Indigenous Comprehension of Fodder Trees and Shrubs in Semiarid Areas of Metema District, Northwestern Ethiopia.

Background: Trees and shrubs are a major component of the diet for livestock in Ethiopia, although they were not fully documented in many parts of the country. Thus, the study was undertaken to assess fodder trees and shrubs in the semiarid area of Metema District, northwestern Ethiopia. Methods: Eight Kebeles were selected purposively based on livestock production and vegetation availability. Cochran's formula was used to select 385 informants composed of 40 purposively selected key informants and 345 systematically selected general informants. Data were collected through interviews, guided field walks, and focus group discussions. Then, they were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Jaccard's coefficient of similarity (JCS), preference ranking, paired comparison, and relative frequency of citation. Knowledge difference between informant types and age groups was analyzed using Results and Discussion: Livestock production is the main source of livelihood for Metema District communities. Goats were the most reared animals per household (34), followed by cattle (26). To feed the livestock, 46 fodder trees and shrubs within 36 genera and 24 families were identified. Fabaceae was the most species-rich family (17.39%), followed by Combretaceae (13.04%). Key informants reported significantly more fodder species than general informants ( Conclusions: This study revealed that the indigenous communities of Metema District possess high knowledge of tree and shrub fodder plants. The plants are vital components of their livestock feeding systems to improve their livelihoods.