Impact of participatory forest management practices in Adaba-Dodola forst priority area of Oromia, Ethiopia.

Exploitation of forest resources in Ethiopia is exceeding its regenerative capacity. Consequently, forest resources are declining in size and species composition. This situation has forced t he government to change the forest management system from the conventional sole control of resources to the involvement of the local communities. The main objective of the present study is to investigate the impact of the Participatory Forest Management (PEM) Programme on conservation and development of the natural forests in Adaba-Dodola. The data for the study were collected using semi-structured interviews including focus group discussion and key informants. Two villages were selected where participatory forest management practices have taken place. Fifteen percent of the households were considered for the analysis of the data. In each household, gender, age and wealth criteria were considered informing focus groups and key informants. The results of the investigation showed that the allocation of forest block to forest dwellers group has promoted forest conservation activities in the study areas. The forest administration grants exclusive use rights to such groups, and levies forest rent in exchange. Some changes in forest condition and improvement of livelihood of the forest dweller groups (Waldaa Jiraattotaa Bosanna [in Oromiffa] WAJIB) have been observed after the establishment of PEM. On the other hand, the section not managed by the WAJIB within the project area has a high degree of deforestation. Lack of sufficient number of professionals, with participatory forest management background, organizational aspects, conflict resolution techniques, benefit sharing scheme and population growth are some of the prevailing constraints in the execution of PEM approach. Moreover, the continuous and slow process of establishing PFM is the major bottleneck. The future research undertakings of forest resources should take different options of forest management techniques into consideration to bring about a change in forest conservation and development in the country.