely used as methods to restore biodiversity, but their effects on tree and bird biodiversity across different spatial scales (alpha, beta and gamma) and vegetation layers are not well documented. This study investigated the effects of restoration methods on woody plant and bird diversity in the Sidama Region, Ethiopia. In this study, we collected vegetation and bird data from 13 sites: five exclosures without planting (passive), and three exclosures with planting (active), and five adjacent open grazing land sites (controls) using transects and point counts. We analyzed alpha, beta, and gamma diversity and composition for trees (juvenile vs. adult trees) and birds and compared patterns between passive, active and open sites. Alpha diversity of both taxa was higher in restored sites, especially under passive restoration. However, after rarefaction, these differences disappeared, meaning increases in alpha diversity in restored sites were mainly due to increases in abundance. We also found significant differences in community composition among treatments for trees and birds. Gamma diversity for trees and birds was also highest in restored sites and lowest in open sites, and rank abundance results indicated more even communities in restored sites compared to open sites. In conclusion, our study shows that both active and passive restoration improved biodiversity and community structure compared to open grazing land, and restored sites must continue protected from heavy grazing and disturbance to support the recovery of woody plant and bird biodiversity.