Wetlands are the world’s most productive ecosystems which provide breeding for wider range of both flora and fauna. However, it is under great threat due a number of factors. A study was conducted to assess the existing flora and fauna species with the ecological integrity and human impact on wetlands of Ginda watershed. Identification and description of wetland floras and faunas repeated visual observation was done. As a result, quantitative floristic data were collected from 60 plots and macro-invertebrates were sampled. Birds and other vertebrates were surveyed and a total of 66 wetland plant species were identified and grouped under 55 genera and 21 families. Family Gramineae were the dominant with 13 (20%) species followed by Cyperaceae 12 (18%) species. Five plant communities namely: Amaranthus spinosa-Fimbristylis dichotoma, Commelina forskalae-Eleocharis bolanderi, Cyperus bipartitus-Eragrostis ciliaris, Sacciolepis africana-Iris missouriensis and Persicaria glabrum-Aguga remota were recognized. As compared to the IUCN red list, five plant species were categorized under least concern. Among the variety of fauna species, arthropod groups of order: Hymenoptera (Apis mellifera), Coleoptera: Phyllophaga sp. & cybister confuses, Lepidoptera: Hotspots of butterflies including Papilio sp., Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies) and Diptera (Anopheles sp.) were identified. Beside this, Bubulcus ibis, Mycteria ibis, Dendrocygna viduata, Threskiornis aethiopicus, Platalea alba, Phoenicopterus minor, Alopochen aegyptiacus, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis and Vanellus superciliosus were among the bird species recognized. Most of the wetland plant and animal species identified were facultative wetland species (67-99%). The results also revealed that human interference such as animal grazing, urban and agricultural expansion were among the serious ecological disturbance in the natural life cycle and impacted human welfare. Long-term studies are required to predict changes in wetland ecology and population dynamics with the objective of developing appropriate measures by the concerned stakeholders to ensure wetland restoration and sustainability.

Keywords: Biodiversity, flora, fauna, Gedeb, Ginda watershed, wetland ecology, wetland species