Role of Forest Ecosystems in Climate Regulation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Dawro Zone, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

Forest ecosystems play a critical role in climate regulation and disaster risk reduction (DRR), particularly in mountainous regions that are highly vulnerable to climate-induced hazards. This study evaluates the contribution of forest ecosystems to carbon sequestration, microclimate regulation, and mitigation of foods and landslides in Dawro Zone, South West Ethiopia. A mixed methods approach was employed, integrating multitemporal remote sensing analysis (2000–2020), feld-based forest biomass and carbon stock assessment, microclimate monitoring, and socioinstitutional surveys. Forest cover change was analyzed using Landsat imagery, achieving an overall classifcation accuracy of 89.3% (κ = 0.86). Aboveground biomass was estimated using the Brown (1997) allometric equation, and carbon stocks were derived using a carbon fraction of 0.47 with associated uncertainty estimates. Results indicate that natural moist forests store signifcantly higher carbon stocks (84.84 ± 8.79 t C ha−1 ) than plantation forests (65.94 ± 7.14 t C ha−1 ), agroforestry systems (46.34 ± 5.36 t C ha−1 ), and degraded forests (35.44 ± 4.51 t C ha−1 ). Micro climate observations show that intact forests reduce air temperature by up to 7.2°C, enhance relative humidity, and increase soil moisture compared to degraded landscapes. Spatial and statistical analyses reveal a strong inverse relationship between forest cover and disaster occurrence, with higher forested areas experiencing signifcantly fewer food and landslide events (r = −0.87 for foods; r = −0.81 for landslides; p <0.01). Remote sensing results further indicate a 27.6% decline in natural forest cover between 2000 and 2020, largely driven by agricultural expansion. Community surveys show high local awareness of forest-based climate and disaster bufering functions, while institutional analysis reveals gaps in coordination between forestry and disaster management sectors. The study concludes that forest ecosystems in Dawro Zone function as natural infrastructure for climate regulation and DRR. Integrating forest conservation, restoration, and ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) into regional devel opment and climate adaptation policies is essential for enhancing landscape resilience and sustaining ecosystem services.