Population Status and Socio-economic Importance of Gum and Resin Bearing Species in Borana Lowlands, southern Ethiopia
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Date
2006-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
A study on the population status (species composition, diversity, abundance,
dominance, importance value, structure, regeneration) and socio-economic
importance, mainly the roles in the livelihood of pastoral and agro-pastoral
community, of gum and resin bearing woody species was carried out in Borana
drylands, southern Ethiopia. The study was conducted at Arero and Yabello districts
at several study sites, which were selected on the bases of the presence of good
populations of the study species. A total of 75 sample quadrats, measuring 400 m2
each and 300 m apart, were established in the woodland vegetation of the two districts
using systematic sampling techniques. Quadrats were distributed in east west compass
directions along established transect lines located at approximately 500 m from each
other. In each quadrat, vegetation data such as identity, abundance, DBH, height, and
counting of seedlings and saplings were made. To assess the socio-economic
importance of the study species, 80 households were randomly selected from four
villages (two from each district) surrounding the selected specific study sites. A semistructured
questionnaire was used to interview the household respondents. Group
discussions were held with 12 selected key informants and with local administrators.
Based on the analyses of the vegetation data, a total of 64 woody species distributed
in 23 families and 31 genera were encountered in the sample quadrats. A total of 15
woody species (14 at Arero and 11 at Yabello), belonging to the genus Commiphora,
Boswellia and Acacia, were identified important as oleo-gum resin producing species.
Gum and resin bearing species were found to be the predominant species comprising
34% and 48 % of the species composition, 47.5% and 66.6% density ha-1 and 69.8%
and 60.2% of the IV of the study sites at Arero and Yabello, respectively. The
Shannon-Wiener diversity and Shannon evenness values depicted the diverse and
even distribution of the population of the study species. The Structural analyses of the
population of the study species indicated that most of them had a more or less good
regeneration profile. This implies the existence of large potential for the production of
oleo-gum resin products at the study areas. The socio-economic survey also disclosed
that the Borana pastoral and agro-pastoral community has a deep attachment with
gum and resin bearing species. The role of gum and resin bearing species in the
livelihood of the local community was very immense. As the local residents
mentioned, most of the study species are the primary sources of fodder, medicine,
food, sanitation and wood. Gum and resin collection is found to be the most important
means of income generation for thousands of households in the study areas. Above
all, gum and resin extraction is almost non-destructive way of resource use. Hence,
careful plan to integrate this sub-sector with other activities such as livestock is not
only means of income diversification, but also a sustainable way of utilization of the
natural woodland. By doing so, it is possible to contribute to combating the expansion
of desertification (the prevailing problem in the area), environmental degradation, and
lose of biodiversity, while making economic use of the resources.
Keywords: dryland, gum and resin, gum and resin bearing species, population status,
socio-economic importance
Description
Keywords
dryland, gum and resin, gum and resin bearing species, population status, socio-economic importance