Ecological aspects and resource management of bamboo forests in Ethiopia

Kassahun Embaye. 2003. Ecological aspects and resource management of bamboo forests in Ethiopia. Doctoral dissertation. This thesis describes the extent and condition of the natural bamboo forests of Ethiopia and their actual and potential values for society and environment. It assesses in detail the growth and nutrient dynamics in a selected highland bamboo forest in Southwest Ethiopia (Masha) and suggests solutions for its sustainable management. A specific management aspect is addressed by means of the factors that affect Oxytenanthera abyssinica seedling emergence and subsequent growth. The following were the methodologies employed to obtain the information reported herein. (1) Literature review on the Ethiopian bamboo species in relation to the situation in a global context. (2) A field study on stand characteristics, biomass and nutrient distributions and their temporal variations. (3) A greenhouse experiment on lowland bamboo (O. abyssinica) seedling performance under varying seed orientation and sowing depth conditions. Ethiopia still has large natural bamboo forests in areas that until recently were remote and inaccessible. These resources are now being destroyed under population pressure mainly for agricultural land expansion. The traits of bamboos as the fastest growing multipurpose plants with an excellent capacity to convert solar energy into forest goods and services and, thus, their potential to redress the prevalent deforestation related problems of Ethiopia are highlighted. A workable strategy to harness their potential on sustainable basis is recommended. Proper management and expansion are considered the principal components of a sound strategy to develop the bamboo resource of Ethiopia. Management approaches are suggested to improve the productivity and product quality of the remnant bamboo forest of Masha, based on diagnostic information on its condition. Expansion of the lowland bamboo forest of Ethiopia is cheaper and more practical using seeds than other propagation materials. Some methods of seed sowing are prescribed to optimise seedling emergence and subsequent growth, as part of a management strategy for lowland bamboo forest recovery and expansion in Ethiopia using seeds.