The Livelihood of the Forest Dependent Populations: A Case Study of the Women FuelWood Carriers in Woreda 1 of the Gulele Sub City in Northern Addis Ababa.

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Date

2011-05

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

The present study is aimed at assessing the living conditions and the socioeconomic situation oj Women Fuelwood Carriers and their interaction with the Jorest resources, and the effect on the Jorest as well, due to filelwood harvesting, as a result oj the great demand Jor energy supply. The cumulative effect oj the illegal activity carried out by the WFCs on the reserved Jorest, as the major or sole means oj their livelihood, has filrther repercussions. It contributes to increase depletion oj the plantations, destroys the sustainable supply oj filelwood and ultimately puts at stake, not only the very survival oj WFCs themselves, but also the household energy needs oj end-users at large. Without education or training, or other way oj supporting themselves and their Jamilies, these women subsist on filelwood carrying and trading, as their primary source oj income, at a considerable cost both to their own health and personal saJety, and to the sound management oj the Jorest resources. The general objective oJ the research is to assess the livelihood conditions oj the women filelwood carriers in northern Addis Ababa as well as their activities within the Jorest, in order to determine ways and means to make it sustainable and environmentally Jriendly. To do so, the researcher had to employ both quantitative and qualitative research methods to gather the necessary data Jor conducting the study. These included descriptive surveys using structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and FGDs with inJormants by employing interview guidelines and/or checklists, observations and documentary analyses to generate pertinent primary and secondary data Fom primary and secondary sources, with a view to ensuring the quality oj data. To this end, a total oJ92 sample respondents were selected out oJ2000 target population, using systematic sampling techniques. This study Jound out that the socio-demographic and economic characteristics oj the surveyed population depict exactly the state oj poverty these WFCs are living in. They are essentially young adults and married migrants Jrom different parts oj the country and they are illiterate; having no significant assets to make a positive impact in their lives, although some oj them claim to have assets oj some sort back home. Their perception about the Jorests and its importance is, thereJore, limited. Living in groups in tiny housing units and filthy environment, without any meaningfiti alternative income-generating activities, these Orthodox people, by religion, take all risks to gain a loft oj bread out oj the Jorests. The existing Jorests protection enJorcement mechanisms and policies are inefficient to keep then at bay and inadequate to ensure good Jorest conservation practices in the study area. This is very often due to inadequate number oj personnel to patrol the Jorest, lack oj smooth communication, lack oj clear guidelines and oj coordination among the Government local authorities responsible Jor making it happen. Consequently, awareness creation is needed at all levels on the importance oj a sound Jorest conservation system; and provision should be made oj an adequate number oJJorest security guards in the study area with encouraging incentives in order to guaranty an effective Jorest protection. Local authorities and relevant stakeholders should commit themselves not only to provide WFCs with access to schools to acquire new life skills and alternative generating income, but also with decent housing units to allow them fit in the society in dignifYing manner. Given the Jact that effective management oJJorests is oj paramount importance, there is a need Jor all parties concerned to pursue collective participatolY Jorest management initiatives in such a way as to saJeguard the interest oj all, the environment and, particularly oj the poor, who are the most reliant on the continued access to resources Jor filelwood supplies.

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Keywords

Forest Dependent Populations

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