This research explored the community participation in urban and peri-urban forest management (UPFM) in Sawla town of SNNPR State. The research design employed was descriptive method. The urban and peri-urban forests in Sawla are overwhelmed by pressures inherent to the extraordinary form of urban development such as rapid increase of urban population, poverty, land tenure insecurity, weak of institutional responses, lack of proper environmental planning and implementation and management restrictions.
The potential opportunities related to developing, managing and conserving the existing urban and peri-urban forest such as in farmland, homestead, streetsides, buildings, park lots, boulevards, hotels, central business centers, religious houses and graveyards, monument, cemeteries, riversides and streamlines, riparian areas, open spaces and peri-urban lands and public institutions.
The local community preference to pay money, extend labor and direct involvement and forms of participation such as peasant forestry, functional group forestry, fundamental group forestry, village forestry and public forestry are most important tools to rejuvenate UPFM. There are obstacles such as the living standards people, land tenure insecurity, level of awareness of local community, weak institutional arrangement and laws enforcement that made local people unwilling to participate in UPFM.
Table of Contents
1.0. Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2. Problem Statement
1.3. Objectives
1.3.1 General Objective
1.3.2 Specific Objectives
1.3.3 Research Questions
1.4. The Significance of the Study
1.5 Scope of the Study
1.6 Background of the Study Area
1.7 Limitation of the Study
1.8. Definition of Terms
1.9 Conclusion
2.0 Introduction
2.1 Conceptual Framework of Participatory Urban and Peri-urban Forest
2.1.1 Participatory Urban and Peri-urban Forest Management
2.1.2 Concept Community Participation
2.1.3 Typologies of Community Participation
2.3 Community Willingness to Participate in UPFM
2.2.1 Factors Affecting Community Participation
2.4 Forms of Community Participation in UPFM
2.5 Local Authority Incorporation Community Participation in UPFM
2.5.1 Current Practices Community Participation in UPFM in Ethiopia
2.5.2 Legal Framework on UPFM in Ethiopia
2.5.3 Participatory Urban and Peri-urban Forest Management in Sawla
2.6 Conclusions
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Types of Data Sources
3.3 Sampling Techniques
3.4 Instrumentation/ Data Collection Methods
3.5 Data Analysis/ Treatment of Data
3.6 Conclusion
4.0 Introduction
4.1 Response Rate
4.2 Respondent’s Socio-economic Characteristics
4.2.1. Knowledge, Perception and Consumption Pattern of Forest in Respondents
4.3 Community Willingness to Participation in UPFM
4.3.1 Community Interest in UPFM
4.3.2 Conditions that Foster Community Participation in UPFM
4.3.3 Factors Affecting Community Willingness to Participate UPFM
4.4 Forms Local Community Participation UPFM Programs
4.5 Institutionalization and Community Participation in UPFM
4.5.1 Community Participation in UPF Co-management Activities
4.5.2 Legal and Institutional Framework
4.6 Conclusion
5.0 Introduction
5.1 Conclusions
5.1.1 Community Willingness to Participate in UPFM
5.1.2. Local community Practices in UPFM
5.1.3 Institutionalization and Community Participation in UPFM
4.2 Recommendation
Research Objectives and Focus
This thesis explores the extent of community participation in urban and peri-urban forest management (UPFM) in Sawla Town, Ethiopia. It investigates the levels of community willingness and current practices regarding forest conservation, while analyzing the institutional and legal frameworks that govern these interactions. The primary goal is to identify barriers to effective participation and to provide strategic recommendations that enhance local involvement and institutional cooperation.
- Assessing factors influencing community willingness to participate in forest management.
- Identifying existing local practices and traditional methods of forest conservation.
- Evaluating the role of local government in incorporating community input into urban forest planning and implementation.
- Proposing strategic solutions to improve partnership between the community and local administration.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 Background of the Study
Urbanization is both opportunity and threat for the environment, particularly in developing countries. This ongoing urbanization has brought about a wide range of challenges across the globe, and not only in terms of population growth. More land is needed for urban areas as well to cater for their needs in terms of inputs and outputs of resources and energy, with a detrimental effect on forests and other green areas (Konijnendijk, et al, 2002). Urban and peri-urban forestry and greening (UPFG) receives little attention on political agendas despite its importance for the social, economic, aesthetic and environmental benefits for society (Knuth, 2005).
In the context of Ethiopia, as in most developing countries, environmental problems are rampant (Ammanuel, 2001). These environmental problems in Ethiopia occur mainly due to anthropogenic impacts in the terms of misguided and unregulated modification of Ethiopian environment, in particularly the vegetation, soils and natural ecological processes. Past governmental and institutional changes, insecurity of land tenure, resettlement programs, population pressure, agricultural and infrastructure developments have worsened these problems (Gatzweiler, 2007).
According to NUPI (2002), in Sawla urban and peri-urban area, deforestation is caused by anthropogenic impacts like agricultural land use, housing, overgrazing, firewood, quarry and excavation of construction material provisions. These in turn yielded physical hazards, infrastructure deterioration, land use planning and implementation problems, temperature change, ground water depletion.
To restrain these urban and peri-urban misuse and mismanagement of urban and peri-urban forest the traditional way of addressing the issues in a reactive, ad hoc, end-of-pipe top-down manner has become highly inefficient. It needs popular participation of local community and design of urban environmental management system and ensuring local community participation in managing urban and peri-urban forest. Therefore, genuine community participation associated with sustainable urban and peri-urban forest management is vital to correct the situation.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: This chapter outlines the study's scope, objectives, and problem statement, emphasizing the need for community participation in forest management within Sawla Town.
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW: This chapter provides a conceptual framework for participatory forest management, reviewing various typologies and global perspectives on community involvement in urban and peri-urban settings.
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY: This chapter describes the research design, detailing the mixed-methods approach and sampling techniques used to gather data from the Sawla community and local officials.
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: This chapter presents the field research findings, analyzing community socioeconomic characteristics, interest in UPFM, and the effectiveness of current institutional frameworks.
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This final chapter synthesizes the findings and provides concrete recommendations for improving community-based forest management and local government policies in Sawla.
Keywords
Urban and Peri-urban Forest Management, Community Participation, Sawla Town, Ethiopia, Forest Conservation, Sustainable Development, Land Tenure, Afforestation, Environmental Planning, Local Governance, Participatory Planning, Urbanization, Stakeholder Engagement, Forest Stewardship, Socio-economic Factors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on the levels of community participation and willingness to engage in the management of urban and peri-urban forests within Sawla Town, Ethiopia.
What are the primary thematic areas of the study?
Key themes include community willingness and participation, the effectiveness of local institutional frameworks, socioeconomic factors affecting forest usage, and the impact of urbanization on local forest resources.
What is the primary objective of this thesis?
The main objective is to identify how local awareness and existing practices influence forest management and to suggest ways for the local government to meaningfully integrate community members into planning processes.
Which scientific methods were applied in this work?
The study employed a descriptive and mixed-methods research design, combining quantitative surveys of 200 households with qualitative data from focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with key informants.
What topics are discussed in the main section?
The main section covers the history of forest management in Sawla, factors causing deforestation, socioeconomic characteristics of the population, and evaluations of planning, implementation, and monitoring phases of current forest projects.
Which keywords best describe this study?
The study is best characterized by terms such as community participation, urban forestry, Sawla, sustainable management, institutional framework, and environmental planning.
How does land tenure insecurity affect forest management in Sawla?
The research finds that land tenure insecurity is a major barrier, as residents without secure rights have little incentive to invest their labor and time in long-term forest conservation.
What forms of participation does the local community prefer?
The findings indicate a strong preference for private or joint management systems, as respondents feel these are more effective at securing forest resources compared to the current top-down administrative approach.
What is the significance of the "traditional forest" concepts in Sawla?
Concepts such as "Koora" and "Tsoosa" (worshiping forests) represent deep-rooted traditional ecological knowledge that historically facilitated conservation, serving as a basis for potential modern community participation strategies.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Shigute Tiyite Menesha (Autor:in), 2010, Community Participation in Urban and Peri-Urban Forest Management in Sawla Town (SNNPRS, Ethiopia), München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1037102
