Journal of Energy and Natural Resources 2016; 5(3): 30-36 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/jenr doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20160503.11 ISSN: 2330-7366 (Print); ISSN: 2330-7404 (Online) Vegetation Composition and Deforestation Impact in Gambella National Park, Ethiopia Abreham Berta Aneseyee Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Natural Resource, Wolkite University, Wolkite, Ethiopia Email address: abresh1240@gmail.com, abreham.berta@wku.edu.et To cite this article: Abreham Berta Aneseyee. Vegetation Composition and Deforestation Impact in Gambella National Park, Ethiopia. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources. Vol. 5, No. 3, 2016, pp. 30-36. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20160503.11 Received: March 13, 2016; Accepted: March 21, 2016; Published: June 30, 2016 Abstract: The vegetation of Gambella national park varies in terms of composition and structure due to the occurrence of rivers bisect the park. Data of the vegetation was collected by different techniques such as field observation, GIS and remote sensing, GPS and compass, and topographic map. The scientific name, local name and their uses was identify by indigenous knowledge of the community, experts knowledge and field guide line book for each tree species. Stratification was used of homogeneity/heterogeneity of the land use of the park and make easy ways for study. There were also 80 sample plots with 10m x10m rectangular plot size was taken to carry out counting and identifying the species using transect line in the study area. A total of 39 species were recorded and the most dominance species was Grewia mollis. The analysis indicated that the riverine forest was dense (more stems) than terrestrials forest. The highest stem grown in the Riverine forest was Grewia mollis A. Juss whereas terrestrial species was Bridelias cleroneura and also more tree species were available in terrestrial wood land forest than riverine forest. As move to the reverine forest, there was more vegetation, abundance, distribution and greenness. Land use land cover change indicated that terrestrial wood land forest is decreasing from time to time due to anthropogenic factors. Therefore, in order to keep the sustainability of the national park from deforestation there must be integration of stack holder organization, awareness creation of the community, participatory approach in the park is required. Keywords: Vegetation, Park, Deforestation, Composition 1. Introduction The natural environment in Gambella regional state is currently suffering very seriously and wide spread damage, and, since this is the case species of plant and wild animal including complete ecosystems is disappearing at an alarming rate [1]. As deforestation is increasing, it reduces the quality of the Regional population, specially the poor, who are living close to the forest land. According to [2] deforestation increases then occurrence of higher volume run off which can result in flooding in low plain areas. The marginal land around the park is occupied by increasing human population. The increasing population leads to increasing demand for agricultural land and forest products, thus forcing the people to clear woodland/ natural forest for settlement and expansion of farmland. A total of 140,000 ha of natural forests (mainly woodland) were cleared for resettlement purpose [3]. According to [4], 437,500 hectares of woodland are made available for investments into commercial agriculture. Currently, the park is shrinking and over exploiting due to investment expansion, fuel wood finding, new grass rejuvenate for animal feeding etc so that it need proper management plan for tourist attraction and economic contribution to the region and the country. From this research it is recommended as solution for avoiding deforestation and exploiting of the national park such as providing alternative energy source, awareness creation of local community and implementing the policy. The objectives study was differentiate dominant tree species, composition, type and structure of forest in the national park; Observe the extent of deforestation based on land use land cover change and identify the most reverine and land race species tree in the national park.