Regional and Local Development Studies Prospects of Sustainable Natural Resource Management and Livelihood Development in Wondo Genet Area, Southern Ethiopia

Ango, Tola Gemechu (2005) Regional and Local Development Studies Prospects of Sustainable Natural Resource Management and Livelihood Development in Wondo Genet Area, Southern Ethiopia. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

PDF (Regional and Local Development Studies Prospects of Sustainable Natural Resource Management and Livelihood Development in Wondo Genet Area, Southern Ethiopia) Tola Gemechu Ango.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (793kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Four major Organizations own forest resources in Wondo Genet area. The forests of these Organizations are depleting at an alarming rate though they have been trying to conserve it. This thesis has assessed the approaches the Organizations have been pursing so far, and benefits generated from the approaches in particular and from the Organizations in general to local people. The study has also described the livelihoods of communities in the area. In addition, it has dealt with the approach that can be pursued and the opportunities that can be created to promote sustainable resource management and livelihood development. The study has employed structured interview, personal observation, focus group discussion, and semi- structured interview methods in addition to consulting different documents or files of the Organizations to obtain the necessary information. The information obtained is analyzed using descriptive statistics. The information captured through structured interview is analyzed using SPSS 11.0. Some data are described qualitatively. The result of the study has revealed that most people in Wondo Genet area base their livelihoods on mixed agriculture. Also certain households sustain themselves on nonagricultural activities. The major Organizations in the area have been following a coercive approach for management of resources. But the protection they render did not cover the whole forest resources of the Organizations and most part of their resources is left as ‘open access resource’. None of the Organizations have been able to protect their forests effectively. Lack of strong management system, less concern from administrators of nearby districts and inability to win the acceptance of local people are some of the reasons behind. And some local communities and people from distant area continued using the forests illegally that hasten the degradation. The current management approach brings no benefits to local people. Nonetheless, the Organizations hire people from their vicinities though the communities consider the job opportunities generated to them as insignificant both in the number of people hired in the Organizations and the amount of money they earn. Unwillingness of the Organizations to hire local people or preference of the Organizations to hire people who come from other areas and urban areas, having no information about vacancies, lack of necessary skill and training required to fit to advertised posts available and the like are some of the factors raised as reasons for inadequate job opportunities by local people. Some parts of communities have felt shortages of land and forests among others with the coming of Organizations. To relieve these problems the Organizations have made very little attempts. The result has also indicated that in the future the Organizations have to pursue forest management approach that involves local people in the protection as well as sharing benefits from the forest. The area has also potentials that can be developed by the Organizations to local people to lessen the impact of local people on the forests, as these will be opportunities to develop alternative livelihoods.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Natural resource, participation, coercive management, livelihood, sustainability, local people, Organization, Wondo Genet
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Geoffrey Obatsa
Date Deposited:	24 Jun 2019 11:54
Last Modified:	24 Jun 2019 11:54
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/9230

Actions (login required)

View Item