Abstract:
This study aimed at analyzing the contribution of forest resource to livelihoods, dependency
of local community to forest products and their role in forest resource management. A total
of 178 respondents (120 from WaBuB and 58 non-WaBuB members) from two rural Kebeles
were selected using purposive and random sampling techniques. Data were gathered through
structured questionnaire, interviews, group discussion and field observation, and then were
analyzed using descriptive statistics method. The study found that income from forest products
contributes 40.8% and 26.1% of the total annual income of WaBuB and non-WaBuB member
household heads, respectively. The major forest products collected by respondents for home
consumption and sale include fuel wood, honey, forest coffee, construction materials,
medicine and charcoal contributing 43.5%, 20.2%, 12.6%, 11.1%, 7.8% and 4.8% of the
forest income, respectively. Besides, it was observed that various socio-economic and
demographic characteristics of households such as land size and livestock holdings, family
size, wealth/assets and education level exert more influence on forest product collection and
extraction activities from the forest. Based on this analysis, the study concludes that absolute
forest income and relative forest income (%) were significantly (P<0.05) different among
wealth classes. Household heads with higher total annual income obtain more forest income
than those with lower income, but they were less dependent on forest products than the lower
counterpart. The findings of the study provide valuable information on the role of forest
resources to livelihoods and can be applied in developing forest use and management policies
for enhanced ecosystem services and livelihoods. The problems of deforestation in the study
area were largely attributed to absence of good governance and transparency, short-lived
administrative restructuring, inadequate trained forestry and lack of political commitment
from the stakeholders. Therefore, policy aiming at formulation and implementation of
appropriate policy, land use planning and institutional set up, promotion of income
generating initiatives through marketing and value adding of non-timber forest products as
well as recognition of local knowledge are recommended to ensure effective use and
management of Belete Forest on a sustainable basis.
