Practices and Challenges of Participatory Forest Management in Ethiopia: The Case of Bonga Participatory Forest Management Scheme, SNNPRS
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Date
2007-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This thesis has attempted to examine the various faclo rs influencing people's participation in
parlicipalory foresl managelllenl (PF!'d) scheme and associaled chailenges emailed in its
implemenlation. The sllIdy was conducted in parts of Bongo foresl in KafC/ Zone, Gill7bo Woreda
which is currently under PF!v! Three foresl user groups (FUGs) were selecled pwposely Fom
three Kebeles of the Woreda. The justifications were the existence of different agents of
deforestation, earlier period of formation, and relative physical accessibility. The nature of the
study commanded methodological pluralism. Thus, combinations of surveys, qualitalive and
quantitative data collection lechniques were employed
The sludy showed Ihat there are hosls of socio-economic. cull ural and inslilulional factors at
play affecting people's participation in PF!'oI! Low level of income and education, among others,
affects users' partiCipation and thus, winning the acceptance of the poorest ojien marginalized
communities to involve into PFM scheme was found to be challenging. Other user 's atlributes
which impede participation include: Socio-cultural atlilude IOwards women, community
relationship related 10 ethnicity of individual member and past experience on collective action,
size and solidarity of the group. The finding fill'ther shows some facto rs related to institutional
attributes such as membership, conflict resolution and relation with external actors/agents.
Others are clarity of boundary and ease of exclusion which is related to the resource allribules.
The current community management is reported 10 have brought considerable environmental and
social benefit. Such as improvemenl in quality and quantily of Irees and NTFPs both through
reduced access and complimentary forest development activities. Moreover, authority and use
rights through a signed agreement with the local government and most'importanlly increasing
social acceptance and empowerment of the Manja communily are the most important incentives
(benefit) that promote members' parlicipatiol1. In this regards, the finding of the study filrther
showed how P F!v! can be used as a means to promote the participation marginalized
communities inforest management as well as well as enhancing social justice, and improving thl?
fo rest resource management in their localities. Despite improvements in forest ownership
through user approach compared to the previous state ownership, feelings of insecurity still exist
among users. The sources identified were the existence of conlending traditional properly right
regime on forest and NTFPs, unclear duration of righls, limited support Fom the side of the
government and community past experience on property rights.
It is recommended that more efforts are required to strengthen PFM and win an explicit trust
among parties. This can only be achieved when policy and legislation are reformed to
accommodate PFM and when local forest users are empowered through filii legislative backing
and capacity building.
Key words: Participation, Participatory Foresl Managemem
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Keywords
Participation, Participatory Foresl Managemem