Abstract
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Forests have multidimensional functions and uses to mankind and other living organisms. This review paper summarises the benefits and threats of Ethiopian church forests within the boundaries of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Churches. It focuses on biodiversity conservation, emphasising the importance of seeds and seedlings of native vegetation, ecological value, ecosystem services, and benefits to the community and the world in general. The contribution of forests to biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation is significantly high. However, evidence showed a decrease in forest coverage to produce crops for household consumption. As a result of these factors, the species diversity of natural forests is decreasing. In such difficult conditions, the church forest has been used as a habitat for different plant species. As reported by various scholars, numerous indigenous and IUCN Red List species existed around the church area. In terms of species diversity, the forest around the church is comparable to that of natural forests. In addition to the conservation role of the church forest, the conserved plant species significantly contribute to climate change mitigation through carbon stocks in biomass and soil. Trees in the church area have a long-life history and higher stand structure parameters, such as maximum height, DBH, and crown diameter, and their carbon storage potential is also maximum. Overall, church compounds are serving as hot spot sites for biodiversity conservation and play a significant role in mitigating climate change by limiting greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the amount of carbon removed and stored in forests. It also emphasizes the main threat of these church forests in Ethiopia are deforestation, overgrazing, anthropogenic encroachment, invasive alien species, human population growth and conflict and war. Conservative management of church forests involves protecting them from livestock, managing human use, and actively restoring degraded areas to ensure their longterm health and biodiversity.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
The review reports declining forest coverage from conversion to household crop production.
Verbatim
e0“decrease in forest coverage to produce crops for household consumption”
e1“church forests in Ethiopia”
Claim · model-written summary
Natural forest species diversity is decreasing.
Verbatim
e0“species diversity of natural forests is decreasing”
Claim · model-written summary
Church forests provide habitat for different plant species.
Verbatim
e0“church forest has been used as a habitat for different plant species”
Claim · model-written summary
Indigenous and IUCN Red List species occur around church areas.
Verbatim
e0“numerous indigenous and IUCN Red List species existed around the church area”
e1“habitat for different plant species”
Claim · model-written summary
Church forest species diversity is comparable to that of natural forests.
Verbatim
e0“forest around the church is comparable to that of natural forests”
e1“In terms of species diversity”
Claim · model-written summary
Conserved plants contribute to carbon stocks in biomass and soil.
Verbatim
e0“conserved plant species significantly contribute to climate change mitigation through carbon stocks in biomass and soil”
Claim · model-written summary
Church area trees have long lifespans and higher stand structure measures.
Verbatim
e0“Trees in the church area have a long-life history and higher stand structure parameters, such as maximum height, DBH, and crown diameter”
Claim · model-written summary
Church area trees have maximum carbon storage potential.
Verbatim
e0“their carbon storage potential is also maximum”
e1“Trees in the church area”
Claim · model-written summary
The review identifies deforestation, overgrazing, encroachment, invasive species, population growth and conflict as threats to church forests.
Verbatim
e0“main threat of these church forests in Ethiopia are deforestation, overgrazing, anthropogenic encroachment, invasive alien species, human population growth and conflict and war”
Claim · model-written summary
The review recommends livestock protection, managed human use and restoration of degraded church forests.
Verbatim
e0“Conservative management of church forests involves protecting them from livestock, managing human use, and actively restoring degraded areas”