Indigenous forest management among members of local community in Sedie Muja Woreda

Abstract

It is widely acknowledged that forests and trees provide a wide range of socio-economic and environmental benefits to mankind. But now a days the forest management administration over the last fifty years in the study area has been negatively affected the forest resource. So, in order to identify the existing implication of common indigenous knowledge to the community mobilization for forest management and to provide an insight in to the vitality of community mobilization and commitment in natural forest management, it is important to conduct scientific research. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to investigate indigenous forest management among members of local community in Sedie Muja Woreda. The major challenges hampering the effective community mobilization using indigenous knowledge in managing the forest resources management in the study area will be identified. To achieve this, the study employed cross-sectional design through qualitative and quantitative research approaches so as to collect relevant information and data. Both primary and secondary sources of data were used for this study. Primary data was collected through household survey, observation, focus group discussion and key informant interview. Secondary sources included published and unpublished materials i.e. books, journals, reports etc. The study data was analyzed through both quantitative and qualitative techniques by which simple descriptive statics like frequency and mean distribution were used. Inferential statics like one sample t-test and regression was also be used as specific analysis techniques. The overall result of the study indicated that the indigenous knowledge practiced among the local community for community forest resource conservation included terracing, employing hillside tree plantations, backyard tree plots for community forest resource conservation and involving on conservation practice of the local community on forest resource for the purpose of asset creation activities. The study also found that planting trees to be shades for cattle was not employed as indigenous knowledge. They did not also involve in conservation of community forest resource for flowering plants for beekeeping. The study also discloses that terracing, using hillside tree plantations and engaging backyard tree plots have value for community mobilization in forest resource conservation. The study found that there was low participation in forest resource management among some members of the society. The model results confirmed that the participation in forest management practice was influenced by the interaction of several factors; besides together the independent variables accounts for 94.2% variance of in participation of forest management practices. Based on the logistic regression result the study concludes that educational status, perception on forest resources, households access to extension service and training were found significant determinant factors; where as sex, age, occupational status and distance to homestead were found to be insignificant predictors for households’ participation in forest management practices. Therefore, it is suggested that the local communities shall plant trees to protect affected areas to rehabilitate it with program of afforestation. There should also be community-based natural forests resources management practices that should be encouraged at all levels by involving and inviting the whole community members to play their role in the degraded forest lands.