Title: Trees of Ethiopia & Eritrea: A Checklist Dataset (2026)

This dataset is a comprehensive taxonomic and ecological checklist of tree species recorded in Ethiopia and Eritrea, produced and published by Dilla University as part of its institutional biodiversity data mobilization strategy. It consolidates species records from authoritative sources including the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea (FEE), BGCI, and RAINBIO, representing a significant contribution to open biodiversity data availability in the Horn of Africa. The dataset provides detailed information on over 600 woody plant species that are explicitly classified as Trees or Tree/Shrub in their growth habit. Species recorded solely as shrubs, herbs, or lianas without tree-like habit are excluded. For each entry, the dataset includes accepted and synonym scientific names aligned with POWO and WFO, taxonomic classification, distribution across floristic regions, altitudinal ranges, native/exotic status, human uses, and Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea volume references. This publication supports Dilla University’s commitment to biodiversity informatics and prepares the institution for engagement in global biodiversity data initiatives, including the GBIF Biodiversity Information for Development (BID) programme. Key Features: 600+ species records from Ethiopia and Eritrea Fully aligned with POWO and WFO taxonomic standards Includes geographical, ecological, and use-case metadata Published under CC-BY 4.0 for open reuse Serves as a foundational dataset for future biodiversity data mobilization projects Institution: Dilla UniversityContact/Curator:Mitiku Muanenda/Department, Horticulture/[e-mail]/Publication Date: February 8, 2026License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0)Format: CSVRecommended Citation: Dilla University. (2026). Trees of Ethiopia & Eritrea – A Dilla University Biodiversity Checklist Dataset. Zenodo. [DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18525937] Keywords:Biodiversity data, Checklist, Trees, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, Plant taxonomy, Woody plants, Forest biodiversity, Horn of Africa, Dilla University, GBIF, Biodiversity informatics, Conservation, Agroforestry, Indigenous species, Exotic species, Altitudinal distribution, Floristic regions, Botanical data