Oxytenanthera abyssinica A. Rich. Munro species-site suitability matching in Ethiopia

Oxytenanthera abyssinica (Lowland bamboo) is vital to the lowland environment, for restoration, biodiversity conservation as well as a substitute source of woody raw materials and non- wood products to rural and urban people, forest industries, construction and energy sectors. The species grows in lowland areas thriving on unproductive soils, even tolerating rocky outcrops, high temperature and low rainfall areas. Bamboo rhizomes are effective in protecting topsoil on steep slopes and river banks. In Ethiopia, the bulk (~85%) of lowland bamboo species is concentrated to the western part of the country, to the Benishangul- Gumuz Region, and less known to other parts with similar agroclimate. The present study aims at assessing environmental parameters for species-site suitability and matching to the potential regions where the species can thrive and produce biomass to provide the economic and ecosystem benefits at wider scale over the country. Climate, terrain and soil data collected from field survey coupled with growth parameters measured at introduced new sites indicated that O. abyssinica is versatile species, can thrive well in other areas in the country with similar edaphic and climatic conditions and altitudinal gradient as in its native range. Therefore, cognizant on the stated results, disseminating the species with seed collection and also /training and making aware communities on vegetative propagation techniques along with the potential uses is recommended to new potential areas in Ethiopia.