EFFECTS OF POPULATION GROWTH ON FOREST MANAGEMENT:THE CASE OF GURA FOREST CHELIA WOREDA WEST SHOWA ZONE, OROMIA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

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.