Effect of Deforestation on Livelihoods of Local Community: The Case of Chaha Woreda Gasore Kebele in Gurage Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Deforestation, inappropriate agricultural practices, overgrazing and agricultural land expansion have been the major cause of land degradation and desertification. Poor and vulnerable households depend on forest product of like charcoal and firewood their livelihood. Deforestation, accelerated soil erosion, and land degradation are serious problems in Ethiopia. The study were conducted in gasore kebele Chaha woreda of gurage zone, SNNP. The objective of the study was to investigate the livelihood strategies, to assess impacts of deforestation on livelihood and to assess the major Couse of Deforestation on Farmers In this study both primary and secondary sources of data were employed for which questionnaire survey, interview, discussion and observation were used in primary data sources. The results of analyzed data were presented in form of frequency and percentage by using tabular form. The result of the study revealed that, most of respondents (96.8%) claim that forest was the major sources of energy use. Grazing and farmland expansion were the main drivers of forest destruction, as indicated by 6.5% and 77.4% respondents respectively but in study area grazing land decrease by 93.5%.