European Journal of Botany, Plant Science and Phytology Vol.1,No.3, pp.10-17, September 2013 Published by European Centre for Research Training and Development UK (www.eajournals.org) 10 THREATS OF WOODY PLANT SPECIES DIVERSITY AND THEIR CONSERVATION TECHNIQUES IN ETHIOPIA Wondie Mebrat 1* and Temesgen Gashaw 2 1 Department of Biology, Adigrat University, Ethiopia. Po. Box 50 2 Department of Natural Resource Management, Adigrat University, Ethiopia ABSTRACT: Forest provides livelihoods for millions of people worldwide, through provision of different products. However, their diversity and area coverage are highly declined through time. Deforestation, invasive species and land degradation are the main threats accelerated plant diversity loss. Like most countries in the Sahelian region Ethiopia is affected by these factors heavily and finally resulted desertification, poverty and natural resource losses. About 75 percent of the countries land mass is estimated to have been affected by the threat of desertification. To overcome these problems efforts has been made to launch afforestation and conservation programs. So, the purpose of this review is to present threats of plant diversity and forest conservation in Ethiopia. KEYWORDS: Threats of Forests, Conservation, Deforestation INTRODUCTION Ethiopia is a mountainous country with great geographic diversity like rugged mountains, flat topped plateaus and deep gorges incised river valleys and rolling plains (Tewoldeberhan, 1988). These diversified topographic features made the country to be covered by the richest forest cover in tropical Africa (Tolera et al. 2008). These forests are essential for human survival and well- being. They harbor two thirds of all terrestrial animal and plant species. They provide us with food, oxygen, shelter, recreation, and spiritual sustenance, and they are the source for over 5,000 commercially-traded products, ranging from pharmaceuticals to timber and clothing (Murthy et al. 2002; World Bank, 2004; SCBD, 2009). In addition, these resources help to maintain the fertility of agricultural land, used as habitat for wild life, protect water resources and reduce the risk of natural disasters such as land slide and flooding (World Bank, 2004). Throughout history humans have used the environment resources plants, animals and others to gain great economic rewards; however, many of the methods are now being seen as unsustainable (Abdelfattah, 2009). Forests undergo changes in various ways. Its areas can be reduced either by deforestation or by natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions. As a result, the expanse of forest areas are declining across the globe, partly through logging activities and also due to conversion of habitats to croplands (agricultural expansion) accounts for up to 40 percent of Ethiopian forest losses (Tewoldeberhan, 1988; Pant and Samant, 2007; Tesfaye, 2007; Eyayu et al. 2009; Winberg, 2010). Especially deforestation is high and severe in the northeastern Ethiopia. Because of the disappearance of forests, most of the mountainous sides are bare. Valleys have been gullied, striping and streams, which is used to have water the whole year around are now mainly dry in dry season (Abate, 2003).