Woody Species Diversity and Ecological Patterns in the Forests of Zegie Peninsula and Surrounding Islands, Lake Tana

Dry evergreen Afromontane forests of Ethiopia are critically endangered ecosystems. They support high biodiversity and provide critical ecosystem services but are rapidly declining due to increasing human pressures. The forests of the Zegie Peninsula and surrounding monastic islands on Lake Tana are important remnants of this vegetation type, yet little is known about their current ecological status despite their importance for regional biodiversity conservation and watershed regulation in the Lake Tana Basin. To address this gap and guide management planning, this study assessed the woody species diversity, vegetation structure, regeneration status and plant community composition in the Zegie Peninsula and the neighbouring islands of Kebran Gebriel, Entons Eyesus and Daga Estifanos monastery‐based forests. Systematic vegetation surveys were carried out using 165 main plots (400 m 2 for mature trees) and 825 subplots for saplings and seedlings, where species identity, diameter at breast height (DBH), height of individual trees and shrubs with DBH > 2.5 cm and environmental variables were recorded. Data were analysed using R 4.5.1 to compute diversity indices, assess variability in Shannon index and species richness among sites and plant communities, evaluate regeneration patterns and classify plant communities. We documented 162 woody species belonging to 131 genera and 56 families, including 10 endemic species to Ethiopia, with species richness exceeding that of many comparable Ethiopian forests. Species richness varied considerably across sites, with Daga Estifanos recording the highest (126 species) and Kebran Gebriel the lowest (57 species). The Shannon diversity index (H′ = 3.07) was higher than in nearby church forests but lower than values reported two decades ago from part of the current study area, indicating a gradual loss of ecological integrity. Stem densities across DBH classes followed an inverted J‐shaped pattern, suggesting generally adequate regeneration at the community level. However, regeneration was disproportionately dominated by a few species, and several ecologically important species such as Cordia africana and Prunus africana showed poor or absent regeneration. Three distinct plant communities were identified: Coffea arabica – Ehretia cymosa , Mimusops kummel – Syzygium guineense and Celtis africana – Stereospermum kunthianum . Anthropogenic disturbance was widespread, evidenced with cut stumps of 12 tree species recorded in 78% of plots. Generalized linear mixed model analysis revealed that stump density had a significant negative effect on both species richness and seedling density, confirming that selective cutting is a primary driver of biodiversity loss. In addition, a pest infestation causing dieback of M. kummel and the presence of five invasive woody species highlight emerging ecological threats. The findings confirm that the Zegie Peninsula and neighbouring monastic forests remain vital biodiversity refugia but are undergoing accelerating degradation. Immediate conservation interventions are needed, including law enforcement, enrichment planting of poorly regenerating species, invasive species control, pest management and community‐based forest management.