AN I NVESTIGATION OF TREE PLANTING AND MANAGEMENTPRACTICE ON FARM FORESTRY IN WONDOGENETSOUTHERN, ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to asses’ farmer’s awareness on tree plantation, management practice and factors influencing farmer’s tree planting management in Wondo Genet, Southern Ethiopia. Descriptive research design was used to conduct a study. Total of 85 households were purposively selected from both kebele. Necessary data were collected through questionnaire and interview. Then, data was analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The result revealed that least of the farmers they have positive attitude towards tree plantation because of tree plantation significantly improve local environment, economy and community providing multiple benefits while growing. The result shows that most of the farmers have negative perception towards tree plantation. The study result shows that the perception about the future demand and supply for farm forest products, however failed to show any influence on their decision to establish farm forest plantation because of farmers were afraid that tree would compete with cash crops. The result confirm that there are many reasons for low adoption of tree plantation such as lack of coordination, education, lack of awareness, lack of technical assistance, guideline with forest department were the major problems. The study result shows that about 86.5 % tree planted on the study area was eucalyptus, followed by gravella 76.5% andcordialafricana 41.2%.The study shows that major reason for planting tree was fuel wood and construction wood. The farm boundary and home steady were the common form of tree planting niche by farmers in the study area. In the study area also farmers do not accept tree planting on cropland. The largest proportion of farmers also claimed eucalyptus is not suitable for planting on crop land. The study result shows that farmers were applied pollarding and coppicing managementtechniques. The result revealed that farmer’s tree planting and management practice affected by decrease in wood price, the need for fuel wood and construction materials, increase in prices of agricultural products, decreased access to credit.