ASSESSMENT OF FOREST CONSERVATION PRACTICE AND MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS IN MAREKA WOREDA, SNNPR

ABSTRACT Forest conservation involves the upkeep of the natural resources with in forest that are beneficial to both humans and the environments. This study was conducted to assess forest conservation practice and management problem in Mareka Woreda, SNNPR. The study employed a descriptive type of research, and survey method was used for this research. The data was gathered from both primary and secondary sources. The study was conducted in six kebeles that were purposively selected from 37 kebeles in the woreda. Then, 151 household heads were selected by using simple random sampling technique. Different data collection instruments such as questionnaire, focused group discussions, key informant interviews and field observation were also applied. The findings indicated that there was shortage of land in study area which discouraged farmer’s ability to produce an adequate amount of crops to nourish their family due to increase in human population and land sharing among family members. This has led rural households to cut trees even in inaccessible and marginal lands to produce crops. The study also found that the major factors/causes/ contributing to the fast disappearance of the forest were attributed to agricultural land expansion, the rising demand for tree products for fire wood, expanding population pressures, lack of income, construction materials, demand for grazing land and lack of job. Agricultural land expansion takes the highest contribution for forest resources degradation in the study area. Shortage of sufficient cultivable land to produce an adequate amount food for the household exacerbated the rate of forest loss. Fuel wood consumption was found to be the second major cause of declining of forest in the study area and the local communities have an awareness of forest reduction which result in decline of soil fertility, loss of biodiversity and increasing of flooding. Therefore, investing on forestry by the government, community and private individuals is thus crucial.