The Impact of Large Scale Agriculture on Forest and Wildlife in Diga Woreda, Didessa Valley, Oromia Regional State, Western Ethiopia
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Date
2016-08
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Large scale agriculture uses agricultural machinery to mechanize the practices of agriculture. It is
one of the leading causes for the loss of forest and wildlife in many countries including our
country, Ethiopia. Information on forest cover change that occurred from 1986 to 2006 in Diga
district( Woyessa Dimtu, Bekiltu Gudina and Melka Beti Jirma kebeles) was compared with the
present time using Geographic information system (GIS). The objective of this study was to
investigate the impact of large scale agriculture on forest cover change by using the satellite image
of the study area and other data collecting methods such as household’s interview, KI, FGD and
observation (survey) to detect its effect on wildlife. The study employed both qualitative and
quantitative data as well as primary and secondary data sources to collect necessary information.
The information providers were purposively selected from sample ‘kebeles’ based on their age
and experiences, that is, to get a detail and accurate information elders and experts who have lived
in the area for many years and who know more how and when the Hanger- Didessa state farm had
established were selected. The state farm covered a large area, that is, about four districts such as
Sasiga, Diga, Arjo and Guto Gida. For this study Diga was selected because of its socio economic
characteristics, deforested (degraded) area, local loss of larger mammals and forest cover changes
observed in the district. Descriptive research method was used to assess community’s knowledge,
perception, skill and feeling about the impact of LSA on forest and wildlife in the area. Land cover
change analysis for 1986 to 2006 showed that the land cover of the study area is classified as
grazing, wood, agricultural, settlement and degraded lands. The result of the analysis showed that
agriculture, settlement and degraded lands increased from 19.68% to 32.72%, 12.12% to 26.85%
and 2.76% to 4.72% respectively in an expense of decrease in grass (grazing) and woodlands.
Therefore, LSA is the major cause for the loss of forest and wildlife in the study area.
Key words/phrases: Large Scale Agriculture, Didessa State Farm, Forest, Wildlife,
Deforestation and Monoculture.
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Keywords
Large Scale Agriculture, Didessa State Farm, Forest, Wildlife, Deforestation and Monoculture