Patterns of wildlife use by the local communities from Jorgo-Wato
Protected Forest, Western Ethiopia
Abstract
This study explored patterns of wildlife use by the local communities
around Jorgo-Wato Protected Forest to understand its impacts on the
future conservation of the forest. One hundred sixty-five respondents
from five peasant associations found with a radius of 3km from the
forest were interviewed about patterns of wildlife use by the local
communities. Also, a direct field survey using a transect line was
carried out to document destructive resource use patterns. The study
revealed that agricultural products (94.72%), livestock and their
products (84.48%), and poultry (51.48%) were the major sources of
livelihood incomes for the local communities. A significant positive (r
= 0.900) relationship was recorded between the mean number of livestock
and the mean annual income, and between mean land owned per household
and mean annual income per household (r = 0.930), which could be
attributed to their contribution to generate income through diverse
ways. The utilization of alternative energy has a positive impact on the
future conservation of the forest. On the other hand, the study showed a
significant negative relationship (r = -0.971) between fuel wood
consumption and distance of households’ residences from the forest which
reveals the impacts of distance on fuel wood collection and
transportation for use. Though timber, beehive preparation, construction
materials, and commercial domestic tools were reported as the main
reasons for resource extraction. Fuel wood and charcoal were not used
for commercial purposes in the area. Livestock grazing, debarking of
trees, selective logging over the coffee plantation, girdling trees,
poaching, and cutting trees for timber were identified as destructive
resource use patterns in Jorgo-Wato Protected Forest. Hence, wildlife
laws and conservation guidelines should be implemented to mitigate
destructive resource use patterns to safeguard Jorgo-Wato Protected
Forest and its wildlife resources in the future.