Floristic Composition, Population Structure, and Regeneration Status of Vascular Plants in the Damota Forest Patch, South Ethiopia

The study was conducted from September 2023 to January 2025 in the Damota Forest, located within the Melokoza District of southern Ethiopia, to study the floristic composition, vegetation structure, and regeneration status of vascular plant species. Forest ecosystems are essential for biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, hydrological balance, soil protection, and sustainable development, yet increasing human‐induced disturbances are threatening their ecological integrity. A systematic sampling design was employed using 120 main plots (20 × 20 m) with nested subplots (1 × 1 m for herbs and 5 × 5 m for seedlings and saplings). Floristic structure was analyzed using density, frequency, basal area, and IVI. Species diversity was assessed using the Shannon index and evenness, and regeneration status was determined from seedling, sapling, and mature plants. A total of 128 vascular plant species, belonging to 114 genera and 59 families, were recorded, with Asteraceae as the most dominant family (15 species). The highest woody plant density (417 individuals’ ha −1 ) occurred in the smallest DBH class (2.5–10 cm). Most species were rare, except Hypericum revolutum (37.5% frequency). The total basal area was 75 m 2 ha −1 , with Polyscias fulv having the highest IVI. Shannon diversity ranged from 2.06 to 3.88 and declined with altitude, while evenness (0.64–0.92) remained high. A total of 1007 woody individuals were recorded (67.9 seedlings, 48.1 saplings, and 93.8 adults ha −1 ), indicating weak regeneration. The findings highlight structural imbalances and uneven regeneration, underscoring the need for integrated conservation strategies.