This investigation was conducted in Hunese natural forest which is located in Gibe District Hadiya Zone, Ethiopia with the aim of characterising forest structure and plant communities to build a national ecological database. Vegetation data were collected from 47 (400 m2) systematic quadrats. Ethnobotanical data were obtained from 30 key informants. In total, 210 vascular plant species were recorded, and a single species among them was newly identified at genus level in Ethiopian flora. The dominant life form was herbs and the dominant families were Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae. Diameter at breast height (dbh) and height class distribution for all species revealed a right/positively skewed pattern population structure for all species indicating dominance of small size individuals of tree species and shrub species. The basal area (BA) of the forest was 36 m2/ha. Fewer tree species had high importance value indices (IVIs) while a considerable number of species had low IVIs indicating their need for prioritizing in-situ regeneration and conservation. Classification revealed four plant communities. The forest provides direct and indirect ecosystem services for the local people and for the environment. Use values (UV) and Use diversity (UD) of species calculated showed higher values for few species indicating the extent of local pressure against them.

Keywords: basa area, classification, diameter at breast height, density, ecosystem services, importance value index, use values