Encroachment of woody plants and its impact on pastoral livestock production in the Borana lowlands, southern Oromia, Ethiopia

摘要: Encroachment of woody plants has been among the major threats to livelihoods Borana pastoralists and their ecosystem. An approach that integrated vegetation survey pastoralists’ perception was followed study impacts encroachment in lowlands, Ethiopia. Density species determined 192 plots 500 m2. Canopy cover estimated 123 quadrates 400 m2. Pastoralists’ assessed through group discussions a semi-structured questionnaire. Results showed plant density 3014 woody plants ha−1. Cover 52%, indicating an increasing trend from ≤40% reported early 1990s. It concluded increase crossed critical threshold entered into encroached condition. Principal components analysis (PCA) redundancy (RDA) also were negatively correlated with herbaceous biomass. Commiphora africana, Acacia melliphera, A. drepanolobium, brevispica Lannea rivae dominant encroachers. RDA revealed soil nutrients positively cover. The perceived had decreased production grazingland. A ban on fire as factor caused plants. Re-utilization strengthening traditional rangeland management strategies are recommended.