Perceptions of Local Communities on Plant Diversity and Forest Patches Along the Rural–Urban Gradient in Central Highland of Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

Local community perceptions are crucial for effective biodiversity conservation and sustainable land use management. However, limited attention has been given to how local community perceptions and ethnobotanical knowledge shift along spatial gradients. This study investigated local perceptions of forest patch dynamics and ethnobotanical knowledge shifts across a rural–urban gradient in Central highland of Ethiopia. Data were collected via household surveys ( N  = 385) and key informant free‐listing ( N  = 45), and analyzed using Proportional Odds Logistic Regression (POLR), Smith's Salience Index (SSI), and Transformation‐based Principal Component Analysis (tb‐PCA). POLR modeling revealed that spatial gradient and socioeconomic factors significantly shape local community perceptions. Rural and urban respondents exhibited lower odds of perceiving forest patch coverage as stable or increasing compared to the peri‐urban baseline. Urban respondents expressed more optimism regarding plant diversity status (mean score = 1.63) despite demonstrating lower botanical knowledge (22 listed total species: 17 native, 5 exotic). Conversely, rural communities held the most pessimistic perceptions (mean score = 1.38) while retaining a high plant species recall (59 listed total species: 54 native, 5 exotic). Free‐listing salience and tb‐PCA ordination reflected a structural transition from native‐dominated ecological memory ( Juniperus procera , SSI = 0.345; Olea europaea , SSI = 0.272) in rural areas toward commercial exotics ( Eucalyptus globulus , Cupressus lusitanica ) in urban areas. Taken together, this study demonstrates a potential divergence between community perceptions and botanical ethnobotanical knowledge along the rural–urban gradient. Urban greening and restoration practices should integrate rural ethnobotanical knowledge to prevent floristic homogenization and subsequent loss of biodiversity.