Underground Explorers

This study examines the Gerese Highland Forest Complex (GHF) in the Gamo Highlands of southwestern Ethiopia, a representative Afromontane moist evergreen forest (Friis et al., 2010). Comprising four fragmented patches—Gegha, Gato, Bula, and a church forest—the site sits along an altitudinal gradient (Aydagnehum et al., 2022) increasingly threatened by agricultural expansion and degradation. However, these remnants still provide essential ecosystem services and host diverse indigenous tree communities. By comparing these mature forest patches with adjacent areas undergoing active reforestation, this research investigates arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) community assembly during restoration. Understanding the differences in AMF communities between natural and replanted trees offers critical insights into belowground ecological recovery, ultimately providing a scientific foundation for more effective restoration strategies within Afromontane landscapes.