Causes and Consequences of Deforestation in Essera District, Dawro Zone South-Western Ethiopia

Authors

  • Bekele Tona Amenu Wolaita Sodo University, Dawuro-Tarcha Campus P.O.Box, 01, Tarcha, Ethiopia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6512479

Keywords:

Deforestation, degradation, Essera, forest

Abstract

Deforestation is disturbing the strength and distribution of forests. The study was conducted to ‎identify the causes of deforestation and its consequences on communities of Essera district. The ‎cross-sectional survey design with the application of both qualitative and quantitative ‎approaches was employed. A multistage sampling design was applied, which means combining ‎different approaches like purposive, stratified, and simple random sampling procedures to ‎select the study area and sample households. The result was obtained from both secondary and ‎primary sources of data focusing on both qualitative and quantitative natures. A huge amount ‎‎(48) 80% of respondents prepare the land by slash and burn, 13.33% or 8 of the respondents ‎prepare the land by ecological farming whereas 4 of the respondents prepare the land by tillage. The ‎farming ways usually affect the size of the land on which one undertakes his or her activities. ‎Firewood collection was the major destructive activity, because, the local people depend on the ‎natural forest as a source of fuel energy for household consumption and sale. In addition, the ‎discussants bitterly objected to the destined robbery of the forest timber products as destructive ‎activity. Some farmers organized at the micro level to acquire lands for the cultivation of cash crops ‎such as chat, sesame, and eucalyptus trees. Firewood collection and preparation of land by ‎burning contributes highly to deforestation. Integrated activities like financial support for ‎scientific aid and serious planning data to state and local governments from agencies ‎responsible for climate, weather, and risk mitigation are recommended. ‎

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Published

2022-04-01

How to Cite

Amenu, B. T. . (2022). Causes and Consequences of Deforestation in Essera District, Dawro Zone South-Western Ethiopia. Scientific Reports in Life Sciences, 3(1), 36–53. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6512479