Natural Regeneration and Management of Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) Mirb. in the Afromontane Forests of Ethiopia

Abstract

Podocarpus falcatus is one of the two coniferous species naturally growing up to 45 m high and 250 cm in diameter in 11 out of the 14 floral regions recognized in Ethiopia. It is a multipurpose species with a wider range of socio-economic and environmental importance. The species provides high-class softwood considered superior to European deals. Suitably manufactured and conditioned, it produces wood suitable for many purposes. It is also useful for fuelwood, charcoal, poles, paper pulp, shade, and ornamental purposes. One of the most promising products from the trees is the oil extracted from its seeds, which is edible and used medicinally to treat gonorrhea. The trees also serve as parts of the habitat of various organisms. Despite its great importance, the species is on the verge of local extermination because of its unsustainable exploitation over the last several decades. Even after it has been banned from harvesting/cutting, its illegal exploitation continues unabated. Unfortunately, owing to a number of factors, there are neither large-scale plantations nor future planned plantation establishment programs of the species. This implies that urgent actions are required to address its unsustainable exploitation. The seed germination, seed and seedling banks, seedling survival and growth, regeneration along altitudinal, light, and moisture gradients as well as in some selected Afromontane forests and timber harvesting of the species are discussed. Human impact on the remaining populations of the species is described and recommendations to address the unsustainable exploitation are proposed.

Plant nomenclature follows that of Friis (1992). Readers are referred to the same publication for taxonomic details.