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Edible Woody Plants Diversity and Potential Contribution to Food Security in Ethiopia

Received: 20 June 2022    Accepted: 1 August 2022    Published: 10 August 2022
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Abstract

Edible woody plants are important for household food security and dietary diversification in some rural areas, particularly in the dry lands, to supplement staple foods, fill the gap between seasonal food shortages, and serve as emergency food during famine, prolonged drought, or social unrest. Within traditional farming systems, they provide a set of financial, sociological, and environmental services. This research review aimed to overview the edible woody plants diversity and potential contribution to food security in Ethiopia. Published documents and journal articles were found via keyword searches in relevant literature data banks were used as data sources. About 71% (292) of edible woody plant species have edibility reports from more than one community in Ethiopia. Fruits roots, leaves, stems were the components of plant parts that are used as edible. Cultivated fruit trees that exist on the farmlands are adapted, cultivated, and managed by household members and they are used for food, fodder, shelter, fiber, cloths. Drought, overharvesting, and overgrazing are just some of the most important factors influencing the abundance and density of edible woody plants. Local communities should be encouraged to participate in the conservation and management of plant resources. There must be collaboration between government sectors, NGOs and local communities to raise the local nurseries of edible woody species and sustain promotion of their planting in Ethiopia.

Published in International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology (Volume 7, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijee.20220703.12
Page(s) 37-48
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Nutritional Status, Edible Woody Plants, Fruit Trees, Food Security, Threat

References
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  • APA Style

    Kitessa Gemechu Beleta, Tokuma Urgessa Gondore. (2022). Edible Woody Plants Diversity and Potential Contribution to Food Security in Ethiopia. International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology, 7(3), 37-48. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20220703.12

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    ACS Style

    Kitessa Gemechu Beleta; Tokuma Urgessa Gondore. Edible Woody Plants Diversity and Potential Contribution to Food Security in Ethiopia. Int. J. Ecotoxicol. Ecobiol. 2022, 7(3), 37-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ijee.20220703.12

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    AMA Style

    Kitessa Gemechu Beleta, Tokuma Urgessa Gondore. Edible Woody Plants Diversity and Potential Contribution to Food Security in Ethiopia. Int J Ecotoxicol Ecobiol. 2022;7(3):37-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ijee.20220703.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijee.20220703.12,
      author = {Kitessa Gemechu Beleta and Tokuma Urgessa Gondore},
      title = {Edible Woody Plants Diversity and Potential Contribution to Food Security in Ethiopia},
      journal = {International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology},
      volume = {7},
      number = {3},
      pages = {37-48},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijee.20220703.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20220703.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijee.20220703.12},
      abstract = {Edible woody plants are important for household food security and dietary diversification in some rural areas, particularly in the dry lands, to supplement staple foods, fill the gap between seasonal food shortages, and serve as emergency food during famine, prolonged drought, or social unrest. Within traditional farming systems, they provide a set of financial, sociological, and environmental services. This research review aimed to overview the edible woody plants diversity and potential contribution to food security in Ethiopia. Published documents and journal articles were found via keyword searches in relevant literature data banks were used as data sources. About 71% (292) of edible woody plant species have edibility reports from more than one community in Ethiopia. Fruits roots, leaves, stems were the components of plant parts that are used as edible. Cultivated fruit trees that exist on the farmlands are adapted, cultivated, and managed by household members and they are used for food, fodder, shelter, fiber, cloths. Drought, overharvesting, and overgrazing are just some of the most important factors influencing the abundance and density of edible woody plants. Local communities should be encouraged to participate in the conservation and management of plant resources. There must be collaboration between government sectors, NGOs and local communities to raise the local nurseries of edible woody species and sustain promotion of their planting in Ethiopia.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Edible Woody Plants Diversity and Potential Contribution to Food Security in Ethiopia
    AU  - Kitessa Gemechu Beleta
    AU  - Tokuma Urgessa Gondore
    Y1  - 2022/08/10
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijee.20220703.12
    T2  - International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology
    JF  - International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology
    JO  - International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology
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    EP  - 48
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-1735
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20220703.12
    AB  - Edible woody plants are important for household food security and dietary diversification in some rural areas, particularly in the dry lands, to supplement staple foods, fill the gap between seasonal food shortages, and serve as emergency food during famine, prolonged drought, or social unrest. Within traditional farming systems, they provide a set of financial, sociological, and environmental services. This research review aimed to overview the edible woody plants diversity and potential contribution to food security in Ethiopia. Published documents and journal articles were found via keyword searches in relevant literature data banks were used as data sources. About 71% (292) of edible woody plant species have edibility reports from more than one community in Ethiopia. Fruits roots, leaves, stems were the components of plant parts that are used as edible. Cultivated fruit trees that exist on the farmlands are adapted, cultivated, and managed by household members and they are used for food, fodder, shelter, fiber, cloths. Drought, overharvesting, and overgrazing are just some of the most important factors influencing the abundance and density of edible woody plants. Local communities should be encouraged to participate in the conservation and management of plant resources. There must be collaboration between government sectors, NGOs and local communities to raise the local nurseries of edible woody species and sustain promotion of their planting in Ethiopia.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Forest and Range Land Plants Biodiversity Directorate, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Forest and Range Land Plants Biodiversity Directorate, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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