PARTICIPATORY FOREST MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND ITS SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION TO RURAL PEOPLE: A CASE OF BELETE FOREST SHABE SOMBO DISTRICT, JIMMA ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE

ABSTRACT Improving forest cover and livelihood of smallholder farmers living in and near the forest is the primary goal behind the introduction of PFM. However, it suffers the forest resources to degradation if it creates unclear ownership and use rights, low levels of community participation, discrimination among members and weak institutions and law enforcement that undermine positive gains and sustainability. Though, this study was aimed to assess the extent of participatory forest management (PFM) and identify its socio-economic contribution to local people Shabe sombo district under Belete Forest, Southwest Ethiopia. This is purposively selected district and four kebeles, namely Sebeka Debiye, Sombo Doru, Atero Gefere, and Doma Gomacho were selected purposively due to the occurrence of PFM. A total of 322 households were selected for questionnaire survey. About 92.24% of the respondents were strongly agreed with the PFM and they were benefited from it. Increasing the household income, increase tree regeneration, create awareness, introduce new technology, and encouraging the right use of forest products are some reasons identified behind the implementation of PFM. In addition to its ecological importance, PFM contributes socio-economic to local people of the study area. Reducing people dependency on forest by ensuring food security via generating employment, increasing income of the households and increasing production are some economical contributions of PFM; whereas creating sense of ownership, improving community integration, developing good partnership among different stakeholders are also the other ways of strengthening social capital of PFM to the local people. Behind its positive contribution there are hindering factors that restrict the local people from participating in PFM. The major factors identified by the respondents of the study are lack of interest, distance from forest, and gender issues. Therefore, in order to the community participation awareness creation, creating diversification revenue streams as well as the needs to more work to integrate women and marginalized community parts into PFM should be the future work.