Floristic Composition of Traditional Sacred Landscapes in Bedelle Woreda, Illubabor Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.

Abstract

This study was conducted on the Floristic Composition of Sacred Landscapes in Bedelle Woreda, Illubabor Zone, Oromia Regional State. The aim of the study was to assess the plant species diversity in the sacred sites of Bedelle Woreda. Three sacred sites (Boqa in Banshure Kebele, Boqa in Socho Kebele and Mute in Mirga Mute Kebele) were selected for plot study based on their size (≥0.5 ha) and a general plant species inventory was conducted on the remaining 13 sacred sites. Systematic sampling was the technique used for collecting data from the three sacred sites selected for plot study. From the study conducted on the entire (16) sacred sites, 143 plant species belonging to 122 genera and 62 families were encountered. Of the total collection of plant species, ~7% were found to be endemic to Ethiopia. The total species collected from Boqa sacred forest patch in Socho Kebele was 76, from Boqa in Banshure was 62 and from Mute sacred forest was 58 belonging to 40,37and 33 families respectively. The study indicated that the sacred landscapes are important sites for plant biodiversity conservation. Thus, attention should be given to the sacred site conservations as they are used as means of in-situ conservation of plant biodiversity.