Remnant forests found in areas that have long been converted to agricultural landscapes are refuges of wild useful plants; and societies inhabiting them are custodians of rich indigenous botanical knowledge. This study was undertaken to document the medicinal plants used by the people living in and around Tara-gedam and Amba remnant forests, northwestern Ethiopia, together with the associated ethnomedicinal knowledge. Data were collected from 105 informants through semi-structured interviews, guided field walk, market survey; and analyzed using standard ethnobotanical analytical tools including ranking and comparison. A total of 163 medicinal plant species in 145 genera and 67 families were recorded among which Zehneria scabra drew the highest community consensus. Seventy-one percent of the medicinal plants were those used for treating human ailments only, 21% for both human and livestock and 8% for livestock only. Asteraceae, with 14 species, had the highest number of medicinal plant species. The medicinal plants mainly (79.1%) belong to the shrub and herb categories and most of them were sourced from the wild habitats. Leaves and fresh plant materials were more frequently used for medicine preparation than other parts. Protected government and church forests as well as tree propagation in nurseries followed by planting them and local practices constitute the major forest conservation efforts that indirectly protect the medicinal plants in the area. Elders and healers knew more about the medicinal plants, their distribution, the local ethnomedicinal practices and knowledge transfer patterns. Though important for the local healthcare system and with potentials for modern drug discovery, both the plants and the knowledge pool are under threat. The diversity of medicinal plants and the associated indigenous knowledge of Tara-gedam and its environs are of a considerable value to the local community and beyond. There is, therefore, a need for conservation of the vegetation and the medicinal plants along with preservation of the wealth of the indigenous knowledge.

Traditional medicinal plant species documentation is very crucial in Ethiopia for biodiversity conservation, bioactive chemical extractions and indigenous knowledge retention. Having first observed the inhabitants of Gubalafto District (Northern Ethiopia), the author gathered, recorded, and documented the human traditional medicinal plant species and the associated indigenous knowledge. The study was conducted from February 2013 to January 2015 and used descriptive field survey design. Eighty-four informants were selected from seven study kebeles (sub-districts) in the District through purposive, snowball, and random sampling techniques. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews, guided field walks, demonstrations, and focus group discussions with the help of guided questions. Data were organized and analyzed by descriptive statistics with SPSS version 20 and Microsoft Office Excel 2007. A total of 135 medicinal plant species within 120 genera and 64 families were documented. Among the species, Ocimum lamiifolium and Rhamnus prinoides scored the highest informant citations and fidelity level value, respectively. In the study area, Asteraceae with 8.1% and herbs with 50.4% plant species were the most used sources for their medicinal uses. A total of 65 ailments were identified as being treated by traditional medicinal plants, among which stomachache (abdominal health problems) was frequently reported. Solanum incanum was reported for the treatment of many of the reported diseases. The leaf, fresh parts, and crushed forms of the medicinal plants were the most preferred in remedy preparations. Oral application was the highest reported administration for 110 preparations. A majority of medicinal plant species existed in the wild without any particular conservation effort. Few informants (about 5%) had only brief notes about the traditional medicinal plants. Ninety percent of the respondents have learned indigenous medicinal plants knowledge from their family members and friends secretly. Orthodox Church schools were found the main place for 65% of healer’s indigenous knowledge origin and experiences. Elders, aged between 40 and 84 years, gave detailed descriptions about traditional medicinal plants. Traditional medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge are the main systems to maintain human health in Gubalafto District. But minimal conservation measures were recorded in the community. Thus, in-situ and ex-situ conservation practices and sustainable utilization are required in the District.

Wild edible plants are vital for the survival and sustainable livelihoods of rural people of Ethiopia. Thus, this study compiled wild edible plants, their use, threats, and management practices in Metema District, northwestern Ethiopia. Eight sample kebeles were selected purposively based on vegetation coverage and key informants availability. A total of 128 informants were selected using purposive and random sampling techniques. Data were collected using individual interviews, guided field walks, focus group discussion, and market surveys through semistructured questionnaires. Ethnobotanical data collected from the informants were summarized by descriptive statistics, and further verified by using informant consensus, preference, and direct matrix ranking. Knowledge difference among age and sex groups was evaluated by independent sample t-test. A total of 44 wild edible plant species distributed in 34 genera and 25 families were documented. Most (88.64%) of these plant species were found in the wild habitat. Fabaceae and Moraceae accounted for higher proportion of edible plant species. Trees were the dominant habit (59.09%). From the total recorded wild edible plants, 33 (75%) species were used as supplementary foods and 11 (25%) species were used during famine. Fruits were the most edible plant parts (66%) and raw fresh forms were the main conditions of consumption (81.8%). Diospyros abyssinica was the most cited (60.94%) and first ranked. Some edible species such as Adansonia digitata and Balanites aegyptiaca were marketable. Ziziphus spina-christi was found the most multipurpose wild edible plant species. Most of the species (33, 75%) were used as animal fodder followed with traditional medicines (25, 56.82%) and firewood (20, 45.45%). Tamarindus indica, Moringa stenopetala, Balanites aegyptiaca, Grewia ferruginea, Corchorus olitorius, and Cordia africana had nutraceutical values. Significant knowledge differences ( ) were obtained among sexes and age groups of informants on the number of wild edible plant species they listed. As a result of their multiple roles, wild edible plants are threatened by various anthropogenic activities. Despite this, Metema District still supports good numbers of wild edible plants from which the poor inhabitants complement their basic needs by consuming and marketing them. For sustainable utilization, conservation, value addition, and market linkage practices shall be strengthened to improve the livelihoods of local people and sustainable forest management.

Owing to its variable topographic features, Ethiopia is endowed with rich biological resources. However, nowadays, these vital resources, mainly forests, are declining alarmingly, largely, due to agricultural expansion and energy consumption. This study was conducted at Gosh-Beret forest with the objective of investigating the status of forest species. Fifty-one main plots, spaced at a 100m interval, were laid on north-south oriented transects. Within the main plots, five subplots, at each corner and center, were set to collect data for juveniles. In each plot, individuals of each woody species were identified and recorded. Percent cover abundance of each woody species per plot was genuinely estimated, which was later converted into the modified BraunBlanquet scale. For each mature woody species, diameters at breast height (DBH2cm) were measured. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to identify community types. The ShannonWiener diversity index and Sorensens similarity coefficient were used to compare the species diversity and composition among communities, respectively. The structure and regeneration status of the forest species were analyzed using structural parameters and size-class ratios, respectively. A total of 52 woody species distributed in 35 families were recorded. Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Asteraceae were the most dominant families with 4 species each. The overall species diversity of the forest was 2.6, and five community types were generated from cluster analysis. In the study forest, frequency and density of species decrease with increasing frequency and density classes. Likewise, density of individuals in each class decreases as DBH classes increase. The total basal area of the forest was 19.81m²ha⁻¹, and the forest was at fair regeneration status with species having small IVI values and few/no seedlings. Therefore, immediate conservation measures are required to save species with small IVI values and few/no seedlings.

Due to its fortuitous mix of geography, terrain, and geology, Ethiopia is the home of unique assemblages of rich biodiversity. However, this impressive biological diversity is increasingly threatened by the combined effects of different drivers before they are sufficiently investigated. The present work was carried out in Robe-Raya Natural Forest, located in Southeast Ethiopia, with the intention of examining plant community formation and structural dynamics of the forest species. Sixty (20m×20m) quadrats were placed at 100m distance along eleven east-west directed transect lines systematically. In order to gather juveniles data, five subquadrats (2m×2m) were established within the main quadrat, distributed at each corner and middle. In each quadrat, all woody species were recorded and counted; diameter (DBH) and height were measured using tape meter and a hypsometer, respectively, and cover abundance was recorded (in ). Cluster analysis was computed using R-Package to map-out the community types. Species diversity and composition among community types were computed using the Shannon-Wiener index and Sorensons coefficient, respectively. Frequency, density, height, DBH, basal area, and IVI were used to analyze structural dynamics. Age-class density ratios were used to examine the regeneration status. Ninety-four woody plant species belonging to 39 families were documented. Asteraceae was the most species-rich family (10 species). The common growth form was shrubs (44.7) followed by trees (41.5). Cluster analysis produced four community types. In total, the species diversity and evenness were 3.75 and 0.88, respectively. The forest density and basal area were 1183.3 stems/ha and 57.52m²·ha⁻¹, respectively. Structural dynamics analyses demonstrated that the forest was composed of, largely, young trees and shrubs and under fair regeneration status. Certain species that have been identified to have low IVI and poor regeneration status should be prioritized for conservation.

Hypogeous ascomycetous fungi (truffles) are challenging to study because they produce underground sporocarps that may not be encountered during traditional fungal surveys. Genea is one such genus that has garnered considerable attention over the past decades due to its role as an ectomycorrhizal partner and contribution to nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability. Yet, very limited information is available about its taxonomy, phylogeny and ecology worldwide. The current study aims to expand the known distribution of Genea species in Central Europe by integrating morphological, molecular and ecological analyses of new collections as well as the assessment of herbarium materials. Light microscopy and SEM were used to determine morphological characteristics along with FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy measurements, which proved to be a powerful tool for species differentiation. Molecular phylogenetic analyses were conducted using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (28S) of nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences to confirm species identity. In this study, a new species, Genea szemereiensis, along with the first report of Genea pinicola from Hungary, was made. In addition, the ecological parameters of the species, including habitat, altitude, soil nutrients and pH, were revised, which has not been reported previously in detail for this genus.