Woody plants diversity and the associated ecosystem service across three contrasting forest management regime in Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract Coffee management intensification has simplified the stand structure and composition of woody plants in southwest Ethiopia. It is believed that a change in woody plant diversity could results in loss of ecosystem service. Nevertheless, information on the effect of coffee management intensification on ecosystem services is limited. The study aim to give an answer for whether forest modification to coffee agroforest brings about a loss in ecosystem services in southwest Ethiopia. The specific objectives were 1) to examine woody plant diversity across contrasting forest management regime 2) to explore changes in ecosystem services focusing on forest products 3) to examine the relationship between woody plants diversity and ecosystem services as perceived and used by local people. Mixed approaches were employed to collect the data. The forest was divided into three contrasting management regimes. Vegetation data were collected from 189 plots. Ethnoecological approach was employed to assess ecosystem services. Perceived local ecosystem services were collected from 136 individuals. The relationship between ecosystem services and diversity were estimated based on the use value approach. The result showed that there is a positive relationship between the diversity and use value of woody plants across the three forest management regimes. Coffee management intensification simplify both the stand structure, woody plant composition and ecosystem services of the forest. Plant use value increases towards coffee agroforest. Coffee agroforest can serve as repository of diversity and ecosystem services in southwest Ethiopia.