Assessment of Local People’s Attitude Towards Participatory Forest Management: The Case of Wabe Forest in Cheha Woreda, Gurage Zone of SNNPs Region

Abstract

In Ethiopia, full participation of local communities and indigenous people in Participatory Forest Management (PFM) was far from being reality. Society related issues were thought to challenge the Ethiopia forestry other than biological constraints mainly the non-participatory nature of development strategies. The study is aimed at assessing local people’s attitude and perception towards participatory forest management in Wabe forest, located in Cheha Woreda, Gurage Zone in south western part of Ethiopia. Data were collected from different research participants including households and key informants. Sample households were collected through simple random selection method, and secondary data were also collated from secondary sources. Descriptive statistics was employed and statistical software SPSS Version 20 was used for data analysis. Results from the household survey confirmed local communities have the attitude that forest is a key source of local livelihood while its conservation and use was made possible because of the PFM where different actors including local communities take active role. Thus, the the PFM is perceived positively by the overwhelming majority of the respondents and its beneficial use so valuable. However, there remain a number of technical and institutional challenges encountered in sustainably managing these resources. Therefore, future forest management initiatives should engage the PFM approach in order to ensure the active participation of local communities and sustainable management of forest resources In Ethiopia, full participation of local communities and indigenous people in Participatory Forest Management (PFM) was far from being reality. Society related issues were thought to challenge theEthiopia forestry other than biological constraints mainly the non-participatory nature of development strategies. The study is aimed at assessing local people’s attitude and perception towards participatory forest management in Wabe forest, located in Cheha Woreda, Gurage Zone in south western part of Ethiopia. Data were collected from different research participants includinghouseholds and key informants. Sample households were collected through simple random selection method, and secondary data were also collated from secondary sources. Descriptive statistics was employed and statistical software SPSS Version 20 was used for data analysis. Results from the household survey confirmed local communities have the attitude that forest is a key sourceof local livelihood while its conservation and use was made possible because of the PFM where different actors including local communities take active role. Thus, the the PFM is perceived positively by the overwhelming majority of the respondents and its beneficial use so valuable. However, there remain a number of technical and institutional challenges encountered in sustainably managing these resources. Therefore, future forest management initiatives should engage the PFM approach in order to ensure the active participation of local communities and sustainable management of forest resources