A floristic and ethnoboatnical study was carried out in Chetta plain, South Welo, between 20rnNovember 1999 and 30 February 2000. A total of 74 quadrat were established in semiwetlandrnand relict forest Islands. Cover-abundance values were taken for 115 plant species.rnFrom each quadrat one after the other, soil samples were taken at 0-20 cm depth andrnanalyzed for pH, organic carbon and cation exchange capacity. Soil analysis result wasrncomputed in one way ANOVA to compare communities in relation with their environment. Arnsignificant difference on organic carbon and moisture content was obtained. Vegetation datarnwas classified using computer program named Syn -Tax, multivariate data analysis, Versionrn5.02 Podani (1994) .Hierarchical clustering, average linkage classificatory technique and thernfollowing plant communities .were obtained: Bolhriochloa insculpla - Heleropogon'conlortu.~rnType, Cynodon dacfylon-Xanlhium slrumarium Type, Echinochloa colona-Panicum coloralumrnType, Panicum coloralum-Ludwigia slo/onifera Type, Trifolium rueppellianum-/solepis coslalarnType, Cyperus alopecuroides-Echinochloa pyramidalis Type, Typha domingensisSchoenopleclusrnmarilimus Type, Isolepis coslala-Schoenopleclus marilimus Type, Cyperusrndigilalus Type, Lanlana camara-Cordia africana Type.rnEthnobotanical information of very important wild plants was obtained from local keyrninformants, mainly based on semi-structured interviews. A total of 206 plant speciesrndistributed in 148 genera and 66 families were documented. Of these 54 species are noncultivatedrnfood plants, 83 medicinal, 38 forage, 39 cleal',Sing, laundry, tooth brush,rnfumigation, fragrance and other miscellaneous uses have been recorded.rnEdible plant parts, eaten fresh, raw, cooked or in combinations, include leaf (4 species), fruitrn(36), seed (6), flower (2), nectar (1), twig (1), stem (3), bark (2), resin (2), sap (1), abovernground part (2), rhizo- me (1) and tuber (1). Depending on food scarcity, non-cultivated foodrnplants were recognized and categorized as snack, seasonal, emergency and famine foods.rnThe Chetta people utilize 79 and 31 medicinal plants for his and ethnoveterinary usernrespectively. Habit of medicinal plants includes shrubs (38 species), herbs (21), trees (13) andrnclimbers (11). The most frequently used plant parts are leaves (33 species). Remedies arernusually prepared by pounding, crushing and squeezing juice (79.69%). The two major routesrnof administrations are oral (53.60%) and dermal (20.72%). Medicinal plants are used to treatrnmore than 48 human and 20 livestock ailments.rnForage and other miscellaneous uses of plants were documented. The wetland is mainly usedrnas a dry season grazing area. Relict forest islands are ritual, belief, religious and traditionalcommunityrnbased in silu conservation sites .rn. ,. These ,traditional conservation activities and indigenous knowledge of, the people should bernstrengthened. Traditional community based in situ conservation shoutd be complemented with ex siturnconser,ation activities.