Vol. 120 No. 1 (2026)
Research Papers

Structure and Farmers' Woody Species Preference in Parkland Agroforestry in Womberima District, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

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  • Esubalew Molla
Esubalew Molla
Department of Forestry, Mekdela Amba University, South Wollo, Ethiopia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/jaeid-18344

Published 2026-06-29

Keywords

  • Woody species,
  • Preference,
  • Womberima,
  • Structure,
  • Basal area

How to Cite

Molla, E. (2026). Structure and Farmers’ Woody Species Preference in Parkland Agroforestry in Womberima District, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Journal of Agriculture and Environment for International Development (JAEID), 120(1), 99–122. https://doi.org/10.36253/jaeid-18344

Copyright (c) 2026 Esubalew Molla

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

In this study, the structure and farmer preferences of woody species in parkland agroforestry systems in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia's Womberima district, West Gojjam Zone, are examined. A traditional land-use system that is important for preserving biodiversity, improving soil fertility, and sustaining rural livelihoods is parkland agroforestry. For this study, 129 households and 60 parkland agroforestry plots, with 30 plots in the lowland and 30 plots in the midland were taken for the data collection. Within each agro-ecological zone, plots were randomly located in farmers’ fields, ensuring a minimum distance of 100 m between plots to avoid spatial autocorrelation. Woody species inventory was conducted using square plots measuring 50 m × 50 m. A total of 47 woody species identified which is belonging to 28 families with the most abundant being Fabaceae, Moraceae, and Myrtaceae. The lowland parkland agroforestry had a substantially higher species density than the midland, which had a somewhat larger basal area. In terms of frequency, density, and the Importance Value Index (IVI), Croton macrostachyus, Acacia abyssinica, Cordia africana, and Ficus vasta were some of the most ecologically and socially significant species. Farmers’ preferences for woody species were assessed using a preference ranking and scoring method. Soil fertility improvement, Crop compatibility, Provision of fuelwood and timber, Fodder value, Shade provision and Cultural and economic importance were the criteria for preference ranking. According to farmer preference rankings, Acacia abyssinica, Croton macrostachyus, Acacia nilotica, and Cordia africana were the most preferred species because of their multiple uses. The ecological drawbacks of species like Grevillea robusta and Eucalyptus, on the other hand, made them less popular. The study emphasizes that in order to improve sustainability and conservation outcomes, agroforestry development should be in line with farmers’ preferences and local ecological conditions.

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