Results from this study present an assessment for the possible elephant (Loxodonta africana) andrnanthropogenic impacts on woody plant species to evaluate natural resource management scheme.rnResearch was carried out for seven months, from September to December 2006, and from Marchrnto May 2007 in Babile Elephant Sanctuary, eastern Ethiopia. Stratified sampling method wasrnused and a total of 52 woody plant species were recorded. Of these, elephant impacts werernobserved on 28 (53%) species belonging to 12 families. Furthermore, 13 (45.8%) of thesernspecies were trees and 15 (54.2%) shrubs. The total density of these woody under the impacts ofrnelephant was found to be 11,169.3 individuals/ha while the mean density is 399 Â± 156.rnElephant-induced damage to trees and shrubs that dominated the vegetation biomass suggestedrnthat elephants had a random impact on the vegetation throughout the riverine and woodlandrnvegetations. There was size variation in the proportion of woody plants damaged by elephants.rnIn riverine vegetation, saplings, small trees and medium-sized trees showed higher-than-averagernimpact levels. In woodland vegetation, large, medium and small trees showed impact levelsrnabove the overall mean across all stems. The most common damage from the elephants wasrnbranch and stem breaking, felling and uprooting of the whole trees or shrubs. The least frequentrndamage class recorded in this study was bark stripping. The riverine vegetation show relativelyrnmore felled woody species (22.61%) than the woodland (18.19%) although woodland areas haverna higher proportion uprooted (10.44%) species than riverine (5.26%). Tree and shrub speciesrnwere utilized by the local community (anthropogenic) for four main purposes: medicinal,rnfencing, firewood, and shelter. These uses were mainly confined to four key species: Acaciarnmellifera, Acacia senegal, Acacia tortilis and Balanites glabra. Human-elephant conflict wasrnmanifested in the decline in tree and shrub cover due to charcoal burning, land use changesrnparticularly agricultural expansion and fencing. Even though tree and plant resources were stillrnavailable, it is important to monitor their use to avert potential over exploitation.rnKey words: African elephant, anthropogenic impact, human-elephant conflict, woody species.