Implications of Transforming Household Livelihoods through Villagization in Conserving Forest Resources in Southwest Ethiopia: A Case Study of Mengeshi District, Gambela Region

ABSTRACT Villagization brings scattered households together into a defined area with the aim of transforming living conditions through providing social and economic services. As the forest in Mengeshi district, southwest Ethiopia, has been destroyed through shifting cultivation, the study aims at assessing the effect of villagization on conserving forest resources. Three sites were selected, these being at Fejeji, Baya and Kumi. A total of 119 households were selected for interviews. Information was collected through structured and semi-structured questionnaires. Six farms and 18 plots were assessed for woody plants. The results show that the most important changes which positively contribute towards forest resources were perceived after villagization. A total of 34 woody species representing 13 families were identified in the abandoned farms. Economically important species including Cordia africana Lam., Pouteria altissima (A.Chev.) Baehni and Diospyros abyssinica (Hiern) F. White that need conservation due to overutilization were recorded across the three sites. The Simpson's diversity index was 0.94 at Fejeji, 0.93 at Baya and 0.88 at Kumi. Villagization has brought about changes in the sources of livelihoods of the households. The forest-based livelihoods have shifted to farming-based livelihoods and the main sources of forest products have shifted from forest to homestead. A paired t-test showed a significant change in the forest product sources implying less pressure on natural forest resources. In general villagization has positive effects towards conserving forest resources in the area.

[1]  T. Tekalign,et al.  Challenges for Improving Forest Conditions and Forest Based Livelihoods Through Participatory Forest Management Around Bonga, Southwestern Ethiopia , 2015 .

[2]  Z. Asfaw,et al.  Woody species diversity under natural forest patches and adjacent enset-coffee based Agroforestry in the Midland of Sidama Zone, Ethiopia , 2014 .

[3]  G. Kassie,et al.  Resettlement and woodland management problems and options: a case study from North‐western Ethiopia , 2014 .

[4]  S. A. Mukul,et al.  Can homegardens help save forests in Bangladesh? Domestic biomass fuel consumption patterns and implications for forest conservation in south-central Bangladesh , 2014 .

[5]  E. Zavaleta,et al.  Prospects for forest-based ecosystem services in forest-coffee mosaics as forest loss continues in southwestern Ethiopia , 2014 .

[6]  H. Larsen,et al.  Participatory Forest Management in Ethiopia: Learning from Pilot Projects , 2014, Environmental Management.

[7]  M. Riddell.  Assessing the Impacts of Conservation and Commercial Forestry on Livelihoods in Northern Republic of Congo , 2013 .

[8]  Kaba Urgessa,et al.  Forest Dependency Among Forest User Communities In And Around Belete-Gera Forest, Southwest Ethiopia , 2013 .

[9]  A. Angassa,et al.  INFLUENCE OF RESETTLEMENT ON PASTORAL LAND USE AND LOCAL LIVELIHOODS IN SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA , 2013 .

[10]  Eshetu Yirdaw,et al.  Plant community analysis and effect of environmental factors on the diversity of woody species in the moist Afromontane forest of Wondo Genet, South Central Ethiopia , 2013 .

[11]  M. F. Masum,et al.  Economic dependence of rural people on homestead forestry in Mymensingh, Bangladesh , 2013, Journal of Forestry Research.

[12]  T. Treue,et al.  Deforestation and the Limited Contribution of Forests to Rural Livelihoods in West Africa: Evidence from Burkina Faso and Ghana , 2012, AMBIO.

[13]  E. N. Stebek.  Dwindling Ethiopian Forests: the ‘carrot’ and ‘stick’ dilemma , 2010 .

[14]  Z. Teferra.  Resettlement, Food Security and the Problem of Forest Resource Depletion in Western Ethiopia: The Case of Angar Gutin Resettlement Site in Eastern Wollega , 2010 .

[15]  H. Kassa,et al.  Participatory Forest Management and Its Impacts on Livelihoods and Forest Status: the Case of Bonga Forest in Ethiopia , 2009 .

[16]  B. Campbell,et al.  Building future scenarios and uncovering persisting challenges of participatory forest management in Chilimo Forest, Central Ethiopia. , 2009, Journal of environmental management.

[17]  Dan Brockington,et al.  Protected Areas and Resettlement: What Scope for Voluntary Relocation? , 2007 .

[18]  T. Gole,et al.  CUSTOMARY FOREST TENURE IN SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA , 2007 .

[19]  R. Kindt,et al.  Enhancing Farm Tree Diversity as a Means of Conserving Landscape-based Biodiversity , 2005 .

[20]  K. Schmidt-Soltau.  Conservation–related Resettlement in Central Africa: Environmental and Social Risks , 2003 .

[21]  C. Shackleton,et al.  The comparative value of wild and domestic plants in home gardens of a South African rural village , 2000, Agroforestry Systems.

[22]  Kaba Urgessa,et al.  Comparative Study of Forest under Participatory Forest Management: A Case of Belete Gera Forest, Southwest Ethiopia , 2013 .

[23]  Guyu Ferede Daie.  VOLUNTARY VILLAGIZATION SCHEME (VVS) FOR TRANSFORMING SEMI-PASTORAL COMMUNITIES IN BENISHANGUL-GUMUZ REGION, NORTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA: CHALLENGES AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS , 2012 .

[24]  Messay Mulugeta Tefera,et al.  LAND-USE/LAND-COVER DYNAMICS IN NONNO DISTRICT, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA , 2011 .

[25]  Messay Mulugeta,et al.  THE IMPACT OF RESETTLEMENT SCHEMES ON LAND-USE/LAND-COVER CHANGES IN ETHIOPIA: A CASE STUDY FROM NONNO RESETTLEMENT SITES, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA , 2011 .

[26]  W. Chanprasert,et al.  Natural Resource Conservation Practices of Resettlers in the New Resettlement Areas of Amhara Region , Ethiopia , 2011 .

[27]  M. Tefera.  CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF VOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT SCHEMES IN ETHIOPIA: A CASE FROM JIRU GAMACHU RESETTLEMENT VILLAGE, NONNO DISTRICT, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA , 2009 .

[28]  Andrea Perlis,et al.  Global forest resources assessment 2000 : main report , 2001 .

[29]  M. Reusing.  CHANGE DETECTION OF NATURAL HIGH FORESTS IN ETHIOPIA USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS TECHNIQUES , 2000 .