Socio -economic Effects of the Dire Afforestation Project on the Poor Peasants and the Adverse Implication on the Forest Resource
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2006-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AAU
Abstract
on the one hand and its adverse implications for the afforested resource on the other. The project
as a peri-urban afforestation project was implemented during the i980s to meet the fue l. pole. and
construction wood demands of the ever increasing population of Addis Ababa implemented as a
top-down intervention the project alienated the local people ji-om their land and denied them of
custommy rights to manage forest resources.
The study is therefore intended to assess the general impact of the proj ect on economic and social
fabric of the community; to identify the cause of deforestation as it relates to management option.
livelihood status and land tenure relation; to see possible management option that curb the
problem related to the project and to asses the attitude the community have towards the forest
resource as well as identifying conflict of interest between different groups Data for this
research was collected using qualitative methods in which f used multiple data collection
techniques. In the analyses and presentation of findings. the study combined theoretical
approaches both in development-displacement studies and natural resource
management/governance line of thinking.
The result of the study shows that like most other projects in this country. the Dire afforestation
project was established without consultation of the local communities. The study also found out
that the project had impoverished the local community. which not only resulted from the move to
the resettlement but also it puts restriction on access to the forest resource. This made the local
community victims of double displacement. Moreover. the diverse interests over the use of
resource which became scarce led to conflicts and contradictions between the project and the
community on the one hand and within the community on the other. Understanding the
impoverishment risks encountered by the people due (0 displacement and protectionist approach
which in turn put the afforested (ree under severe threat. the research calls for another viable
option (0 bring about double sustainability both for the people and the afforested trees. The study
recommends change in intervention strategy of the government and other stakeholders in favor of
Joint management approach.