Regeneration Status of Oxytenanthera abyssinica A. R. Munro Forest after Mass Flowering and Mass Death in Homosha District, Benishangul Gumuz Region, Northwest Ethiopia

The study was done to assess the regeneration status of lowland bamboo after gregarious flowering and death in Benishangul Gumuz Region, Homosha District, Jimma and Sherkole Kebeles, North west of Ethiopia. A systematic sampling technique was used to survey lowland bamboo. Twenty and eleven sample plots were surveyed in Jima and Sherkole Kebeles respectively and each plot with 10 x 10 m size. Field observation, regeneration inventory, FGDs, and questionnaire survey on 80 households were used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The seedlings and culms had a significant difference (One- Way ANOVA p <0.05) in density, size (DBH) and height between the two sites. However, the size difference was statistically insignificant. Height and diameter classes distribution indicated highest number of individuals in the lower classes (<1 & 1-2 year) and this suggests that the age of the forest after mass flowering and death is not more than 4 to 5 years hence regeneration could be sensitive to the anthropogenic disturbances. Sampled HHs harvest bamboo at an age of <1 & ≥ 3 years and harvesting intensity was observed to be related with culms size rather than age class across different management.


Introduction
Bamboo is a natural regenerative plant, which naturally grows mostly in the forest as a bushy grass in tropical and subtropical ecology. It is naturally found as an understory plant, which can also grow in moist regions and can be referred to as woody grass and classified into species ranging in number from 1439 to 1500 with 115 genera's across the globe [1][2][3][4], Bamboo plant plays a significant role in the preservation of the forest as it releases about 35% more oxygen into the atmosphere than other plants, thus reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide as compared As many as 1500 bamboo species exist worldwide, most of which grow in Southeast Asia. Africa has a total of only 1.4 million hectares of bamboo, much of which is distributed over Eastthe largest in Africa, over about 1 million ha, and 85% of this area is covered by Oxytenanthera abyssinica, which is an indigenous bamboo to Ethiopia and endemic to tropical Africa [3]. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing, highest productivity, most versatile, short harvesting cycle, and annually renewable and harvestable plant if it is managed in intelligent way [8].
Bamboo is a highly utilized natural resource in many parts of the world. In Ethiopia the use of bamboo is limited to construction, fences and some rudimentary furniture and household utensils. Although bamboo is not an integral part of the Ethiopian economy, it plays a very important role socially, economically and ecologically in areas where it occurs naturally as well as where it is [2,3,9]. Recently, bamboo has received increasing attention because of its easy propagation, vigorous regeneration, fast growth, high productivity and quick maturity. It provides goods and services useful to mankind. It is a source for food, fodder, furniture, building materials, industrial inputs, medical plants and fuel. It also plays a vital role in environmental amelio- [2][3][4]9,10].
It was pointed out that enormous hectares of lowland bamboo in the region are cleared for crop production purposes [11]. Moreover, Benishangul Gumuz Regional Food Security Strate-by bio deteriorating agents such as termites, beetles and fungi were also deterring bamboo regeneration. In addition, there is less research on bamboo in the study area, despite the fact that forestry research has been conducted in the country for the past 30 years [4]. Bamboo is not considered as a research commodity in Ethiopia, lack of awareness about the multiple uses of bamboo is the basis for delay of actions on development, research and conservation interventions [12]. ecological requirements also need further investigation. Appro--land bamboo in BGR has been under high pressure due to lack of knowledge on resource use. In order to reverse this situation, is a study gap on how to manage and sustainably utilize lowland bamboo potential of the district as well as the region.
--markable former bamboo land has been changed to other land the region. So far, there is also no record of new regeneration under dead populations [14][15][16].
Accordingly, in order to use these vital resources of bamboo current & reliable information on the status of natural regeneration & management practice trends at the community level.
generation of lowland bamboo forest in Homosha Woreda, Benishangul Gumuz Regional State, Northwest of Ethiopia.

Materials and Methods
Location Benishangul Gumuz Regional State (BGRS) is one of the nine regional states of Ethiopia which was established in 1995 by the new constitution of Ethiopia that created a federal sysof the c 687 km away from the capital city of the country, Addis Ababa.
South Sudan in West, and it is bordered by Amhara Regional state in the East and North, Oromiya Regional state in the East and South East and Gambella Regional state in the South [17]. km 2 [18]. BGR is divided into 3 administrative zones and 20 'woderas'. Homosha Woreda is one of the 20 woredas located at a distance 36 km from Assosa capital city of the region with area of 708.42 km 2 and it is found in eastern parts of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, which is bordered by Kurmuk in north west, Menge in the north east, and Assosa in south. on the asphalt road to Kurmuk Woreda at a distance of 10 Km from the woreda Kebele which was proposed for this study is, Shorkole Keble on the same direction of North West on asphalt road to Kurmuk Woreda at a distance of 15 km from Homosha town. Currently these two Kebles do not have aged non ( Figure 1).

Climate
According to the Assosa Metrological Service Agency the rainfall distribution pattern is mono-modal commencing towards end of April and ending in November with altitude ranging from 1100 to 1350 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.), and the average rainfall ranges from 588-1,549 mm per annum. In the -tude [19] (Figure 2).

Population
Based on projected data, the current total population of the region is about 975,988 people in 2013 [17]. Currently, population density is sparse with a regional average of 15.91 people per the region; it looks as it has high dispersed local /native people. Instead it has a number of refuge people around of the study area due to its location for settlement of refugees', 11,661 [17].
As information obtained from the Homosah woreda Agriworeda without the refugees are 14,894 Male & 14358 female total 29252 [17]. From these in the study areas Jima Kebele 146 house hold heads and with the total population of 722 of which 356 are males and the remaining 366 are females. In Shorkole Kebele there are 231 household heads and 3015 house members (of which 1415 are males and the remaining 1600 are females).  (Table 1) of which 6192 are males and 5469 are females.

Land use and vegetation
deciduous wood lands, acacia wood land, bush land, shrub lands, Boswellia papyrifera wood land and bamboo thickets [17]. Despite of the rugged terrain, vegetation type of the area mainly comprises woody shrub grass land, shrub grass land, dense wood land, bamboo thicket, and open grass land [20]. In very few spots of the area along the valleys and plateaus, some cullow population pressure on these areas is because of unfavorable climatic conditions (high temperature and high humidity), tsetse Materials used: Materials like, measuring tape for measuring distance, plot size, and measuring the circumference of the clump, Hand compass for direction measurement (reading bearings), Diameter tape for collar diameter measurement, graduate measuring stick for measuring height, GPS (S62) for locating sample plots /ground reference, measurement of distance, and altitude, photo camera for image data collection, and other instruments like Riven, rope, data collecting formats, writing pad; sheet of papers and pen were used and all primary data from

Research methods
Data source: For the purpose of this research both primary and secondary data has been used to accomplish the desired objective. Primary data was collected using household survey, formal ry of bamboo regeneration stands, and Secondary data was also used to supplement the information obtained from the primary sources like; thesis inputs, books, journals, census record, literature review, research article and Report results were used.

Sample size and Sampling determination Field observation
Before the actual research work and data collection, a reconnaissance survey was conducted to have a general overview of spective area is suitable to this study (geographic features), that helps to determine lay out and number of transect lines, sample tem. Participant observation was also another method used in survey period and household's data collection.

Sampling techniques
composite an inventory assessment to see the density of natuand house hold (HH) survey activities for the management, utilization and institutional support practices of trends, a total of Eight bamboo growing kebeles have been categorized from the study district based on the information of natural resources development experts at woreda levels. And selected two representative kebeles purposely, due to their accessibility for transport, due to their location near to each other /adjacent enabling to comparison & as other kebeles, which have missed their original stand cover of bamboo areas at the same time on the case of grethe areas to understand management practices. bamboo areas relatively protected and the other was Shorkole kebele which has bamboo areas which is severely disturbed due to more interference of refugees.
Consequently, to see this assessment, two study areas were nique were applied according to their density and objective of the study, a total of 31 sample plots were set up for this Inventory activities, that is 20 samples from Jima protected area of bamboo (50.79ha.) and again 11 samples from shorkole open / non-managed area of bamboo (43.83 ha).
Parallel line transects were laid out from North to south for the protected area as its topographical shape of the land and based on the area coverage and this was 140m distance apart Along each transect line 10m x 10m (100m2) sample quadrates were plotted for the protected site systematically at 150 m distance from one plot to the other interval and four sub plots 1 x 1m (1m2) at corners were employed for count and record Jima Kebele & 43.83 hectare in Sherkole Kebele ( Figure 3).
On the other hand sampling household survey have conducted to see the management & utilization trends of the local community using a simple random sampling technique, within structured and semi structured questionnaires were developed and administered, Out of the total 377 house hold heads living in these two Kebles of study area, 80 sample size of the HHs were Further to this, formal pilot tests were carried out for a queswith which respondents react to the questions, to make sure that the questions are relevant and easily understood by the HHs interviewed. Also for those data collectors and participants of the inventory one days orientation was given to enable them understand the questions and to provide them skill on how to approach individual households during the interview, how comactivities, as well it was important to estimate the time it required for achievement.
All steps of these activities within the study area were done with the consulting of the head of the kebele and the rural development agents at the kebeles. In addition to these experts (skilled personnel) from responsible governmental organization questionnaires by the HHs and to assess the technical process. A continuous close supervision of the researcher were a main duty and the researcher was fully participated in all part of data collection activities. Finally, formal questionnaires survey sheets checked and collected from each study kebeles and was made ready for analysis.

Focus group discussions (FGD)
Focus group discussion was held to supplement and con-naire and in-depth interviews with knowledgeable peoples. In the study two kebeles and the expertise of the woreda a total of three focus group discussions with (8-10) focus group members representatives from youth, Religion leaders, administrators of the kebele, extension workers & other known people who are accepted by the community and bamboo planters having good knowledge of their locality and natural resources were used for discussion.

Household interview
Kebeles in the vicinity of the lowland bamboo (LLB) forest, road access and their livelihood base to the bamboo resources, and jectives of the study, Household survey was taken through structured & semi structured questionnaires for collecting quantitative and qualitative data, as the composition of the population of the proposed study area is homogenous who have the same ethnic and cultural practice, simple random sampling techniques was employed using the village registers, this type of sampling minimizes selection bias by giving all individuals an equal chance to be chosen, it is better comparatively to get more accurate data and it is important to get representative of the population under consideration. Out of the total house hold heads living in these two Keble of study area, 80 representatives house hold heads were selected, proportionally in each Kebele (Jima 31 HHs & Shorkole 49 HHs).

Bamboo regeneration inventory
In sampling for bamboo regeneration data, a parallel and a cross transect line method was used to achieve a systematic dis-tangular plots were laid out to census regeneration (20 samples from the protected bamboo forest/ Jima Kebele/ Arema Bamboo Forest/ & 11 samples from the open one/from Shorkole Kebele), and the following Parameters have recorded for further analysis Within the four corners, all seedlings were assessed to know their regeneration potential; Since the growth stock were expected as seedling vegetative phase (Yigardu et al., 2016), in each plots (10m × 10m) matured bamboo plants/Culm collar diameters at 5cm above the ground (RCD) for estimating size & its density, and also measured their heights & clump size (circumference) to assess the growth characteristics & to see stand rameters. However, to analyze the size distribution of lowland bamboo forest under study the Root Collar Diameter (RCD) that was measured during the inventory was converted in to Diameter at breast height (DBH) by diameter conversion model [23] to see if the size distribution of lowland bamboo of the area meets the standard (2.5cm) stated by [24]. by asking the community experiences and based on [14] criteria using internodes color, internodes, epiphytes, Culm sheaths, sheath ring at node, and branches (Table 2).

Data analysis
Data which were recorded from the transect survey were sorted and organized in to tables with the diameter at breast height, heights, age group and number of seedlings as variables.
(protected and open) using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOand analyzed by t-test to determine the bamboo population size using the formula: Seedling Density/ha=No of plot counts/plot -Before the questionnaires were entered in to appropriate statistical packages, they were edited and coded and the variables analyzed were the backgrounds of the respondents, in terms of frequency distribution, percentages, measure of central tendency, compare the behavior of various demographic categories (age, education gender, etc) in relation to use and management

Stand structure of lowland bamboo
Bamboo stand structure is mainly concerned with the number of plants per unit area and the age composition (age structhe three age-groups varies under the two management regimes and height varies in the two sites assessed but were not statisti-  Age structure ha, 1-2 years old accounted 4960 culms/ha, and over 3 years old about 42 % (4960 culms ha-1) belongs to 1-3 years age class followed by 34 % (4225 culms ha-1) of the stand below one years of age and none was recorded in above three years age category -ent (One-way ANOVA, p<0.05). Moreover, the contribution of culms between the ages of 1-3 years towards total standing stock was 76.5%. Harvesting was observed to be related with culms size rather than age class across the management systems.

Variables
Sum of Squares df Mean Square F P.
Seedlings density (Open)  Harvesting was observed to be related with culm size rather than age class across the management systems ( Figure 4). Average diameter of standing culms was 3.15 cm, while it was 4.1 cm for cut stump this indicates that culms with larger size are usually harvested for construction purposes in their third or fourth year Standing and cut culms size distribution was recognized to be ble 6).

Growth characteristics
Both growth characteristics, namely Culm diameter at breast the studied areas. Higher DBH values were obtained from protected area (3.10 cm), and smaller from open site (  Figure 5).

Demographic characteristics of households
perception and management of bamboo and its contribution to livelihoods. In this study, from the total of 80 HHs interviewed 80% were male headed and the rest 20 % were female headed (Table 5).
with ages ranging from 25 to 69 years. Of the total sample HHs those in the produce age class (18-45 years) comprise about 58.8%. Regarding the marital status about 86.3% are married erage family size of the respondent HHs in the study area was 8 persons, with minimum and maximum of 2and 69 respectively. the households lived in the study area was ranges from 2 to 69 with average value of 51.7 years.

HH characteristics Variable) Parameter
Frequency Percent    Table 7: Diameter and height of plants per plot of the two sites studied. boo-based livelihood practices or adoption of new technology. In terms of literacy level of the respondent HHs, about 40% were illiterate followed by those who have attended primary school (grade 1-6) 32.5% followed by those who are in read and write group (15%) and only 12.5% have attended secondary school (grade7-12). With respect to the role of HHs in the community high proportion of households (62.5%) has responded that they are involved in many development activities in their communities as community members. area was 8 persons, with minimum and maximum of 2 and 17 respectively. About 26.3% HH respondents were in others category that is serving the community as leaders of women and youth representatives and social associations, 3.8% are religious leaders occupation has also an impact on the extent of bamboo resource utilization and its management. According to the data collected the majority of HHs interviewed were farmers (90.0%) followed by forest guards (8.8%) and Merchants (1.3%).

Farmers' knowledge on Bamboo resources management, utilization and Processing Farmers experience in bamboo stand management
In the study area, bamboo stand managements like protect--ing, controlling illegal cutting through guarding were carried out. Accordingly, the survey results show that of all respondents (21.25%) stated that protection from domestic animals and from illegal cutting by guarding the forested areas is the commonest 51.25% respondents were not involved in any of bamboo stand management activities (Table 8).
Views related to the resource base indicated that there is a decreasing trend in this respect (95%) due to agricultural land excontributed also to the bamboo stock shrinkage observed so far (15%) ( Table 9).

Farmers knowledge on bamboo resource ownership and legal status
In the study area the existence of lows governing forest utilization and management were not well recognized by the community. Even though there are task forces facilitating the protection of bamboo forests their practical activity in creating awareness and implementing the lows was very limited so far. Moreover, the sampled HHs responded that the owner of the forest nearby their kebele is under the administration of both the community and the government (Table 10). bamboo population status, Culm characteristic and regeneration potentiality. When property rights to natural resources are absent and unenforced the result is free riding and over exploitation. Higher intensity of exploitation in a low productivity area the species and can lead to the elimination of the species from a given area ( Figure 6).

Farmers' experience in bamboo growing/cultivation
some experience in cultivating bamboo. Moreover, the farmers have largely gained the experience from NGOs followed Parents, friends, neighborhoods and government (   respondent households have got from NGO's support followed by personal collections from wild and some from government. (42.1%) followed by own collections from wildlings of about 50 few uses seed sowing (Table 11).

Utilization of bamboo resource
utilization by framers has been increasing during the last twelve years. Views related to utilization indicated that there is an increasing trend in this respect due to better access to roads and resource limitations resulting in more utilization particularly in  As a result, local peoples of the study area were forced to search for the resource either from communal bamboo forest areas too far from the village or to collect from the regenerating bamboo stock nearby their village by any means (43.8%). More-     any time is applied in bamboo stands while the remaining (25%) reported periodically selective harvesting.
Extension services on bamboo development, utilization and processing government and nongovernment organizations was assessed.  Accordingly, of the total respondent HHs only 21.3% received training on bamboo development, management and utilization ment (3.8%) and by both government & NGOs (1%).

the study area
Despite the fact that some conservation practices were taking place in the two kebeles considered in the study surrounding the bamboo forests, the present study revealed several problems hindering the natural regeneration of lowland bamboo at Jima and Sherkole kebeles. Some of the most important problems ering and death, continues harvesting of bamboo by people from refugees which may led the future regeneration unsuccessful and these accounted for 100% (n=80) of all the respondents (Table  ered bamboo for export to Sudan which accounts 95% (n=80) (Figure 10).

Discussion
Bamboo stand structure is mainly concerned with the number of plants per unit area (stand density) and the age composition (age structure) and the resulting parameters [6].
Note: * Total percent may exceed 100% due to multiple responses.  Low seedlings density per hectare (252,250 ha-1) in the reserved lowland bamboo forest at Jima kebele ' Arema Bmboo Forest' was manifested by low regeneration of lowland bamboo from of biotic and abiotic factors ,including amounts of viable seeds much smaller than the seedling density by [13], research report made in Sherkole Kebele (Homosha Woreda), which informed that the density of germinating seedlings or wildlings of lowland was found to be as high as 6 seedlings per 50 cm2 (12,000,000 seedlings ha-1). To the contrary [21] reported that the seedling density of bamboo in Anbesa Forest was 427.50 per ha.
Likewise, comparable culm density with DBH ≥ 2cm in the protected area (9185 culms ha-1) implies the existence of a good supported by [21] stating that the Density of bamboo culms in Anbessa forest with DBH ≥ 2 cm was 12,458.56 stems per ha. than the one recorded by [13] and was also stated that under natural conditions, the number of culms per ha of lowland bamboo was reported to be only 8000. However, plot level records indicate that plantations of this species can have at least 40,000 culms per ha which is much lower than the natural seedlings recorded   and thinner bamboo culms recruit up to third year of stand age reported in O. abyssinica. So immature culms, their small size can't yield the desired output of villagers and therefore not harvested at initial stage of stand development. A stable population structure with preponderance towards young aged culm is key for maintaining the stand productivity [20]. However, the size of culms is a main factor to indicate the stand condition, usually big bamboo can produce and accumulate more nutrients for stand growth because it occupies more space and absorbs more mineral elements [14].
overall mean height growth of bamboo at the study site (both open and protected) was 4.5 m and 3.8 respectively which are greater than 3.5 m at the age of two year reported by [13]. It was also reported that the height of green culm for lowland bambreast height for both protected and open areas was 3.1 cm and indicating an average value of 4.5cm, with range between 2.8 and 6.2 cm. It is also slightly lower than values reported by [13] inthe study site is much younger that the rhizome is not well established to give new shoots that gives rise to larger culms. Analysis of data revealed a loss of 75% of the total stock in both open and protected sites was belongs to culms with bigger root collar diameter (4.5cm) and none culms with the age greater than three year was recorded in the standing clump in both study sites. Culms of bigger diameter are usually harvested for construction purposes in their third or fourth year and younger ones of some ment practices such as mulching, application of manure, Selective thinning, and weeding etc. were minimal. However, there are sorts of cultural management practice recorded during an interview. According to the survey result of all respondents only 21.25% stated that protection from domestic animals and from illegal cutting by guarding were the common management in Ethiopia, there is no management practice for government owned natural lowland bamboo stands. No protection what so tection from encroachment and clear felling; no practical arrangements exist to manage, protect and utilize natural lowland bamboo forests. According to the Forestry Conservation, Development and Utilization Proclamation No. 94/1994, two types of forest ownership are recognized in Ethiopia: forests that belong to the government (federal or regional) and private forests.
In the study area majority of the respondents know that bamboo forest in their area belongs to either the government or to the community. Whereas a very few respondents stated that the forest belongs to both the government and the community, but the existence of lows governing forest utilization and managreement with the report of [3,13] indicated that the government owned bamboo forests are actually nobody's forests that lack of awareness and limited low enforcements.
In the study area, there is a limited experience of bamboo and agricultural farms were natural regeneration with some culreport by [26] indicated that as a result of lack of value addition on bamboo resources farmers have been slow in promoting culindicating that in western Ethiopia it was observed that most of the farmers have very few clumps (1-4 Clumps) of bamboo in their homesteads and they don't do any silvicultural operation in natural bamboo plantation. However, with the strong techniplantation in the community forest in a small scale by the scien-In the study area bamboo is harvested for construction and son the starch content of bamboo culms will be less so that bamalso supported [27] harvesting should be carried out during the dry season when the culm nutrient and starch content are the lowest with the aim to prevent culms being attacked by borers. In addition, newly sprouting shoots will not be damaged when bamboo is harvested during this time. According to [27] a good harvesting age for bamboo culms ranges from 2 to 3 years. To the contrary majority (67.5%) of the households in the study area harvest bamboo culms every year at the age of <1 and ≥ 3 years depending on its use. Culms of the age of 3 and greater than 3 years were harvested for construction this is because bamboo can attain its maturity and better-quality culms within this age class. But on the other hand, people of the study area harvested bamboo at its young stage (<1 year) mainly for rope ods for sustainable harvest of plantation bamboo are available but for wild stand a sustainable harvesting technique requires to be worked out. According to [2,8,12] culms are usually harvested for construction purposes in their third or fourth year and the newly sprouting shoots and may hamper its regeneration. Almost majority of the respondents (75%) selectively harvest tion, dead, diseased and malformed, for fuel wood and new shoots for human food, new leaves and branches for animal feed.
vest bamboo year-round specially when there is scarcity of food.
With regard to bamboo culms processing, there is very little experience at the study site though some of respondent household living close to refugees (Sherkole kebele) had better expebamboo resource users close to the Sherkole refuge have got better training and material support to process bamboo culm in Vision (WV) and Natural Resource Development and Environment Protection (NRDEP). Bamboo culms were also sold to Su-With regard to extension services such as training, material and technical support and advices about bamboo management, utilization and processing, less attention is given. However, a few farmers had got technical and material support from NGO and project link World Vision (WV) and Natural Resource Development and Environment Protection (NRDEP).
tion of bamboo is one of the major means of income and livelihood of the local community. In addition to income generation, the community use bamboo for house construction, fencing, food and contributes a lot for income and livelihood of the HHs. community has been increasing through time. However, to the contrary the resource base is getting narrower and narrower.
Despite the fact that some management practices were taking place in the two kebeles considered in the study surrounding the bamboo forests, the present study revealed several problems hindering the natural regeneration of lowland bamboo at Jima and Sherkole kebeles. Some of the most important problems were of bamboo by people from refugees may led the future regeneration practices unsuccessful and these accounted for 100% cating that the newly regenerating young bamboo plants might er problem was associated with the harvesting of dried bamboo death of vast population of lowland bamboo in Benishangul-Gumuz regional state of Ethiopia, Metekel Zone, Mandura district, eration where the rest of the bamboo area has been converted to other land uses. Degradation and land conversion have resulted Ethiopia [26].

Conclusion
From the preceding results and discussion of this study, it can be concluded that, stand density of the two sites varied markedly. Lack of protection and unregulated harvesting from villagers, merchants and people from refugees caused such drastic decline in stand density in open site at Sherkole kebele than the protected sit at Jima kebele /Arema Bamboo Forest. A stable population structure with majority towards young aged culms was observed in the protected site and this is a key for maintaining the stand productivity in the future.
ing and cute culms have been observed between the two sites studied. Farmers living close to the refugees have better experiences of planting bamboo due to trainings, market access, increase in bamboo products and better knowledge and skill than the distant ones.
In the study area, there is a limited experience of bamboo in the homesteads were natural regeneration with some cultivation experiences from NGOs. However, with the strong technimethod of cultivation.
With regard to extension services such as training, material and technical support and advices about bamboo management, utilization and processing, less attention is given. However, a few farmers living close to the main road and Sherkole refugee camp had got technical and material support from NGO and project link with World Vision (WV) and Natural Resource Development and Environmental Protection (NRDEP).
tion of bamboo is one of the major means of income and livelihood of the local community. In addition to income generation, the community use bamboo for house construction, fencing, for and human food and contributes a lot for income and livelihood been increasing through time but the resource base is getting depleted.
Despite the fact that some conservation practices were taking place in the two kebeles studied there are some important problems hindering natural regeneration of lowland bamboo.
ering and death, unresponsive harvesting of bamboo by people from nearby refugees and intensive harvesting of dead bamboo for export to Sudan by some merchants.

Acknowledgement
nities of Sherkole and Jima kebeles of Homosha district for sharing their incredible accumulated knowledge of bamboo. Without their contribution, this study would have been impossible.
of Homosha district for the support and encouragement provided during documentation of data about lowland bamboo.
garding the publication of this article.