Abstract:
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of population growth on forest
management. The case study was investigated through mixed method cncurent triangulation a
pproach while utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data types generated from both prim
ary and secondary sources. Data on population over time were taken from1984,1994
and 2007 national census results. A total of 326 sample house hold heads for questionnaire a
nd 8 participants for key informants and 9 participants for focus group discussion were used.
Satellite images of 1984, 1994, 2004 and 2017 were used to generate data on land/use cover
changes. The overall collected data was analyzed through descriptive and inferential
statistics: cross tabs, figures and chi-square. The results indicated that population has
substantially increased, from 2,676 in 1984 to 10,9612 in 2017, mainly due to natural
increase. The change on land use/cover shows that from the total land use/cover conversions,
which totals 7425.40 ha of land, settlement and farmlands gained 644.09 ha and 510.12 ha
and forest lost 1060.59 ha respectively. The study further identifies major forest management
practices in the study area: traditional and modern forest management. Results of chi-square
shows that forest management practices have a significant association with parts of
socio-demographic and socio-economic variables of the household heads. The study also
reveals that as population number increases forest management practices farmer’s uses also
decreases in quantity. Therefore any environmental rehabilitation and forest management
options should take considerations of population dynamics.
