Woody species diversity and regeneration challenges in Ethiopia: Review article to identify research gaps

•Topography and climatic circumstances are responsible for Ethiopia's diverse vegetation, which ranges from the Afro-alpine in the mountains to arid and semi-arid vegetation types in the lowlands.•In Ethiopia, the Shannon-Winner diversity index (H') of woody species aligns with the usual Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H') range.•Land use changes and domestic animals are impeding the natural regeneration of woody species.•Is the natural regeneration of woody species in forest plantations determined by plantation forest species selection, distance from natural forest, or plantation forest silvicultural management? There are inconsistencies in the country's existing state of knowledge in this area. The goal of this study was to elucidate the research gap on woody species diversity and regeneration in Ethiopian natural and managed forests. Ethiopia is a biodiversity hotspot in the Horn of Africa, having a large variety of indigenous woody species. Ecological variability, population increase, and climate change-related disturbances have all had an impact on the variety and regeneration of woody species across various gradients in the country. Nonetheless, extant evidence for woody species in natural and managed forests suggests that Ethiopia's Shannon diversity index (H') and evenness index (E) are equivalent to those seen in several tropical countries. There is a big knowledge vacuum when it comes to explaining the relationship between regeneration issues and the recruitment of woody species. Different studies have found contradictory results, implying that more research is needed before using the information for better woody species diversity and regeneration enhancement projects. To minimize inconsistencies in management suggestions, it's necessary to fill this knowledge gap by considering ecological diversity, land use history, forest types and species composition, as well as evolutionary processes.