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Emiru Birhane
Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, Mekelle, P.O. Box 231, Ethiopia

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Journal article
Published: 26 August 2021 in Forest Ecology and Management
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Aboveground carbon (AGC) stock in forests is affected by several biotic and abiotic factors. Understanding those factors is crucial in managing forests for climate change mitigation and other ecosystem services. This study examined effects of diversity attributes (species and stand structural diversity of woody plants) and topographic attributes (altitude and slope) on AGC stock of a dry Afromontane forest. Data from individual woody plants for estimating AGC were collected from 252 plots (20 × 20 m) established in a systematic grid (2 × 2 km) covering the entire forest area. Woody plant diameter diversity and woody plant height diversity were used as proxies for stand structural diversity. Structural equation modelling was applied to test the effects of the selected attributes on AGC stock, and together they explained 71% of the variation. Stand structural diversity was the most important driving factor for the AGC stock. Woody plant species diversity had both direct and indirect effects on AGC stock, but the indirect effect through its influence on stand structural diversity was more pronounced. Altitude and slope were both negatively but weakly associated with AGC stock. Our results provide insight on the effects of diversity and topographic attributes on AGC stock, which can assist future management of the forest. Enhancing stand structural diversity by means of selection cutting systems and woody plant species diversity by means of enrichment planting can be effective treatments. When considering dry Afromontane forests’ widespread distribution, the potential contribution in carbon sequestration and thereby mitigating climate change is substantial. Hence, the results and management suggestions from the present study may have practical interest for the management of dry Afromontane forests not only in Ethiopia but also in Africa at large.

ACS Style

Buruh Abebe Tetemke; Emiru Birhane; Meley Mekonen Rannestad; Tron Eid. Species diversity and stand structural diversity of woody plants predominantly determine aboveground carbon stock of a dry Afromontane forest in Northern Ethiopia. Forest Ecology and Management 2021, 500, 119634 .

AMA Style

Buruh Abebe Tetemke, Emiru Birhane, Meley Mekonen Rannestad, Tron Eid. Species diversity and stand structural diversity of woody plants predominantly determine aboveground carbon stock of a dry Afromontane forest in Northern Ethiopia. Forest Ecology and Management. 2021; 500 ():119634.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Buruh Abebe Tetemke; Emiru Birhane; Meley Mekonen Rannestad; Tron Eid. 2021. "Species diversity and stand structural diversity of woody plants predominantly determine aboveground carbon stock of a dry Afromontane forest in Northern Ethiopia." Forest Ecology and Management 500, no. : 119634.

Research article
Published: 29 May 2021 in International Journal of Forestry Research
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Increased presence of expansive plant species could bring about various ecological influences on biomass carbon, soil organic carbon, and the physical and chemical properties of the soils. However, their impacts on these ecological parameters could differ due to a wide range of life forms, plant communities of the invaded ecosystems, and abiotic conditions. This work was conducted to examine the impacts of Cadia purpurea and Tarchonanthus camphoratus cover on carbon stock in vegetation and soil and soil physicochemical properties in Desa’a forest, northern Ethiopia. Vegetation and soil data were collected from a total of 150 sampling plots (size 20 m × 20 m) from uninvaded and invaded vegetation conditions. The soil samples were collected from topsoil (0–15 and 15–30 cm) of the uninvaded and invaded vegetation conditions. The statistical difference in carbon stock and soil characteristics P < 0.05 of both invaded and uninvaded vegetation conditions were tested using an independent t-test using an R-software. The mean above- and below-ground biomass carbon stocks of the uninvaded vegetation condition (17.62 Mg·C/ha and 4.14 Mg·C/ha, respectively) were found to be significantly higher than those of the invaded vegetation condition (4.73 Mg·C/ha and 1.11 Mg·C/ha, respectively). The mean soil organic carbons (SOC) were significantly higher P < 0.01 in the uninvaded (122.83 Mg·C/ha) than in the invaded (90.13 Mg·C/ha) vegetation condition. The total carbon stock estimates were significantly higher P < 0.01 in the uninvaded vegetation condition (144.59 Mg·C/ha) than in the invaded vegetation condition (95.97 Mg·C/ha). Furthermore, the result revealed that most of the soil characteristics were significantly lower P < 0.05 under the expansive shrubs invaded vegetation conditions except for significantly high sand content P < 0.05 . Silt, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, copper, and zinc did not significantly change with the cover of the expansive shrubs. Our results suggest that increased presence of the expansive species decreased carbon trapping and affected most of the soil nutrients within the forest. Hence, to enhance the carbon storage potential and to maintain the soil nutrient status of the forest, proper conservation, monitoring, and management of the existing PNV and controlling a further expansion of the expansive shrubs are required. Further studies will be required on the factors responsible for the difference in carbon stocks and soil nutrients in each vegetation condition in addition to the impacts of the expansive shrubs expansion.

ACS Style

Mebrahtu Haile; Emiru Birhane; Meley Mekonen Rannestad; Muyiwa S. Adaramola. Carbon Stock and Soil Characteristics under Expansive Shrubs in the Dry Afromontane Forest in Northern Ethiopia. International Journal of Forestry Research 2021, 2021, 1 -10.

AMA Style

Mebrahtu Haile, Emiru Birhane, Meley Mekonen Rannestad, Muyiwa S. Adaramola. Carbon Stock and Soil Characteristics under Expansive Shrubs in the Dry Afromontane Forest in Northern Ethiopia. International Journal of Forestry Research. 2021; 2021 ():1-10.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mebrahtu Haile; Emiru Birhane; Meley Mekonen Rannestad; Muyiwa S. Adaramola. 2021. "Carbon Stock and Soil Characteristics under Expansive Shrubs in the Dry Afromontane Forest in Northern Ethiopia." International Journal of Forestry Research 2021, no. : 1-10.

Journal article
Published: 09 May 2021 in Sustainability
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Ethiopia is one of the countries with the most degraded forest resources. Information on tree structure is needed at some points in the process to assess the appropriateness of forest management. The objectives are to examine whether the Structure from Motion (SfM)-based photogrammetry can be used to derive the forest structural parameters, and how the tree structural parameters can vary by location. In this study, the possible applicability of low-cost SfM-based photogrammetry was evaluated for forest management and conservation purposes in the Adi Zaboy watershed of the Northern Ethiopian highlands. In the watershed, dwarf Acacia etbaica was sparsely distributed. Consequently, the full three-dimensional point clouds of the individual trees were generated, which provided a wide variety of tree structural parameters in a non-destructive manner. The R 2 values for tree height, canopy width, and stump diameter were 0.936, 0.891, and 0.808, respectively, and the corresponding RMSE values were 0.128 m, 0.331 m, and 0.886 cm. In addition, differences in forest structure and composition were caused by differences in the environment. The SfM-based photogrammetry would provide fundamental information to meet the demand of sustainable forest management from a morphological point of view, especially in forests of Ethiopian highlands.

ACS Style

Toru Sakai; Emiru Birhane; Buruh Abebe; Destaalem Gebremeskel. Applicability of Structure-from-Motion Photogrammetry on Forest Measurement in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5282 .

AMA Style

Toru Sakai, Emiru Birhane, Buruh Abebe, Destaalem Gebremeskel. Applicability of Structure-from-Motion Photogrammetry on Forest Measurement in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (9):5282.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Toru Sakai; Emiru Birhane; Buruh Abebe; Destaalem Gebremeskel. 2021. "Applicability of Structure-from-Motion Photogrammetry on Forest Measurement in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands." Sustainability 13, no. 9: 5282.

Fungal microbiology
Published: 14 April 2021 in Microbial Ecology
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Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spore density and root colonization are considered sensitive to host species and abiotic factors such as climate and soil. However, there is a knowledge gap about how fragmented native forest remnants might contribute to AMF conservation, what is the AMF spore density and root colonization, and to what extent climate change, particularly warming, might impact AMF. The aim of the study was to quantify the AMF spore density and root colonization along altitudinal gradients in three agro-ecological zones of nine church forests in northern Ethiopia. Data were collected from 45 plots. All the surveyed church forest species were colonized by AMF. However, we found a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in root colonization and AMF abundance in forests at high elevation. The topsoil had significantly (p < 0.05) higher root colonization and AMF abundance than subsurface soil. We found strong negative correlations between altitude and both spore density and root colonization and soil fertility. While we cannot separate whether spore density was temperature or soil limited, we can demonstrate the importance of conserving certain tree species, particularly Ficus species, which harbor high spore densities, in both lowland and midland church forests. In the highland, no Ficus species were found. However, Hagenia abyssinica, another Rosales, had the highest spore density in the highland ecoregion.

ACS Style

Emiru Birhane; Teklemariam Gebregergs; Mengisteab Hailemariam; Lindsey Norgrove; Ermias Aynekulu. Root Colonization and Spore Abundance of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Along Altitudinal Gradients in Fragmented Church Natural Forest Remnants in Northern Ethiopia. Microbial Ecology 2021, 1 -10.

AMA Style

Emiru Birhane, Teklemariam Gebregergs, Mengisteab Hailemariam, Lindsey Norgrove, Ermias Aynekulu. Root Colonization and Spore Abundance of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Along Altitudinal Gradients in Fragmented Church Natural Forest Remnants in Northern Ethiopia. Microbial Ecology. 2021; ():1-10.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emiru Birhane; Teklemariam Gebregergs; Mengisteab Hailemariam; Lindsey Norgrove; Ermias Aynekulu. 2021. "Root Colonization and Spore Abundance of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Along Altitudinal Gradients in Fragmented Church Natural Forest Remnants in Northern Ethiopia." Microbial Ecology , no. : 1-10.

Journal article
Published: 14 April 2021
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ACS Style

Emiru Birhane; Teklemariam Gebregergs; Mengisteab Hailemariam; Lindsey Norgrove; Ermias Aynekulu. Root Colonization and Spore Abundance of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Along Altitudinal Gradients in Fragmented Church Natural Forest Remnants in Northern Ethiopia. 2021, 1 .

AMA Style

Emiru Birhane, Teklemariam Gebregergs, Mengisteab Hailemariam, Lindsey Norgrove, Ermias Aynekulu. Root Colonization and Spore Abundance of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Along Altitudinal Gradients in Fragmented Church Natural Forest Remnants in Northern Ethiopia. . 2021; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emiru Birhane; Teklemariam Gebregergs; Mengisteab Hailemariam; Lindsey Norgrove; Ermias Aynekulu. 2021. "Root Colonization and Spore Abundance of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Along Altitudinal Gradients in Fragmented Church Natural Forest Remnants in Northern Ethiopia." , no. : 1.

Review
Published: 28 February 2021 in Forests
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The adverse impacts of ecosystem degradation have raised the need for forest landscape restoration (FLR) to be included in international sustainability agendas. However, the path towards successful FLR implementation faces numerous biophysical, socioeconomic and governance challenges because FLR operates within complex socioecological systems. In the present study, we review and discuss FLR challenges in the context of global environmental change. We propose a roadmap consisting of five interlinked steps to overcome these challenges: (1) advancing ecological knowledge supporting FLR, (2) adapting FLR management to environmental change through strengthening globally distributed experimental networks, (3) implementing modelling approaches, (4) improving socioeconomic and governance dimensions, and (5) developing evidence-based knowledge platforms. The roadmap offers an iterative and adaptive framework for the continuous evaluation and improvement of FLR strategies and outcomes.

ACS Style

Florent Noulèkoun; Sylvanus Mensah; Emiru Birhane; Yowhan Son; Asia Khamzina. Forest Landscape Restoration under Global Environmental Change: Challenges and a Future Roadmap. Forests 2021, 12, 276 .

AMA Style

Florent Noulèkoun, Sylvanus Mensah, Emiru Birhane, Yowhan Son, Asia Khamzina. Forest Landscape Restoration under Global Environmental Change: Challenges and a Future Roadmap. Forests. 2021; 12 (3):276.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Florent Noulèkoun; Sylvanus Mensah; Emiru Birhane; Yowhan Son; Asia Khamzina. 2021. "Forest Landscape Restoration under Global Environmental Change: Challenges and a Future Roadmap." Forests 12, no. 3: 276.

Journal article
Published: 31 March 2020 in Diversity
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We investigated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spore density and root colonization in three distinct dry Afromontane forest plant communities, representing differing levels of disturbance and soil properties. Soil and root samples were collected from sixty-five 50 × 50-m plots from four plant communities. We collected data for AMF spore density, AMF root colonization and soil organic carbon stocks in 0–25 and 25–50 cm soil depth ranges. AMF spore density, and root colonization differed significantly among plant communities. The least disturbed Juniperus procera–Maytenus senegalensis (Jupr-Mase) plant community, which contained high tree and shrub density, had the highest AMF spore density, root colonization and soil carbon stocks. The most disturbed Cadia purpurea–Opuntia ficus-indica (Capu-Opfi) community which contained the lowest tree and shrub density supported the lowest AMF spore density, root colonization and soil carbon stocks. There was no significant difference in spore density between the two soil depths, but AMF root colonization was significantly higher in the upper soil than in the subsoil (p < 0.001). The difference in soil properties was not uniform between plant communities. Conserving remnant dry Afromontane forests and restoring the degraded forests are critical to improve and maintain forest ecosystem functioning and sustain ecosystem services.

ACS Style

Emiru Birhane; Kbrom Fissiha Gebretsadik; Gebeyehu Taye; Ermias Aynekulu; Meley Mekonen Rannestad; Lindsey Norgrove. Effects of Forest Composition and Disturbance on Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Spore Density, Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Root Colonization and Soil Carbon Stocks in a Dry Afromontane Forest in Northern Ethiopia. Diversity 2020, 12, 133 .

AMA Style

Emiru Birhane, Kbrom Fissiha Gebretsadik, Gebeyehu Taye, Ermias Aynekulu, Meley Mekonen Rannestad, Lindsey Norgrove. Effects of Forest Composition and Disturbance on Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Spore Density, Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Root Colonization and Soil Carbon Stocks in a Dry Afromontane Forest in Northern Ethiopia. Diversity. 2020; 12 (4):133.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emiru Birhane; Kbrom Fissiha Gebretsadik; Gebeyehu Taye; Ermias Aynekulu; Meley Mekonen Rannestad; Lindsey Norgrove. 2020. "Effects of Forest Composition and Disturbance on Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Spore Density, Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Root Colonization and Soil Carbon Stocks in a Dry Afromontane Forest in Northern Ethiopia." Diversity 12, no. 4: 133.

Article
Published: 01 January 2020 in Agroforestry Systems
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Agroforestry practices that integrate trees into farming are known to enhance carbon sequestration and plant species diversity in agricultural landscapes. Their contribution however, varies depending on a number of factors including elevation gradients. In this study, we quantified the carbon (C) stock and woody species diversity in tree-ensete dominated homegarden agroforestry practice along an elevation gradient in Hawassa Zuria District, southern Ethiopia. The elevation was stratified into upper, middle and lower gradient and two hamlets were randomly selected from each elevation category. Data on number, diameter and height of woody species were collected from 42 sample home gardens. Soil samples were also taken at 0–60 cm soil depth from each sample home garden for soil organic carbon (SOC) determination. A total of 49 woody species belonging to 31 families were recorded. The diversity differed significantly (p < 0.05) along the elevation categories. The mean total biomass and soil carbon stocks were significantly (p = 0.001) higher in the upper elevation category (156.17 ± 13.78 Mg ha−1), followed by middle (128.66 ± 7.16 Mg ha−1) and lower (91.75 ± 4.31 Mg ha−1) elevation categories. The corresponding SOC accounted for 68%, 76% and 78%. Correlation between woody species diversity and C stock was not significant (r = − 0.16). The tree-ensete dominated home garden agroforestry practices can play an important role in climate change mitigation and conservation of woody species diversity. The carbon accumulation potential of agroforestry systems vary along elevation gradients, but not necessary due to differences in woody species diversity.

ACS Style

Emiru Birhane; Said Ahmed; Mengsteab Hailemariam; Mesele Negash; Meley Mekonen Rannestad; Lindsey Norgrove. Carbon stock and woody species diversity in homegarden agroforestry along an elevation gradient in southern Ethiopia. Agroforestry Systems 2020, 94, 1099 -1110.

AMA Style

Emiru Birhane, Said Ahmed, Mengsteab Hailemariam, Mesele Negash, Meley Mekonen Rannestad, Lindsey Norgrove. Carbon stock and woody species diversity in homegarden agroforestry along an elevation gradient in southern Ethiopia. Agroforestry Systems. 2020; 94 (3):1099-1110.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emiru Birhane; Said Ahmed; Mengsteab Hailemariam; Mesele Negash; Meley Mekonen Rannestad; Lindsey Norgrove. 2020. "Carbon stock and woody species diversity in homegarden agroforestry along an elevation gradient in southern Ethiopia." Agroforestry Systems 94, no. 3: 1099-1110.

Journal article
Published: 06 December 2019 in Forests
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Dry Afromontane forests form the largest part of the existing natural vegetation in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, models for quantifying aboveground tree biomass (AGB) of these forests are rare. The objective of this study was, therefore, to develop local multispecies and species-specific AGB models for dry Afromontane forests in northern Ethiopia and to test the accuracy of some potentially relevant, previously developed AGB models. A total of 86 sample trees consisting of ten dominant tree species were harvested to develop the models. A set of models relating AGB to diameter at breast height (DBH) or at stump height (DSH), height (H), crown area (CA), and wood basic density (ρ) were fitted. Model evaluation and selection was based on statistical significance of model parameter estimates, relative mean root-square-error (rMRSE), relative bias (rBias), and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). A leave-one-out cross-validation procedure was used to compute rMRSE and rBias. The best multispecies model, which includes DSH, CA, and ρ as predictors, explained more than 95% of the variability in AGB. The best species-specific models for the two dominant species, with DBH or DSH as the sole predictor, also explained more than 96% of the variability in AGB. Higher biases from the previously published models compared to the best models from this study show the need to develop local models for more accurate biomass estimation. The developed models allow to quantify AGB with a high level of accuracy for our site, and they can potentially be applied in dry Afromontane forests elsewhere in Ethiopia if species composition and growing conditions are carefully evaluated before an application is done.

ACS Style

Buruh Abebe Tetemke; Emiru Birhane; Meley Mekonen Rannestad; Tron Eid. Allometric Models for Predicting Aboveground Biomass of Trees in the Dry Afromontane Forests of Northern Ethiopia. Forests 2019, 10, 1114 .

AMA Style

Buruh Abebe Tetemke, Emiru Birhane, Meley Mekonen Rannestad, Tron Eid. Allometric Models for Predicting Aboveground Biomass of Trees in the Dry Afromontane Forests of Northern Ethiopia. Forests. 2019; 10 (12):1114.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Buruh Abebe Tetemke; Emiru Birhane; Meley Mekonen Rannestad; Tron Eid. 2019. "Allometric Models for Predicting Aboveground Biomass of Trees in the Dry Afromontane Forests of Northern Ethiopia." Forests 10, no. 12: 1114.

Journal article
Published: 22 November 2019 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Despite their importance as sources of ecosystem services supporting the livelihoods of millions of people, forest ecosystems have been changing into other land use systems over the past decades across the world. While forest cover change dynamics have been widely documented in various ecological systems, how these changes affect ecosystem service values has received limited attention. In this study we assessed the impact of land-use/land-cover dynamics on ecosystem service values in dry Afromontane forest in Northern Ethiopia. We estimated ecosystem service values and their changes based on the benefit transfer method using land cover data of the years 1985, 2000, and 2016 with their corresponding locally valid value coefficients and from the Ecosystem service valuation database. The total ecosystem service values of the whole study area were about USD 16.6, 19.0, and 18.1 million in 1985, 2000, and 2016, respectively. The analyses indicated an increase in ecosystem service values from 1985 to 2000 and a decrease in ecosystem service values from 2000 to 2016. Similarly, the contribution of specific ecosystem services increased in the first study period and decreased in the second study period. The findings highlight how forest cover dynamics can be translated into changes in ecosystem service values in dry Afromontane forest ecosystems in Northern Ethiopia and showed how specific ecosystem services contributed to the observed trends. The findings also illustrated the temporal heterogeneity in the impacts of land-use/land-cover dynamics on values of ecosystem services. The findings can serve as crucial inputs for policy and strategy formulations for the sustainable use and management of forest resources and can also guide the allocation of limited resources among competing demands to safeguard the ecosystems that offer the best-valued services.

ACS Style

Negasi Solomon; Alcade C. Segnon; Emiru Birhane. Ecosystem Service Values Changes in Response to Land-Use/Land-Cover Dynamics in Dry Afromontane Forest in Northern Ethiopia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2019, 16, 4653 .

AMA Style

Negasi Solomon, Alcade C. Segnon, Emiru Birhane. Ecosystem Service Values Changes in Response to Land-Use/Land-Cover Dynamics in Dry Afromontane Forest in Northern Ethiopia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16 (23):4653.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Negasi Solomon; Alcade C. Segnon; Emiru Birhane. 2019. "Ecosystem Service Values Changes in Response to Land-Use/Land-Cover Dynamics in Dry Afromontane Forest in Northern Ethiopia." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 23: 4653.

Journal article
Published: 16 July 2019 in Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science
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ACS Style

Kassa Gebremeskel; Kassa Teka; Emiru Birhane; Emnet Negash. The role of integrated watershed management on soil-health in northern Ethiopia. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science 2019, 69, 667 -673.

AMA Style

Kassa Gebremeskel, Kassa Teka, Emiru Birhane, Emnet Negash. The role of integrated watershed management on soil-health in northern Ethiopia. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science. 2019; 69 (8):667-673.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kassa Gebremeskel; Kassa Teka; Emiru Birhane; Emnet Negash. 2019. "The role of integrated watershed management on soil-health in northern Ethiopia." Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science 69, no. 8: 667-673.

Journal article
Published: 12 July 2019 in East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal
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ACS Style

Emiru Birhane; Tekleab Desalegn; Fassil Kebede; Kidane Giday; Hadgu Hishe; Kiros Meles Hadgu. In situ leaf litter production, decomposition and nutrient release of dry Afromontane trees. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal 2019, 83, 176 -190.

AMA Style

Emiru Birhane, Tekleab Desalegn, Fassil Kebede, Kidane Giday, Hadgu Hishe, Kiros Meles Hadgu. In situ leaf litter production, decomposition and nutrient release of dry Afromontane trees. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal. 2019; 83 (3):176-190.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emiru Birhane; Tekleab Desalegn; Fassil Kebede; Kidane Giday; Hadgu Hishe; Kiros Meles Hadgu. 2019. "In situ leaf litter production, decomposition and nutrient release of dry Afromontane trees." East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal 83, no. 3: 176-190.

Journal article
Published: 01 July 2019 in Nature Sustainability
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The harvest of plant parts and exudates from wild populations contributes to the income, food security and livelihoods of many millions of people worldwide. Frankincense, an aromatic resin sourced from natural populations of Boswellia trees and shrubs, has been cherished by world societies for centuries. Boswellia populations are threatened by over-exploitation and ecosystem degradation, jeopardizing future resin production. Here, we reveal evidence of population collapse of B. papyrifera—now the main source of frankincense—throughout its geographic range. Using inventories of 23 populations consisting of 21,786 trees, growth-ring data from 202 trees and demographic models on the basis of 7,246 trees, we find that over 75% of studied populations lack small trees, natural regeneration has been absent for decades, and projected frankincense production will be halved in 20 yr. These changes are caused by increased human population pressure on Boswellia woodlands through cattle grazing, frequent burns and reckless tapping. A literature review showed that other Boswellia species experience similar threats. Populations can be restored by establishing cattle exclosures and fire-breaks, and by planting trees and tapping trees more carefully. Concerted conservation and restoration efforts are urgently needed to secure the long-term availability of this iconic product.

ACS Style

Frans Bongers; Peter Groenendijk; Tesfaye Bekele; Emiru Birhane; Abebe Damtew; Mathieu Decuyper; Abeje Eshete; Alemu Gezahgne; Atkilt Girma; Mohamed A. Khamis; Mulugeta Lemenih; Tefera Mengistu; Woldeselassie Ogbazghi; Ute Sass-Klaassen; Wubalem Tadesse; Mindaye Teshome; Motuma Tolera; Frank J. Sterck; Pieter A. Zuidema. Frankincense in peril. Nature Sustainability 2019, 2, 602 -610.

AMA Style

Frans Bongers, Peter Groenendijk, Tesfaye Bekele, Emiru Birhane, Abebe Damtew, Mathieu Decuyper, Abeje Eshete, Alemu Gezahgne, Atkilt Girma, Mohamed A. Khamis, Mulugeta Lemenih, Tefera Mengistu, Woldeselassie Ogbazghi, Ute Sass-Klaassen, Wubalem Tadesse, Mindaye Teshome, Motuma Tolera, Frank J. Sterck, Pieter A. Zuidema. Frankincense in peril. Nature Sustainability. 2019; 2 (7):602-610.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Frans Bongers; Peter Groenendijk; Tesfaye Bekele; Emiru Birhane; Abebe Damtew; Mathieu Decuyper; Abeje Eshete; Alemu Gezahgne; Atkilt Girma; Mohamed A. Khamis; Mulugeta Lemenih; Tefera Mengistu; Woldeselassie Ogbazghi; Ute Sass-Klaassen; Wubalem Tadesse; Mindaye Teshome; Motuma Tolera; Frank J. Sterck; Pieter A. Zuidema. 2019. "Frankincense in peril." Nature Sustainability 2, no. 7: 602-610.

Original research
Published: 14 May 2019 in Ecology and Evolution
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Exclosures are used to regenerate native vegetation as a way to reduce soil erosion, increase rain water infiltration and provide fodder and woody biomass in degraded grazing lands. Therefore, this study assessed the impact of grazing exclosure on carbon sequestration and soil nutrients under 5 and 10 years of grazing exclosures and freely grazed areas in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Carbon stocks and soil nutrients increased with increasing grazing exclusion. However, open grazing lands and 5 years of grazing exclosure did not differ in above‐ and belowground carbon stocks. Moreover, 10 years of grazing exclosure had a higher (p < 0.01) grass, herb and litter carbon stocks compared to 5 years exclosure and open grazing lands. The total carbon stock was higher for 10 years exclosure (75.65 t C ha‐1) than the 5 years exclosure (55.06 t C ha‐1) and in open grazing areas (51.98 t C ha‐1). Grazing lands closed for 10 years had a higher SOC, organic matter, total N, available P, and exchangeable K + and Na + compared to 5 year's exclosure and open grazing lands. Therefore, establishment of grazing exclosures had a positive effect in restoring degraded grazing lands, thus improving carbon sequestration potentials and soil nutrients.

ACS Style

Tsegay Gebregergs; Zewdu K. Tessema; Negasi Solomon; Emiru Birhane. Carbon sequestration and soil restoration potential of grazing lands under exclosure management in a semi‐arid environment of northern Ethiopia. Ecology and Evolution 2019, 9, 6468 -6479.

AMA Style

Tsegay Gebregergs, Zewdu K. Tessema, Negasi Solomon, Emiru Birhane. Carbon sequestration and soil restoration potential of grazing lands under exclosure management in a semi‐arid environment of northern Ethiopia. Ecology and Evolution. 2019; 9 (11):6468-6479.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tsegay Gebregergs; Zewdu K. Tessema; Negasi Solomon; Emiru Birhane. 2019. "Carbon sequestration and soil restoration potential of grazing lands under exclosure management in a semi‐arid environment of northern Ethiopia." Ecology and Evolution 9, no. 11: 6468-6479.

Articles
Published: 25 April 2019 in Environmental Hazards
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Malaria is a leading and severe disease in Ethiopia, particularly like the Tigray region. The main objectives of the study were to model the influence of climate change on malaria transmission in Tigray and identify environmental variables that contribute to malaria. Aiming these objectives, Kafta Humera, Raya Azebo and Laelay Adiabo districts were purposively selected based on their malaria prevalence. Two hundred and nine mosquito occurrence points were collected from the study area. Collected occurrence points, altitude and 19 bioclimatic variables were run in Maxent software. Malaria transmission was simulated for themiddle and end of the twenty-first century using two representative concentration pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) scenarios driving ensemble of three general circulation models. The results show that the area suitable for malaria transmission is simulated to increase by 93.8% (RCP4.5) and 113.9% (RCP8.5) by mid-century and by 161% (RCP4.5) and 149% (RCP8.5) by the end of the twenty-first century, when compared with the historical baseline. This indicates that the area suitable for malaria transmission is simulated to increase due to climate change over the region. Therefore, the study recommends well prevention and control of malaria to ensure the health of people.

ACS Style

Haftu Abrha; Haftom Hagos; Emiru Brhane; Meseret Hadgu; Girma Mamo. Spatio-temporal dynamics of malaria expansion under climate change in semi-arid areas of Ethiopia. Environmental Hazards 2019, 18, 400 -413.

AMA Style

Haftu Abrha, Haftom Hagos, Emiru Brhane, Meseret Hadgu, Girma Mamo. Spatio-temporal dynamics of malaria expansion under climate change in semi-arid areas of Ethiopia. Environmental Hazards. 2019; 18 (5):400-413.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Haftu Abrha; Haftom Hagos; Emiru Brhane; Meseret Hadgu; Girma Mamo. 2019. "Spatio-temporal dynamics of malaria expansion under climate change in semi-arid areas of Ethiopia." Environmental Hazards 18, no. 5: 400-413.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2019 in Cogent Environmental Science
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ACS Style

H. Haftom; T. Girmay; B. Emiru; A. Haftu; H. Meseret. Impact of farm exclosure on woody species abundance and carbon stock in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Cogent Environmental Science 2019, 5, 1 .

AMA Style

H. Haftom, T. Girmay, B. Emiru, A. Haftu, H. Meseret. Impact of farm exclosure on woody species abundance and carbon stock in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Cogent Environmental Science. 2019; 5 (1):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

H. Haftom; T. Girmay; B. Emiru; A. Haftu; H. Meseret. 2019. "Impact of farm exclosure on woody species abundance and carbon stock in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia." Cogent Environmental Science 5, no. 1: 1.

Article
Published: 24 November 2018 in Agroforestry Systems
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Acacia polyacantha is a fast growing indigenous tree legume that can be integrated with crops as parkland agroforestry system. Farmers keep Acacia polyacantha on their farmlands mainly for fuel wood, animal fodder, farm tools and construction. However, quantitative information on the effect of Acacia polyacantha on soil fertility improvement and socioeconomic benefits is lacking. The effect of Acacia polyacantha on soil fertility and its contribution to household income was evaluated in La’ilay Adiyabo district, northern Ethiopia. At three radii distances, 36 soil samples were collected from two soil depths from 24 trees in cultivated and uncultivated land using a 3 × 2 × 2 × 3 factorial arrangement in randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times. The effect of planting Acacia polyacantha trees on household income was estimated using Ordinary Least Squares based on data collected from a sample of 120 randomly selected farm households. Total N, OC, OM, CEC and exchangeable K levels were significantly higher under the canopies of Acacia polyacantha than outside (p < 0.05). The nutrient levels decreased significantly with increasing soil depth. Planting Acacia polyacantha trees was found to positively and significantly influence household income, in which case the aggregated monetary value of the different products from Acacia polyacantha contributed 13.7% to total household income, which is significant. However, land size was also found to be crucial; and the role that Acacia polyacantha trees play can be further increased through efficient use and management of agroforestry land.

ACS Style

Emiru Birhane; Roman Teklay; Kindeya Gebrehiwet; Negasi Solomon; Tewodros Tadesse. Maintaining Acacia polyacantha trees in farmlands enhances soil fertility and income of farmers in North Western Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Agroforestry Systems 2018, 93, 2135 -2149.

AMA Style

Emiru Birhane, Roman Teklay, Kindeya Gebrehiwet, Negasi Solomon, Tewodros Tadesse. Maintaining Acacia polyacantha trees in farmlands enhances soil fertility and income of farmers in North Western Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Agroforestry Systems. 2018; 93 (6):2135-2149.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emiru Birhane; Roman Teklay; Kindeya Gebrehiwet; Negasi Solomon; Tewodros Tadesse. 2018. "Maintaining Acacia polyacantha trees in farmlands enhances soil fertility and income of farmers in North Western Tigray, Northern Ethiopia." Agroforestry Systems 93, no. 6: 2135-2149.

Original paper
Published: 09 October 2018 in Journal of Forestry Research
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Poor land use management and practice inhibit the growth and establishment of tree seedlings in dryland areas. We assessed arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM) status of Faidherbia albida (Del.) A. Chev. trees grown on different land uses. We quantified the growth and nutrient uptake of F. albida seedlings inoculated with AM from different sources. These efforts were based on soil and fine root samples from the rhizosphere soils of F. albida trees. AM root colonization was determined using the gridline intersect method. Spores were extracted by the wet sieving and decanting method and identified to genus level. The seedling experiment had a completely randomized one-factorial design with four treatments and five replications. Faidherbida albida seedlings were grown in a greenhouse. All in situ F. albida trees were colonized by AM fungi. AM root colonization of F. albida trees was significantly higher (P < 0.0086) in area exclosures than on lands used for grazing or cultivation. Spore abundance was significantly higher (P < 0.0014) in area exclosures followed by cultivated land and grazing land. Glomus was the dominant genus in all land-uses. AM-inoculated F. albida seedlings grew better (P < 0.05) than non-inoculated controls. Seedlings inoculated with AM from area exclosure had significantly (P < 0.05) higher growth and nutrient uptake than those inoculated with AM from grazing and cultivated land. This emphasizes the importance of the native soil AM potential for better establishment of seedlings to achieve optimum plant growth improvement and assist in rehabilitation of degraded arid lands.

ACS Style

Emiru Birhane; Mengsteab Hailemariam; Girmay Gebresamuel; Tesfay Araya; Kiros Hadgu; Lindsey Norgrove. Source of mycorrhizal inoculum influences growth of Faidherbia albida seedlings. Journal of Forestry Research 2018, 31, 313 -323.

AMA Style

Emiru Birhane, Mengsteab Hailemariam, Girmay Gebresamuel, Tesfay Araya, Kiros Hadgu, Lindsey Norgrove. Source of mycorrhizal inoculum influences growth of Faidherbia albida seedlings. Journal of Forestry Research. 2018; 31 (1):313-323.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emiru Birhane; Mengsteab Hailemariam; Girmay Gebresamuel; Tesfay Araya; Kiros Hadgu; Lindsey Norgrove. 2018. "Source of mycorrhizal inoculum influences growth of Faidherbia albida seedlings." Journal of Forestry Research 31, no. 1: 313-323.

Journal article
Published: 06 September 2018 in Carbon Balance and Management
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Forests play an important role in mitigating global climate change by capturing and sequestering atmospheric carbon. Quantitative estimation of the temporal and spatial pattern of carbon storage in forest ecosystems is critical for formulating forest management policies to combat climate change. This study explored the effects of land cover change on carbon stock dynamics in the Wujig Mahgo Waren forest, a dry Afromontane forest that covers an area of 17,000 ha in northern Ethiopia. The total carbon stocks of the Wujig Mahgo Waren forest ecosystems estimated using a multi-disciplinary approach that combined remote sensing with a ground survey were 1951, 1999, and 1955 GgC in 1985, 2000 and 2016 years respectively. The mean carbon stocks in the dense forests, open forests, grasslands, cultivated lands and bare lands were estimated at 181.78 ± 27.06, 104.83 ± 12.35, 108.77 ± 6.77, 76.54 ± 7.84 and 83.11 ± 8.53 MgC ha−1 respectively. The aboveground vegetation parameters (tree density, DBH and height) explain 59% of the variance in soil organic carbon. The obtained estimates of mean carbon stocks in ecosystems representing the major land cover types are of importance in the development of forest management plan aimed at enhancing mitigation potential of dry Afromontane forests in northern Ethiopia.

ACS Style

Negasi Solomon; Opoku Pabi; Ted Annang; Isaac K. Asante; Emiru Birhane. The effects of land cover change on carbon stock dynamics in a dry Afromontane forest in northern Ethiopia. Carbon Balance and Management 2018, 13, 14 .

AMA Style

Negasi Solomon, Opoku Pabi, Ted Annang, Isaac K. Asante, Emiru Birhane. The effects of land cover change on carbon stock dynamics in a dry Afromontane forest in northern Ethiopia. Carbon Balance and Management. 2018; 13 (1):14.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Negasi Solomon; Opoku Pabi; Ted Annang; Isaac K. Asante; Emiru Birhane. 2018. "The effects of land cover change on carbon stock dynamics in a dry Afromontane forest in northern Ethiopia." Carbon Balance and Management 13, no. 1: 14.

Journal article
Published: 01 September 2018 in Journal of Arid Environments
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Globally, drylands cover large areas, but few models for estimation of biomass are developed for the relatively complicated tree and shrub structures found in this particular environment. A first set of general aboveground biomass models for exclosures in the drylands of the Tigray region, northern Ethiopia were developed from a large dataset with 305 destructively sampled trees and shrubs covering 50 different species and distinct growing conditions. Since biomass revealed nonlinear relationships to the independent tree variables, we used a nonlinear least square modelling technique when fitting models. Selection of models was based on Pseudo-R2, and root mean square errors and mean prediction errors (MPE) from a leave-one-out-cross-validation procedure. Pseudo-R2 and relative MPE of the models varied from 0.76 to 0.84 and −3.7% to −1.5%, respectively. The large prediction errors observed when testing the “pan-tropical” models on our data, not only demonstrated the importance of developing the new models, but also indicated that careful considerations should done if the “pan-tropical” are planned for application in drylands elsewhere than Ethiopia. The new models may be applied generally for exclosures in Tigray for decision-support in forest management and as basis for reporting changes in carbon stock as required in the REDD + mechanism.

ACS Style

Mengesteab Hailu Ubuy; Tron Eid; Ole Martin Bollandsås; Emiru Birhane. Aboveground biomass models for trees and shrubs of exclosures in the drylands of Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Journal of Arid Environments 2018, 156, 9 -18.

AMA Style

Mengesteab Hailu Ubuy, Tron Eid, Ole Martin Bollandsås, Emiru Birhane. Aboveground biomass models for trees and shrubs of exclosures in the drylands of Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Journal of Arid Environments. 2018; 156 ():9-18.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mengesteab Hailu Ubuy; Tron Eid; Ole Martin Bollandsås; Emiru Birhane. 2018. "Aboveground biomass models for trees and shrubs of exclosures in the drylands of Tigray, northern Ethiopia." Journal of Arid Environments 156, no. : 9-18.