Figure 10 : Map showing major illegal activities in the study area (Source: Nechi Sar National Park)
The personal observation during the study period indicated that the park was surrounded by agricultural communities from its eastern and western boundaries that might cause the expansion of settlement in and/or around the park. Girma and Stellmacher (2012) stated that the wildlife species might be decline as the level of development in the surrounding natural habitat has increased through the modification of vegetation structure and composition by the human settler.
The study indicated that poaching is the leading among the list of problems in over 85% of the Parks. Kolahi et al. (2012) investigated that, poaching is one of the greatest threats to the conservation of wildlife. Onadeko (2004) indicated that poaching is associated to the roles of wildlife species in cultural ceremonies and therefore the traditional marriage of the local people. The discussion made with the discussants indicated that the local people are involving in poaching for the purpose of getting food and to keep their families from pandemic diseases like malaria.
The present study shows that deforestation through fuelwood collection and charcoal production followed by grass cutting was the prominent threat to the park. This was mostly exercised by the poor local communities as a means of their livelihood via selling, and this was discussed and agreed upon by the park experts. The widespread use, as well as potential harvesting of the forest products, can have impacts on forested landscapes and wildlife habitats. Even though charcoal production is an important economic activity and an important source of energy in developing countries, it is being however conducted informally without any license (Bekele 2011). The research done by Mulat et al. (2004) proved that charcoal making and selling were the major non-farm employment along the main roads of the country which exposes the fragile ecosystem for severe deterioration. Luoga et al. (2000) explained that charcoal is a cheap commodity that requires low-priced, affordable, and readily available metal or ceramic stoves in the market as compared to electric and gas stoves for cooking purposes.
Therefore, there is a need for intervention by various stakeholders including the adjacent communities, to alleviate such devastating effects of the area on the existing wildlife resources with special consideration for the large mammalian fauna of the park. The Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority should also design an appropriate management plan to upgrade the current status with all the logistics and personnel are recommended as a long-range conservation measure to safeguard the ecosystem and the resources existing in the Nech Sar National Park.