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Addis Ababa University Libraries Electronic Thesis and Dissertations: AAU-ETD! >
Faculty of Science >
Thesis - Environmental Sciences >
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/3362
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| Title: | DIVERSITY OF WOODY SPECIES, LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN DIFFERENT LAND USE SYSTEMS OF AWBARE WEREDA, JIG-JIGA ZONE OF SOMALI REGION, ETHIOPIA |
| Authors: | Mohammed, Omer |
| Advisors: | Mekuria Argaw(Dr.)
Sebsebe Demissew(Prof.) |
| Keywords: | Plant diversity,
Agropastoralism
Pastoralism,
Indigenous knowledge
Awbare Wereda |
| Copyright: | Jul-2011 |
| Date Added: | 16-Jul-2012 |
| Publisher: | Addis Ababa University |
| Abstract: | The study on local knowledge on tree and shrubs species management practices, and diversity
carried out in Awbare Wereda of Somali Regional State. The study was conducted in eight
kebeles which were selected on the basis of the presence of two different land uses, Agropastoralism
and pastoralism. Vegatation data were collected from 48 sample quadrats that
were laid in 16 transects. Each quadrat had a size of 400 m2. To assess the land use system,
local treeand shrubs management and utilization, indigenous knowledge of trees/shrubs
management and traditional rules, norms and customs governing tree management and access
to common property resources, eighty households were randomly selected from the eightvillages
and questionnaire survey was undertaken. Analysis of the vegetation data revealed that
a total of 80 woody species, 44 at pastoralists land use and 36 at agro-pastoralists land use,
distributed in 30 genera and 22 families were encountered. Fabaceae and Burseraceae were
found to be the predominant species comprising 27.5% and 20% of the species composition,
respectively, while Acacia and Commiphora were found to be the predominant genera
comprising 18.75% and 16.25% of the species composition, respectively. Among the eightyrecorded
woody species, trees were the dominant growth forms accounting for about 72.5% of
the total species composition while shrubs contributed 27.5%. The result showed the existence
of high diversity and evenness values for both land uses. Variation existed in vegetation
diversity and density between the pastoralist and agropastoralist land uses, with the former
showing higher values for both variables. The trees and shrubs play very important economic
and ecological roles in the study area that inclue a critical support to the livestock sector,
which is the mainstay of the regions economy. Extraction of gum and incense could play
significant role to the local economy, but they are getting much due to poor infrastructure. The
household survey also disclosed that the pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities have a
wealth of traditional knowledge about their environment and it’s management. However, they
are being prevented from using it due to the weakening of traditional institutions for decision
making and resource control and its replacement by alternative power structures that do not
have sufficient knowledge base about the area. Over the last decade, the increasing human and
livestock population is exerting too much pressure on the woodlands leading to degradation in
some areas. Regarding degradation of the vegetation, there should be a process of enabling
customary and local institutions that best use the traditional knowledge in natural resources
management. Policy options that would improve conservation and sustainable utilization of the
natural resources should also be developed. |
| Description: | A Thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Addis Ababa
University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master
of Science in Environmental Science |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/3362 |
| Appears in: | Thesis - Environmental Sciences
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