ADAMA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND LAW

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Causes OF DEFORESTATION IN BENCHI MAJI ZONE, SHAY

BENCH WOREDA SNNPR, ETHIOPIA

BY

HUSSEN EBRAHIM

August, 2018

ADAMA, ETHIOPIA

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 ADAMA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND LAW

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION IN BENCHI MAJI ZONE

SHAY -BENCH WOREDA SNNPR, ETHIOPIA

A Thesis Submitted to the School of Humanities and Law, Department of

Geography and Environmental Studies of Adama Science and Technology
University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Masters of
Art in Geography and Environmental studies.

BY

HUSSEN EBRAHIM

ADVISER: TSETADIRGACHEW LEGESE (PhD)

August, 2018

ADAMA, ETHIOPIA

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Declaration

This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any
other university, and that all sources of materials used for the thesis have been
duly acknowledged.

_______________________________________

Hussen Ebrahim

This thesis has been submitted for examination with my approval as university
advisor.

________________________________________

TSETADIRGACHEW LEGESE (PhD)

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 Approval Sheet

School of Graduate Studies

This is to certify that the thesis prepared by Hussen Ebrahim: on Causes of Deforestation in
Bench Maji Zone, Shay bench Woreda and submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Master of Art in Geography and Environmental studies
complies with regulation of the University and meets the accepted standards with its
originality and quality.

___________________________ _________________ ____________

External Examiner Sature Date

Signature

___________________________ _________________ ____________

Internal Examiner Signature Date

____________________ ________________ ____________

Chairperson Signature Date

Rated _______________________

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Acknowledgments

First and foremost I would like to thank the Almighty Allah for what he has done to me.
Without His blessing finalizing this paper would not have been possible.

This research would not have taken its present shape if I hadn’t received academic supports
from several individuals. Sincere gratitude goes in particular to my advisor Dr.Tetadirgachw
Legese for the persistent and valuable comments he gave me. His ideas and suggestions
were valuable for the advancement of the study. I thank him.

I am also thankful Mr.Ascalew Haylea Segnet Badeg Derege Baga for their help during
data collection and provided me important information about the study.

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 Table of Contents

Page

Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................. iii

List of Tables ........................................................................................................................ vii

List of Figure ....................................................................................................................... viii

List of Photos ......................................................................................................................... ix

Abbreviations and Acronyms ............................................................................................... x

Abstract ................................................................................................................................... i

CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................... 1

1. Introduction........................................................................................................................ 1

1.1. Background of the Study .................................................................................................. 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem................................................................................................... 2

1.2 Objectives of the Study...................................................................................................... 4

1.2.1 General Objective ....................................................................................................... 4
1.2.2 Specific Objectives ..................................................................................................... 4

1.3 Research Questions ............................................................................................................ 4

1.4 Significance of the Study ................................................................................................... 4

1.5 Scope of the study.............................................................................................................. 5

1.6 Limitation of the Study ...................................................................................................... 5

CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................... 6

2. Review of Related Literature ............................................................................................ 6

2.1 Meaning of Deforestation .................................................................................................. 6

2.2 Causes of Deforestation ..................................................................................................... 7

2.3 Forest Resource Degradation in the World ....................................................................... 9

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2.4 Effect of Deforestation on Biodiversity ........................................................................... 11

2.5 Effect of Deforestation on Climatic Change ................................................................... 16

2.6 Effect of Deforestation on Global warming .................................................................... 18

2.7 Effect of Deforestation on Hydrological Cycle ............................................................... 21

CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................. 24

3. Description of the Study Area and Research Methods and Materials ....................... 24

3.1 Location of the Study Area .............................................................................................. 24

3.2 Climate............................................................................................................................. 25

3.3 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................ 25

3.4 Socio-Economic Conditions ............................................................................................ 25

3.5 Population ........................................................................................................................ 26

3.6 Research Methods and Materials ..................................................................................... 26

3.6.1 Research Design ........................................................................................................ 26
3.6.2. Research Approach .................................................................................................. 26
3.6.3 Sample Size Determination ....................................................................................... 27

3.7 Data Source and Data Collection Method ....................................................................... 28

3.7.1 Sources of Data ......................................................................................................... 28
Primary Sources ................................................................................................................. 28

3.8. Data Collection Instruments ........................................................................................... 29

3.9. Data Collection Procedures ............................................................................................ 31

3.10. Validity and Reliability................................................................................................. 31

3.11. Data analysis Techniques ............................................................................................. 32

3.12. Ethical Considerations .................................................................................................. 33

CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................... 35

4. Data Analysis and Interpretation ................................................................................... 35

4.1 Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents ........................................................... 35

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4.2 The Main Cause of Deforestation in Shay Bench Woreda .............................................. 37

CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................................. 49

5. Conclusion and Recommendation .................................................................................. 49

5.1 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 49

5.2 Recommendations............................................................................................................ 50

References ............................................................................................................................. 51

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 List of Tables

Page

Table 3. 1: Description of Sample Household .................................................................................... 27

Table 4. 1 Gender of the Respondents................................................................................................ 35

Table 4. 2 Age of Respondents ........................................................................................................... 36

Table 4. 3 Characteristics of Respondents by Educational Background ........................................... 37

Table 4. 4 Cause of Deforestation...................................................................................................... 37

Table 4. 5 Conservation Practices of Forest Resource ...................................................................... 46

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 List of Figure

Page

Figure 3. 1 Location Map _ of the Study Area .................................................................................... 24

viii
List of Photos

Page

Photo 4. 1: Expansion of agricultural land in Shay Bench Woreda ................................................... 39

Photo 4. 2: Eucalyptus tree one of the Shay Bench forest areas......................................................... 40

Photo 4. 3: Resettlement program in Shay Bench Woreda ................................................................. 40

Photo 4. 4: Charcoal in Shay Bench Woreda ..................................................................................... 41

Photo 4. 5: Grazing animal around forest land of study area ............................................................ 42

Photo 4. 6: Illegal logging around forest land of study area .............................................................. 43

Photo 4. 7: Institution of Kuka Primary School in Shay-Bench Woreda ............................................ 44

Photo 4. 8: Home timber production of shay-bench ........................................................................... 45

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Abbreviations and Acronyms

CB: Conservation of Biodiversity

EP: Environmental Protection

GCM: General Circulation Model

GHGs: Green House Gas

FAO: Food and Agricultural Organization

NGO: Non Governmental Organization

SNNPRS: Southern Nations and Nationalities and People Regional State

WFP: World Food Program

UNEP: United Nation Environmental Program

UNDP: United Nation Developmental Program

EFAP: Ethiopian Forestry Action Program

LULCC: Land Use Land Cover Change

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Abstract

Forest is important resource which provides the required needs for human beings. But its
degradation is one of the major environmental problems, challenging agricultural
production and biodiversity loss in many parts of Ethiopia. The Objective of the study was to
explore causes of deforestation in SNNPR Bench-maji zone Shey-bench woreda. The
research was conduct a descriptive survey research design and the methodology employed
was both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The target populations for this study were
teachers, experts, and farmers. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select
6(28%) sample kebeles. From a total 2000 house hold heads, 333 (16.65%) samples were
selected by Yemaneh mathematical formula. From these, 14(4.2%) teachers, 89(26.4%)
experts and 230 (69.09%) farmers were selected by purposive sampling technique.
Accordingly, a questionnaire was prepared to be filled by teachers, experts and farmers.
For the qualitative portion, interviews and focus group discussion (FGD) were administered
for religious leaders and kebele administrators. Data obtained through questionnaires were
analyzed using statistical tools of frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and
ANOVA-test. The findings of the study revealed that selecting the plantation of invasive
spacious land and alternative use energy were among the major factors that significantly
influenced adoption of forest conservation measures in the study area. Whereas, expansion
of agricultural land, invasive specious plantation (Equlaptus tree) and as source of energy
were affect forest resources. The researcher concluded that the main causes of deforestation
were: Planting of invasive species, Using plants as a source of energy both at urban and
rural areas, Population growth, poverty and unemployment, development/expansion of
settlement , road constriction were the main causes, and Sex, education and age were the
main determinant factors that aggravated rate of deforestation. Finally, based on the
findings recommendations were: Population policy, creating off farm Job Opportunity,
alternative Energy use, and makes preserved forest area were recommended as to conserve
forest of the study area.

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 CHAPTER ONE

1. Introduction
1.1. Background of the Study

Deforestation is the loss or continual degradation of forest resources due to human activity
or natural causes. The term deforestation refers to cutting wood for fuel, commercial logging
and slash and burn cultivation. It also used to describe forest clearing for annual crops, for
grazing, and establishment of industrial forest plantation. Deforestation is the removal of
forest cover to an extent that allows for alternative land use (UN/FAO, 2008). Deforestation
is the transformation of forested land by human actions and represents one of the great
forces in Global environmental change and one of the great drivers of biodiversity loss (Roy,
2002). According to Marczyk (2005), agricultural development schemes in Mexico, Brazil
and Indonesia transmigration program moved large populations in to the rain forest zone,
have further increased deforestation rates. According to him by the year 2090 all tropical
rain forest may be gone. One fifth of the world’s tropical rain forests were destroyed
between 1960 and 1990.

According to the British environmentalist Myers, 5% of deforestation is due to cattle

ranching, 19% to over heavy logging, 22% to the growing sector of palm oil plantations, and
54% due to slash and burn farming. Deforestation is a complex problem. A recent study by
the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that during the decade from 1980 to
1990, the world's tropical forests were reduced by an average of 15.4 million hectares per
year (0.8 percent annual rate of deforestation). The area of land cleared during the decade is
equivalent to nearly three times the size of France. The phenomenon of deforestation is
occurring globally, in different types of forests, and for different reasons.

In Ethiopia, deforestation is associated with clearing land for cultivation, including in the
peasant and states sub sectors, construction, and as source for house energy including fuel
and charcoal (Markos, 1998). It is aggravated by the great dependence of the population on
bio mass as a source of energy. Both in urban and rural areas, charcoal is the single most
important source of energy. For instance, the demand for wood in 1992 for the purpose of

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fuel and industrial products was estimated at 47.5 million cubic meters per year
(Seyom,1994). The present demand for wood products by the year 2014 is in between 90-95
million cubic meters per year. Today, forest resources in Ethiopia are found in the remotest
and most inaccessible areas of the south western Ethiopian high lands. Among the western
Ethiopian highlands, Shay bench Warda is the one that has the most forest coverage.
However, the available forest resources are diminishing at a fast rate due to the increasing
population, expanding agriculture, use of wood for fuel; settlement, grazing, and
development of institutions affect the forest, which existed there.

Shay-bench is a predominantly highland region in southwest Ethiopia. This draws on

research and case studies from six forest villages..

Shay- Bench is a predominantly highland region in southwest Ethiopia. About one third of
the woreda and the surrounding area are covered by tropical rain forest comprising a rich
mixture of species arranged in three canopies. The forest ecosystem makes an important
contribution to the livelihoods of people in the area in a variety of ways (Smit, 2006).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The livelihood of many millions of people depends heavily on forest resources (Aklilu,
2009). This is the state of many people’s living in developing countries. Forests are a part of
the ecosystem that regulate the climate and maintain soil fertility through its foliage
(Kricher, 1997). In many countries massive deforestation is ongoing and is changing climate
and geography. According to FAO (2000), there was a steep rise in the decadal rate of
deforestation worldwide, Brazil having the highest annual rate.

According to Ethiopian Ministry of Natural Resource the rate of deforestation in Ethiopia

has accelerated over the decades. The rate of deforestation is estimated to be at between
150,000 and 200,000 hectares of land annually (Markos, 1998). Above all, there were some
studies that have been conducted on causes of deforestation to conserve the forest resources
in the study area; however this study would be unique into two ways . First, it saw the
views/opinions of Equlaptus plantation and population poverty and unemployment. The
previous study was targeted on two or three causes at a time. It envisages that opinions from

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more key stakeholders holistically at the closure would enrich the credibility of the results.
Second, the study was also an attempt to focus on two causes broadly and deeply

The study area can represent natural forest cover change in some parts of the Ethiopia in
general and in Shay Bench woreda in particular for reasons below:

1. Rapid population growth and land scarcity has forced farming families to expand their
agricultural fields on to natural forests even in conserved areas.

2. As a result, large areas, which were under dense forest cover, are now exposed to
deforestation, which leads into environmental degradation and serious threat to wild life
habitat loss.

3. Furthermore; the loss of the vegetative cover could result in biodiversity loss, which
could lead to species extinction even though the rate differs with type of species due to its
geographic distribution and abundance.

4. Local vegetation cover change, specifically forest cover change has significant and
cumulative impact on regional and global climate changes, since environmental problems
have no boundaries and are interrelated

Our current understanding of causes of deforestation in Ethiopia is not adequate. Future

understanding of its causes was needed to be greatly improved with systematic methods and
designs addressing land use change research. In order to understand the forces of change, it
was necessary to conduct studies that explicitly reveal the variations in change
characteristics. The data needed to develop mitigation strategies that project LUCC for
specific intervals into the future could be generated and refined for use in land use
classification. The socio-economic features of the area were studied along with the land
cover and land use change study to obtain information on prevailing land use and land cover
change and socio-economic factors that stimulate changes in land use and land cover
change. This research were address relevant issues on Land Use and Land Cover changes in
relation to the socio-economy and provide recommendations which may contribute to the
sustainability of natural forests; and to the conservation of biodiversity and wild life habitat
in the study area
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 1.2 Objectives of the Study

1.2.1 General Objective

The general objective of this study was to explore causes of deforestation in Bench-Maji
Zone, Shay Bench woreda.

1.2.2 Specific Objectives

More specifically, the study aspires to:

• Identify the major causes of deforestation

• To suggest possible intervention actions and suggestions for future forest conservation
of the study area

1.3 Research Questions

In its attempt to address the above stated objectives, the study is expected to address the
following questions:

1. What were the major causes of deforestation?

2. What were the possible intervention actions and suggestions for future forest
conservation?

1.4 Significance of the Study

This study would have the following benefits.

 Helps agricultural officer, supervisors, and woreda and zonal agricultural experts to
be aware of the extent to which causes of deforestation and its challenge in to
conserve forest resources. .
 Enables the principals, supervisors, and agricultural experts to identify causes of
deforestation and its challenges that hinder to conserve forest resources.

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  Serves as a stepping stone for those who have an interest to conserve forest resources
in woreda, regional and at national level
 Give valuable information for decision makers to minimize the causes of
deforestation that affect the biodiversity of the study area

1.5 Scope of the study

The study was delimited to only six rural kebele administration of Shay –Bench woreda with
21 kebele (56 from Kusha, 55 from Shapa, 56 from Gayshema, 55 from Kesita, 56 from
Tikmit-eshate and55 from Kuka) in Bench- Majji zone of SNNPR. The study would also be
delimited to assessing causes of deforestation in six selected woreda administrative kebele.
The kebele was selected for three main reasons. The first one was that deforestation was
series in the woreda that resulted to lose of bio diversity. The second one was the researcher
has been working in the study area more than 15 years as teacher. This background allowed
the researcher to get better information about the minimizing of forest resources. Finally to
make the study manageable and feasible with the given time scope, the researcher delimited
to 6(28.5%) woreda administrative kebele.

1.6 Limitation of the Study

Reluctance from the side of individual participants in properly filing and returning the
questionnaire was a challenge. Many participants did not finish the questionnaire within the
given time, thus gathering the information took the researcher more than the expected time
frame given for this activity. In addition to that, dealing with improperly filled questionnaire
and not obtaining answers for few questions, especially open-ended ones has been another
source of challenge. However, this limitation was compensated by responses obtained from
interview and focus group discussion (FGD). Meanwhile with the non-probability purposive
sampling method adapted in this study, there was a possibility of missing out representatives
who could have different view about under this study on this somehow limited the
possibility of different opinions. However, this limitation was compensated by probability
sampling method adopted from other sample groups.

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 CHAPTER TWO

2. Review of Related Literature

2.1 Meaning of Deforestation

Deforestation is the loss or continual degradation of forest habitat due to natural and human
related causes. Agriculture, urban sprawl,. Agro forestry practices contribute to human
causes of deforestation, (Global Deforestation 2006). The United Nations Research
Institution for Social Development (UNRISD) defined deforestation as: the removal of
forest resources for fuel, commercial logging and slash and burn cultivation. Forests are
cleared for annual crops, for grazing and establishment of industrial forest plantation,
(Furoda, 2006). According to FAO, (2006) deforestation is the changes within the forest that
negatively affects the structure or function of the site, and there by lowers the capacity to
supply products and/or services. Its decline is associated with human activities of expansion
of agricultural land, fuel wood for cooking and heating of house, timber production, and
natural fires or due to attacks by insects and other natural hazards such as cyclones and
volcanic eruptions are some of natural causes of deforestation. The World Resources
Institutes estimated that about 22% of the world’s (old growth) original forests cover
remains endanger (Global deforestation, 2006).

Deforestation was occurring more rapidly in Latin America, Asia and Africa. Within the
Africa continent, the destruction of forests in West African countries occurred rapidly while
the forest in the central Africa countries remained relatively endanger. The increasing
dependents of human population on forest wood as the major source of energy has exerted
heavy pressure on available forest resources. Worldwide, the FAO estimates that 1.5 billion
of people, who rely mostly on fuel wood, are cutting wood faster than they could replace
them (Sharma, 1990). In third world countries likes Ethiopia the rural population engaged
them on natural resource and aggravated loss of biodiversity (Jeanne X. Kasperson et al.,
1995). Thomas R. Loveland (1999), explained the relation between different scale land
cover changes that land use and land cover changes occur at all scales, and changes at local
scales can have dramatic, cumulative impacts at broader scales. He also discussed that land

6
use and land cover changes are not just of concern at local and regional levels because of its
impacts on land management practices, economic, health and sustainability, and social
processes, but globally as well.

2.2 Causes of Deforestation

In Ethiopia, population pressure is inducing, the clearing of forests for agriculture and other
purposes, and the attendant accelerated soil erosion, is gradually destroying the soil resource
(Hurni, 1990). This is because natural forests are the main sources of wood for fuel,
construction and source of row material for industry. According to Kahsay Berhe (20004),
in Ethiopia forests may have existed long before history was recorded, but the present day
forest cover does not correlate with human population in recorded history, even though
environmental problems such as droughts may have also contributed to this phenomenon.
Furthermore, the annual loss of natural forest cover has been estimated to be 150,000 -
200,000 ha/year and in 1989 forest cover estimated was only 2.7% of the Ethiopian land
mass (EFAP, 1993).

Today, little of the natural vegetation of the highlands remains, except for the southern and
southwestern parts of the country. Shay Bench, the study area, is one of these remnants and
it is the second largest natural forest patch in the highlands of the country, which is used to
be habitat for various wild lives and currently suffering from settlement and forest clearing
for the purpose of fulfilling of their basic needs. As mentioned above, the study is conducted
in Shay Bench forest and surrounding area of southwest Mountains Beach Majji Zone.

The major problem that the Woreda now facing, is human encroachment and livestock
grazing, which result in illegal harvest of the natural resources of the Woreda. Therefore, the
research is vital to mitigate the local land cover change which has great impact on local,
regional and global scale. Also the research finding will help to need of identifying the
problems on similar ecosystems. Solving local problems, which have wide range impact,
have significant importance on global scale. Therefore, the current land cover change of the
country in general and areas with natural forest like Shay branch forest with rich
biodiversity should be studied in order to identify the specific problems and to recommend
and suggest appropriate solutions. The expansion of human settlement, agricultural land,

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over grazing construction as well as charcoal for house hold energy contributed to
accelerated rate of deforestation in Ethiopia.

The most significant historical change in land cover has been the expansion of agricultural
lands. In the past two centuries, the impact of human activities on land has grown
enormously because of population increase, technological development and the
requirements thereafter, altering entire landscapes, and ultimately affecting the biodiversity,
nutrient and hydrological cycles as well as climate. Today close to a third of the earth’s land
surface is devoted to pasture or cropland, which accounts to approximately one-half of all
lands suitable for agriculture. Since the dawn of plant domestication the progression of
cropland was relatively higher than that of the privies period of times since the introduction
of plant domestication the progression of cropland was relatively slow. The past century
witnessed over half of the worldwide increase in agricultural lands, and in the developing
world, half the land cover conversion occurred in just the past 50 years (Houghton 1994 in
Alex de Sherbinin, 2002).

A documentation of global patterns of land-use change from 1700 to 2000 is presented in

Klein Goldewijk (2001); and he reports on worldwide changes of land to crops of 136, 412
and 658 Million ha in the periods 1700-1799, 1800- 1899 and 1900-1990, respectively.
Conversion to pasture was 418, 1013 and 1496 million hectares in the above indicated three
periods. Also Pimentel (1993) cited in Bewket (2003), indicates that for almost all food
requirements, people of the world totally depend on land resources, except for only 3% of
the food, which is coming from aquatic resources. Therefore, this important resource needs
careful management for the sake of sustained ability to feeding the world population. Even
though, agricultural expansion is the dominant proximate cause for land cover change. Alex
de Sherbinin (2002) explains the tropical deforestation in terms of immediate causation by
multiple factors rather than single variables. Charcoal production is common place in the
arid, semi-arid and dry sub humid parts of the country. Using fire to fumigate bees and to
facilitate hunting is also very common, which results forest fire and destructs natural forests
(Kahsay Berhe 2004).

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According to Alex de Sherbinin (2002), the five major factors for driving causes are
economics, institutions, technology, culture, and demographic change. Based on the study
economic factors are present in 81 percent of all cases, and clearly dominate the underlying
causes. Commercialization and the growth of mainly timber markets as well as market
failures are frequently reported to drive deforestation. It is striking that combinations of
synergetic drivers rather than single drivers at aggregate level are associated with tropical
deforestation.

Institutional factors such as policies on land use and economic development, transportation,
or subsidies for land-based activities, lack of adequate governance. Technological factors in
the wood and agriculture sectors, like technological changes in the forestry sector in the
form of chain saws and heavy equipment, and in wood processing, agro-technological
factors, modification of farming systems through intensification are playing significant role
in cover change.

2.3 Forest Resource Degradation in the World

Forest ecosystems play multiple roles at global as well as local levels: as providers of
environmental services to nature in general, humans in particular, and as source of
economically valued products (UNEP, 2002). Forests especially natural forests are used for
various ecological and economic purposes. They could maintain local climate, regulates
hydraulic cycle, used as wild life habitats and reduce runoff and soil erosion. The economic
importance of forests includes supply of raw material for pulp and paper, provision of timber
for construction and other activities and used as fuel wood for energy source. Therefore,
depletion of this important natural resource will affect other valuable and life supporting
greatly affected by deforestation. It is very strategic and wise approach to avoid other
problems by solving this key problem.

Throughout history, the fate of the world's forests has strongly reflected the pattern and
intensity of land use by societies. Demand for agricultural land, timber, and other forest
products, as well as technological change in agriculture, significantly impacts the mode and
rate of transformation of forested areas. Biophysical triggers may also play a role, such as

9
fire dynamics, which are linked to agricultural activities or natural phenomena (Alex de
Sherbinin, 2002).

Deforestation occurs relatively quickly, and in contrast to some other transitions, is easily
observable by the human eye. Many of which are resources like water and soil. In addition
to these, the climate change and biodiversity will also be:

 Deforestation can lead to soil erosion or impoverishment, especially in tropical areas

where soils tend to be thin and nutrient-poor.
 Deforestation is linked to habitat loss, which is a leading cause of species
endangerment and biodiversity loss, particularly in humid tropical forests.
 Deforestation affects the hydrological cycle through changes in vapor-transpiration
and run-off; and
 Deforestation, and particularly forest burning, contributes to green-house gas
emissions that bring about climate change.

According to UNEP (2002), the effects of deforestation, forest degradation and forest fires
represent a permanent loss of the potential capacity of forest resources to generate economic
benefits.

Deforestation is a major issue in Ethiopia, since it is one of the main causes of the prevailing
land degradation and loss of biodiversity. Tree cutting is a common occurrence which has
been taking place for centuries. A long time back in history some parts of Northern Ethiopia,
which are today suffering from conditions caused by land degradation, were covered with
forests. In present day Ethiopia, however, forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate and
the area covered by forests at present is only less than 2.4 percent compared to the estimated
40 percent before one hundred years initial coverage (Kahsay Berhe 2004). The major
source of household energy is biomass. A 1984 estimate indicated that 94.8% of the total
energy consumption in Ethiopia was made up of biomass fuels consisting of fuel wood,
animal dung and crop residue (EFAP, 1993). Fuel wood use makes up 81.8% of these
traditional sources, while animal dung and crop residue make up 9.4 and 8.4%, respectively.

10
Traditional fuels make up 99.9% of the rural energy consumption and the rural population
consumes 86.7% of the total net energy (EFAP, 1993).

While the soils in the Ethiopian highlands have a high inherent fertility, the continuous
removal of nutrients without replacement as well as the steep and dissected terrain with
extensive areas of slopes of over 15%, coup fed with the high intensity of rainfall, have led
to accelerated soil erosion reaching up to 400 tons/year. About 20,000-30,000 ha of cropland
in the highlands are being abandoned annually since cropping can no longer be supported by
the soil. It is projected that land degradation at the present rates could destroy the farmlands
of some 10 million highland farmers by 2010. Population, deforestation, and erosion are part
of a vicious cycle.

2.4 Effect of Deforestation on Biodiversity

The CBD defines biodiversity as the variability among living organisms from all sources
including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological
complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species
and of ecosystems. It is the variety of life on earth at all levels, from genes to worldwide
populations of the same species; from communities of species sharing the same small area of
habitat to worldwide ecosystems (IAIA, 2005).

Biodiversity refers to the variability among living organisms from all sources, including
terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems, the ecological complexes of which they are
part. It will include diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems (UNEP,
2002). Ecosystem services are the benefits people obtain from ecosystems. Biodiversity
plays an important role in the way ecosystems function and in the many services they
provide. Services include nutrient and water cycling, soil formation and retention, resistance
against invasive species, pollination of plants, regulation of climate, as well as pest and
pollution control by ecosystems. For ecosystem services it matters which species are
abundant as well as how many species are present (Facts on Biodiversity 2005). However,
this valuable resource, biodiversity, is declining rapidly due to factors such as land use
change, climate change, invasive species, overexploitation, and pollution. Such natural or

11
human-induced factors – referred to as drivers – tend to interact and potential was low due
to their small sized nature and short growing cycles. However, these reports indicate that
moderate grazing increases species richness better than non-grazing but at the same time, as
grazing intensity increases, species richness also decreases.

Recent changes in climate have already had significant impacts on biodiversity and
ecosystem in certain regions. As climate change will become more severe, the harmful
impacts on ecosystem services are expected to outweigh possible benefits, such as a longer
growing season, in most regions of the world. Climate change is expected to exacerbate
risks of extinctions, floods, droughts, population declines, and disease outbreaks.

Many drivers affecting biodiversity are stronger today than they were in the past and are also
occurring together. Because exposure to one threat often makes a species more susceptible
to another, multiple threats may have unexpectedly dramatic impacts on biodiversity.
Drivers of extinction range from local to global in scope and from immediate to long-term in
their effects. For example, the extinction of species due to habitat loss can be rapid for some
species, while it may take hundreds of years for others depending on the geographic
distribution of the organism. However, human transformations of the earth’s surface are a
force of geologic proportions that is affecting biodiversity in almost every corner of the
world. Changes are occurring rapidly enough that the result is a net loss of species rather
than a proliferation of new life forms. Species have been disappearing at 50-100 times the
natural rate, and this is predicted to rise dramatically. Based on current trends, an estimated
34,000 plant and 5,200 animal species – including one in eight of the world's bird species –
are critically endangered. According to the IUCN Red List (2000), almost 10 percent of
animal species and 14 percent of plant species are critically endangered.

The significant effect of loss of species had clearly shown in Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD). First, breaking of critical links in the biological chain can disrupt the
functioning of an entire ecosystem and its biogeochemical cycles. This disruption may have
significant effects on larger scale processes. Second, loss of species can have impacts on the
organism pool from which medicines and pharmaceuticals can be derived. Third, loss of

12
species can result in loss of genetic material, which is needed to replenish the genetic
diversity of domesticated plants that are the basis of world agriculture.

Species extinction predates the appearance of hominids on the planet, yet there is no doubt
that even prehistoric human activities have speeded species loss. Through their use of fire
and through hunting, it is thought that early hominids contributed to the extinction of many
large terrestrial mammal and bird species (Groombridge & Jenkins 2000). It is really only
with the advent of large-scale agriculture, though, that species extinction rates began to
rapidly increase.

While agriculture sometimes represents a wholesale conversion of land from natural states
to crop or pastureland, often the process is a gradual one in which a succession of land uses
punches holes in the fabric of nature in ways that can be deleterious to biodiversity. This
process is known as forest or habitat fragmentation. Fragmentation can lead to reductions in
total genetic variation, dispersal barriers and, for plants, the potential loss of key biotic
interactions with pollinators and dispersal agents (IAIA, 1994).

The effects of fragmentation on species viability vary from species to species. Some species
may actually benefit from the additional edge effects that are produced as fragmentation
progresses, creating more boundary areas between forest and cleared lands. If a species
becomes marooned on a patch, this means that it is effectively cut off from reproduction
with the larger population. This can lead to inbreeding and its attendant negative impacts on
the genetic makeup of the population. Fragmentation can also make species more vulnerable
to disease and storms, and alter relationships between predator and prey. Looking to the
future, it is likely that future demands for land, not just from agriculture, but for urban and
industrial land uses and extractive activities will continue to put pressure on natural areas.

A study of human population and biodiversity distribution in Africa showed that human
population density was highest in areas of high biodiversity. Balmfordet al. (2001)
concluded that conflicts between conservation and development are not easily avoided
because many densely inhabited areas contain species found nowhere else.

13
Forest and generally biomass degradation, as well as consequent land degradation, lead to
the destruction and erosion of biodiversity of both plants and animals. In the past, the focus
of biodiversity conservation in Ethiopia was only in crop genetic resources. Thus, animal
diversity was completely neglected, while plant diversity was only of interest in as far as it
related to crop genetic resource diversity. More specifically, the destruction of habitats, the
introduction of a narrow spectrum of crop varieties, recurring droughts, as well as wars and
conflicts could be mentioned as the most common causes for the erosion of biodiversity in
Ethiopia. In view of the presently growing conflicts between biodiversity conservation and
agricultural needs, there is a potential danger that conservation of biodiversity may lose.
species and of ecosystems (UNEP, 2002). Ecosystem services are the benefits people obtain
from ecosystems. Biodiversity plays an important role in the way ecosystems function and
in the many services they provide. Services include nutrient and water cycling, soil
formation and retention, resistance against invasive species, pollination of plants, regulation
of climate, as well as pest and pollution control by ecosystems. For ecosystem services it
matters which species are abundant as well as how many species are present (Facts on
Biodiversity 2005).

However, this valuable resource, biodiversity, is declining rapidly due to factors such as
land use change, climate change, invasive species, overexploitation, and pollution. Such
natural or human-induced factors – referred to as drivers – tend to interact and amplify each
other. While changes in biodiversity are more clearly linked to direct drivers such as habitat
loss, they are also linked to indirect drivers that are at the root of many changes in
ecosystems. The main indirect drivers are changes in human population, economic activity,
and technology, as well as socio-political and cultural factors. The greatest human impact on
biodiversity is the alteration and destruction of habitats, which occurs mainly through
changes in land use: draining of wetlands, clearing of land for agriculture, felling of forests
for timber, and pollution of the environment and fragmentation. In terrestrial ecosystems, the
main driver has been land cover change such as the conversion of forest to agriculture has
been the main drivers of biodiversity loss. Overall, the main factors directly driving
biodiversity loss are: habitat change, such as fragmentation of forests; invasive alien species
that establish and spread outside their normal distribution; overexploitation of natural

14
resources; and pollution, particularly by excessive fertilizer use leading to excessive levels
of nutrients in soil and water.

At local level grazing also have effect on species richness. ZerihunWoldu and Mohamed
Saleem (2000) reported that heavily grazed and non-grazed plots to have promoted growth
of annual plant species, even though their production potential was low due to their small
sized nature and short growing cycles. However, these reports indicate that moderate
grazing increases species richness better than non-grazing but at the same time, as grazing
intensity increases, species richness also decreases.

Recent changes in climate have already had significant impacts on biodiversity and
ecosystem in certain regions. As climate change will become more severe, the harmful
impacts on ecosystem services are expected to outweigh possible benefits, such as a longer
growing season, in most regions of the world. Climate change is expected to exacerbate
risks of extinctions, floods, droughts, population declines, and disease outbreaks.

According to a report by the ministry of natural resources, the rate of deforestation has
accelerated over the decades to the point where forest coverage was reduced to 16.0% in
1950, to 3.6% in 1980, and to 2.7% in 1989. The rate of total deforestation during these
periods was estimated at between 150.000 and 200.000 hectares of land annually (UNDP &
World Bank (1988). In our local area clearing of forests are associated with expansion of
new settlements, construction of houses, expansion of agriculture, and altering of indigenous
forest with exotic plant species, which increases deforestation activities in addition to
affecting the forest ecosystem.

In Ethiopia, deforestation is associated with clearing for more cultivable land, as well as
cutting trees for fuel and charcoal (Markos, 1998). It has greatly increased the degradation
of Ethiopia’s forests. The destruction of forests not only affects trees but also disturbs the
natural habitat of animal species, as well as the exposition of soil to erosion which
contributes to global climatic change, (UNCE, 1992). Societal vulnerability to risks
associated with deforestation activities with climatic change may exacerbate ongoing social
and economic changes particularly for those parts of societies dependent on agricultural

15
activities. Risks are apparent in agriculture, species of animal and many other components
that constitute the livelihood of rural population in developing countries, (Adger et al, 2003).

The impacts of climatic change, drought, and desertification are closely interlinked and most
acutely experienced by populations whose livelihoods depend principally on natural
resources (Stringer, et al, 2009). The severity of this impact depends on the level of
exposure and vulnerability to extremes (IPCC, 2012). The deforestation activities will be
thus impact animal and human systems in such a way that they alter the productivity,
diversity and function of many ecosystems and livelihoods around the world. For Ethiopia’s
poor, degradation of natural resources, particularly forest dependent community’s
deforestation may compound existing vulnerabilities. Settlement on forestland, exposure to
climatic hazards as heavy dependence on forest resources places their welfare at the mercy
environmental conditions. As the available amount and quality of forest resources declines,
so does the security of their lively hoods. This destruction of forest resources reduces people
capacity to respond to stresses such as global warming and drought and constrains their
ability to meet and move out of poverty (IISD SEL & IUCN, 2009).

2.5 Effect of Deforestation on Climatic Change

Climate is the interaction of all of the components of the Earth’s system and it includes the
solar and infrared radiation and sensible and latent heat fluxes that are all impacted by
changes in the Earth’s surface. The significant role of the land within the climate system
should not be surprising. Apart from their role as reservoirs, sinks, and sources of carbon,
tropical forests provide numerous additional ecosystem services. Many of these ecosystem
services directly or indirectly influence climate. The climate-related ecosystem services that
tropical forests provide include the maintenance of elevated soil moisture and surface air
humidity, reduced sunlight penetration, weaker near-surface winds and the inhibition of
anaerobic soil conditions (R. A. Pielke, 2002).

Land surface is an important part of the climate system. The interaction between land
surface and the atmosphere involves multiple processes and feedbacks, all of which may
vary simultaneously. It is frequently stressed that the changes of vegetation type can modify

16
the characteristics of the regional atmospheric circulation and the large-scale external
moisture fluxes. So that Changes in surface energy budgets resulting from land surface
change can have a profound influence on the Earth's climate (WMO, 2005). On the other
hand, the transport and transformation of substances in the environment, through living
organisms, the atmosphere, oceans, land, and ice, are known collectively as biogeochemical
cycles. The Earth system is composed of a number of biogeochemical cycles, all powered by
the sun’s energy. These global cycles include the circulation of certain elements, or
nutrients, upon which life and the earth’s climate depend. Then, through these cycles, all
components of the environment are interrelated and greatly affect each other. Apart from
these effects, the presences of drought and hydrological feedbacks associated with land-use
change locally or through tele-connections, have a direct impact on the source/sink
capabilities of the terrestrial ecosystem. These feedbacks, along with other climate forcing
and feedbacks, makes climate prediction difficult problem, on time-scales of years.
Therefore, the biogeochemistry has a significant role within the climate system (S. G.
Gibbard et al., 2005).

The effect of tropical land-use change on climate system is summarized in Claussen (2002),
furthermore; different models are used to simulate the effect of land use - land cover change
on climate system. Among these, General circulation model (GCM) simulations by Chase et
al. (2000) indicates that regional landscape change can result in alterations to surface fluxes
elsewhere in the world through nonlinear feedbacks within the atmosphere’s global
circulation. The alteration of tropical landscapes, primarily the conversion of forests to
agriculture or pasture, changes the partitioning of solar insulation into its sensible and latent
turbulent heat forms. Less transpiration associated with the agricultural and pasture regions
results in less thunderstorm activity over this landscape. Also Lawton et al. (2001),
illustrates the significant regional effects that tropical deforestation has on the ecological
environment of adjacent mountains.

Land surface is an important part of the climate system. The interaction between land
surface and the atmosphere involves multiple processes and feedbacks, all of which may
vary simultaneously. It is frequently stressed that the changes of vegetation type can modify
the characteristics of the regional atmospheric circulation and the large-scale external

17
moisture fluxes. Changes in surface energy budgets resulting from land surface change can
have a profound influence on the Earth's climate (WMO, 2005). According to S. G. Gibbard
et al. (2005), deliberate land-use change specifically a forestation or reforestation has been
accepted as a mechanism to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and sequester carbon in trees
and soils. However, this activity may have other effects in terms of the radiate forcing in the
atmosphere. For example, in regions subject to significant snow cover, a forestation would
result in a lower surface Aledo and hence a positive radiate forcing, resulting in a net
warming effect despite the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. Similarly, increases in the
surface fluxes of water vapor could result in positive radiated forcing.

Gregg Marland et al (2003), suggest that efforts to restore or mimic the structures and
functions of native ecosystems will also generally be consistent with the desire to minimize
the human impact on the climate system. And, there are many other environmental,
economic, and social values that are important in land management choices. Recognition of
the complexity of human-caused changes in climate should not be used as an excuse to
avoid actions that will minimize our disturbance of the Earth’s environmental system and
that will decrease vulnerability to environmental change and variability. Reductions in net
greenhouse gas emissions and land surface change, for example, represent appropriate
approaches to lessen our impact on the environment. Our hierarchy of approaches for
integrating land cover changes into climate mitigation strategies offers a significant
challenge for the further integration of science and public policy.

2.6 Effect of Deforestation on Global warming

Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth's
atmosphere and oceans in recent decades. The Earth's average near- surface atmospheric
temperature raised 0.6 ± 0.2 °Celsius in the 20th century.

The current scientific consensus is that most of the observed warming over the last 50 years
is likely to have been attributable to human activities. The primary causes of the human-
induced component of warming are the increased amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and
other greenhouse gases (GHGs). They are released by the burning of fossil fuels, land

18
clearing and agriculture, etc. and lead to an increase in the greenhouse effect. This effect
was first described by Joseph Fourier in 1824, and first investigated quantitatively in 1896
by the Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius, although the greenhouse effect did not enter into
popular awareness until the 1980's.

An increase in global temperatures can in turn cause other changes, including a rising sea
level and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation. These changes may increase
the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, heat waves,
hurricanes, and tornados. Other consequences include higher or lower agricultural yields,
glacial retreat, reduced summer stream flows, species extinctions and increases in the ranges
of disease vectors. Warming is expected to affect the number and magnitude of these events;
however, it is difficult to connect particular events to global warming. However, the
uncertainty is more significant regarding how much climate change should be expected in
the future, and there is a hotly contested political and public debate over implementation of
policies that deal with predicted consequences, what, if anything, should be done to reduce
or reverse future warming, and how to deal with the predicted consequences.

Human activity is vastly altering the Earth’s vegetative cover. Such changes have
considerable consequences for the health and resilience of ecosystems and for human
welfare. They also contribute to anthropogenic climate change through a variety of
processes. These include the growth or degradation of surface vegetation, which produces
changes in the global atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide; and changes in the land
surface, which affect regional and global climate by producing changes in the surface energy
budgets (Gregg Marland, 2003).

Recent studies suggest that changes in the surface energy budgets resulting from land
surface change can have a profound influence on the Earth’s climate. Acknowledging the
impact of changes in surface energy budgets raises the importance of treating land surface
change as a component of climate change. However, it also makes more challenging to
create a system of credits and debits wherein emission or sequestration of carbon in the
biosphere is equated with emission of carbon from fossil fuels or other sequestration of
carbon (Gregg Marland, 2003).

19
Land use and land cover changes influence carbon fluxes and greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions which directly alter atmospheric composition and radiate forcing properties. They
also change land-surface characteristics and, indirectly, climatic processes. Land use and
land cover change is an important factor in determining the vulnerability of ecosystems and
landscapes to environmental change (WMO, 2005).

With changes in land use and land cover, all of the elements of climate change come into
play. Changes in land surface can result in emission or removal of CO2 to the atmosphere
and thus to changes in the Earth’s radiation balance. Carbon is one of the most significant
elements in that cycle. Plants and animals are approximately 50 percent (by dry weight)
carbons. Carbon in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and methane
(CH4) is also a significant contributor to greenhouse gases that trap the sun’s energy as it is
stored and released as long wave emissions from the earth’s surface. Changes in land surface
can also change the radiation balance by altering the Earth’s surface Albedo. In addition,
changes in land surface can alter the fluxes of sensible and latent heat to the atmosphere and
thus the distribution of energy within the climate system; and in so doing can alter climate at
the local, regional, and even global scale. Mitigation strategies that give credits or debits for
changing the flux of CO2 to the atmosphere but do not simultaneously acknowledge the
importance of changes in the albedo or in the flow of energy within the Earth’s system
might lead to land-management decisions that do not produce the intended climatic results
(Gregg Marland et al, .2003).

Lenton (2000), using a simple box model and using General Community Model (GCM)
sensitivity experiments, showed that biogeochemical feedbacks in conjunction with an
increased CO2 radioactive warming produced an amplified regional and global-warming
response.

Policy-related quantification of human influences on climate has focused largely on changes

in atmospheric composition. However, a large body of work has demonstrated that land-
cover change provides an additional major forcing of climate, through changes in the
physical properties of the land surface. The global radioactive forcing by surface albedo
change may be comparable with that due to anthropogenic aerosols, solar variation and

20
several of the greenhouse gases. Moreover, in regions of intensive human-caused land-use
change such as North America, Europe and Southeast Asia, the local radioactive-forcing
change caused by surface albedo may actually be greater than that due to all the well- mixed
anthropogenic greenhouse gases together (IPCC, 2001).

Surface albedo change can be compared with greenhouse-gas emissions through the concept
of radioactive forcing, but changes in vegetation cover can also modify the surface heat
fluxes directly. This cannot be quantified in terms of radioactive forcing, so a full
quantification of land-use impacts on climate requires a new approach. Furthermore, as well
as influencing local long-term weather conditions, regional-scale land-cover change can
impact on the global climate system through teleconnections. Remote changes in different
locations may be of opposing sign, so spatial averaging may under represent the true global
significance of the land-use effects (R. A. Pielke et al 2002.

2.7 Effect of Deforestation on Hydrological Cycle

There are many connections between forest cover land and the water cycle. First, and most
obviously, land cover can affect both the degree of infiltration and runoff following
precipitation events. Secondly, the degree of vegetation cover and the albedo of the surface
can affect rates of evaporation, humidity levels and cloud formation (S. G. Gibbard et al,
2005). There are two paths of escape for surplus water – through infiltration into
underground aquifers, and as surface water flows. Natural land cover has various properties
that help to regulate water flows both above and below ground. Forest canopy and leaf litter;
for example, help to attenuate the impact of raindrops on the earth’s surface, thereby
reducing soil erosion. Roots hold the soil in place, especially on steeper slopes, and also
absorb water. Openings in leaf litter and soil pores problem. Openings in leaf litter and soil
pores permit the infiltration of water, which is carried through the soil into the ground water
(Alex de Sherbinin, 2002).

Forests usually evaporate more water than agricultural crops or annual crops for two
reasons. In wet climates, where the surfaces of vegetation remain wet for long periods,
forests evaporate intercepted water at higher rates than shorter crops because their very

21
rough surfaces assist the aerodynamic transport of water vapor into the atmosphere. In drier
climates, because the root systems of forests are generally much deeper than those of short
vegetation or agricultural crops, forests can reach more soil water to maintain transpiration
during dry periods and this lead to higher overall evaporation. Conversion of forest to short
crops is therefore expected to result in increased runoff and, where the runoff feeds lakes,
increased lake levels (Dagnachew Legesseet al., 2003).Land cover has various properties
that help to regulate water flows both above and below ground. For example, tree canopy
and leaf litter can help reduce the impact of raindrops on the ground, hence reduce soil
erosion, while roots hold the soil in place and absorb water. In the absence of vegetative
cover, soil erosion will result and the effects of this phenomenon are wide and very
complicated.

Climate change can intensify the global hydrological cycle and can have major impacts on
regional water resources, affecting both the surface and groundwater supply for domestic
and industrial uses, irrigation, hydropower generation, navigation, in-stream ecosystems and
water-based recreation. The variability of the hydro period (through changes in frequency
and intensity of precipitation) and changes to the frequency and intensity of extreme events
can affect water bodies and their biodiversity. However, other variables related to climate
may play important roles in determining regional and local impacts on water degradation,
including increased temperature and altered evaporation, transpiration, altered
biogeochemistry, altered amounts and patterns of suspended sediment loadings.

A documentation of global patterns of land-use change from 1700 to 2000 is presented in

Klein Goldewijk (2001); and he reports on worldwide changes of land to crops of 136, 412
and 658 Million ha in the periods 1700-1799, 1800-1899 and 1900-1990, respectively.
Conversion to pasture was 418, 1013 and 1496 million hectares in the above indicated three
periods. Also Pimentel (1993) cited in Bewket (2003) indicates that for almost all food
requirements, people of the world totally depend on land resources, except for only 3% of
the food, which is coming from aquatic resources.

Ethiopia is the water tower of northeastern Africa. However, land cover change can affect
the amount of runoff to the downstream countries of the Nile basin, where every main rainy

22
season big floods are reported. The effects of land cover are not only contained within the
country, but also on the low-lying countries of northeastern Africa as well. Low level
vegetative cover could also affect infiltration and could lead to reduced groundwater levels
and therefore the base flow of streams (Dagnachew et al., 2003 in Kahsay Berhe 2004)

23
 CHAPTER THREE

3. Description of the Study Area and Research Methods and Materials

3.1 Location of the Study Area

Shay- Bench Astronomical location extends from 6048’N- 700430’’ N Latitude and 350
36’E - 35052’30” E Longitude. Its relative location situated in North of Chena, South East
of Menit, West of Sheko, and South of Menit. (See fig1) . It shares its boundary with
Kaffa Zone. The total area of the study area is 220,838 sq km.The town of the woreda is
far from Addis-Ababa having a distance of 660km and from Zonal town of Mizan by
about 30km.

Figure 3. 1 Location Map _ of the Study Area Source: CSA2007, mol WE and ERA 2010

24
 3.2 Climate

The agro-climatic zone of the Woreda consists 78% is Woina dega and 22% is Dega. The
study area has fall with mean annual rainfall reaches 1500mm per a year. Accordingly, it has
two rainy seasons these are summer and. mostly the rain received during June –September
and has short rainy season from March- May. The mean annual temperature of the study
area for the last ten years was 19c0 and the highest temperature received during March, April
and May (woreda Agricultural office)

3.3 Vegetation

Shay –Bench is a predominantly highland region in southwest Ethiopia. About one third of
Shay Bench and the surrounding area is covered by tropical rain forest comprising a rich
mixture of species arranged in three or more canopies. The forest ecosystem makes an
important contribution to the livelihoods of people in the area in a variety of ways. (Woreda
agricultural office)

Tree species with several high horizontal branches, for example, are ideal for hanging
cylindrical log beehives - a widespread local bee-keeping practice. The forest provides shade
for coffee and a variety of commercially valuable spices and that protected from direct
sunlight.

The forests also supply rural communities with fuel wood and timber, which they use both
for household consumption and for sale. There is urban demand for both wood and non-
wood forest products such as honey, coffee, and spices. .(woreda agricultural office )

3.4 Socio-Economic Conditions

The major economic activity in the study area is mixed agriculture, where the production of
crops and grazing of animals the primary means of work. The livelihoods of the people are
dominated by mixed subsistence farming which is supported by the rainfall. The major crops
grown in the study area were Maize, Teff, Barley, sorghum and oilseeds while cattle, sheep,
goat, horse and mule are the domestic animal which reared over the area.

25
 3.5 Population

Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, this woreda has a total population of 118,282, of
whom 56,541 are men and 61,741 women; 4,415 or 3.73% of its population are urban dwellers. The
majority of the inhabitants are Protestant with 58.75% of the population, 31.1% practiced traditional
beliefs, and 8.36% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

3.6 Research Methods and Materials

3.6.1 Research Design

A research design refers to the plan and the schedule of work, or a process of creating an
empirical test to support or reject a knowledge claim (Best, 2006). In this study, descriptive
survey research design was employed. Because the major objective of this study was to
explore causes of deforestation as it exists at present, it is also relevant to gather detailed
information concerning current main causes of deforestation. Moreover, descriptive research
design makes possible the prediction of the future based on findings on prevailing
conditions.

Similarly, Cohn and Manion (2002), described that descriptive survey research design as it
helps to gather data at a particular point in time with the intention of describing the nature of
existing condition or identifying standards against which existing conditions can be
compared or determining the relationship that exists between specific events. In addition,
Seyoum and Ayalew (1989) also agreed that descriptive survey design of research would
employ both quantitative and qualitative method because it is descriptive survey in design,
which is analytical in nature, and it is more appropriate for gathering several kinds of data in
a broad size to achieve the objectives of the study.

3.6.2. Research Approach

This study attempted to investigate causes of deforestation in Shay Bench woreda. Thus, in
order to meet this purpose, mixed method was used in this study, combining both
quantitative and qualitative components. According to Gay and Airasian (2000), qualitative
research is best used to discover topic and relationship, and at the case level quantitative

26
research is best used to validate those themes and relationships in samples and populations.
The reason is that the researcher used a mixed method approach was to be broaden
understanding by incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods to use one
approach to better explain or build on the results from the other approaches. To this end, the
qualitative approach was incorporated in to the study to validate and triangulate the
quantitative data.

3.6.3 Sample Size Determination

In order to obtain reliable data for the study, various sampling techniques were employed.
According to Yalew (2004) among the total population, 10-30% can fulfill the sample sizes.
Therefore, from the 21(100%) kebele administrative found in the woreda, 6(28.5%) sample
kebeles were selected by simple random sampling. In these six kebeles2000house hold
heads were found .From 2000 house hold head 333 house hold head were selected by the
Yemaneh 1963 mathematical formula. . This technique is advisable to subdivide the
population in to smaller homogeneous groups to get accurate representation. The
mathematical formula was as N= Sample Frame (Shay Bench Woreda) = 2,000

 n =2,000∕ (1+2,000(0.05)²
 n =333
 n = Sample Size
 e=Level of Confidence is 95 %

Table 3. 1: Description of Sample Household

Sample association(6) HHH in each Kebele. Sampled house head Percentage (%)
Kusha 326 56 16.8%
Shapa 334 55 16.5%
Gayshema 336 56 16.8%
Keshita 340 55 16.5%
Tikmit-eshate 340 56 16.8%
Kuka 324 55 16.5%
Total 2000 333 100%
Source: survey result, 2016

27
Therefore (333), sample respondents were selected to participating for the study of causes of
deforestation.

As indicated in table 3.1, from the total 21 kebeles of the woreda the researcher selected six
kebeles simple random sampling techniques. From these Kebeles of 2000 household heads,
the researcher selected 333 sample households by Yemaneh 1963 mathematical formula
(=2,000∕ (1+2,000(0.05)²). And then, to select sample HH heads from each kebeles
purposive sampling techniques were employed. Hence: from Kusha 56 (16.8 %), from Shapa
55(16.5%), from Gayshema 56 (16.8%), from Keshita 55 (16.5%), from Tikmit–eshate 56
(16.8%) and Kuka 55 (16.5%) were selected. Therefore, the appropriate samples were
represented to the research.

3.7 Data Source and Data Collection Method

3.7.1 Sources of Data

To achieve the objectives of the study and in order to strengthen the findings of the research,
the relevant data for the study should be gathered from both primary and secondary sources.
This helps the researcher to valid the data gathered to the study (Babbie, 2001). Therefore,
the researcher used both primary and secondary sources and these described below.

Primary Sources

In this study, primary data sources were farmers, agricultural experts, teachers, religious
leaders and kebele administrators through questionnaires, interview, and focus group
discussion. These sources helped the researcher to acquire first-hand information and to
draw inferences.

Secondary Data Sources

Secondary data were also gathered from certain secondary information sources. Secondary
sources included published and unpublished information about causes of deforestation,
impact of deforestation and conservation activities, and statistical data about physical and
socio-economic conditions of the study area. The information was collected from regional,

28
zonal and woreda level of agricultural and information and communication offices. These
were books, articles, records, journals, reports.

3.8. Data Collection Instruments

In this study, questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussion, and documentary analysis
were used to collect information regarding causes of deforestation. This integration of
responses helped the researcher to avoid the threat of bias that might be induced
quantitatively. In relation to this point, Dooley (2004) stated that integration of instruments
serves as a means of enlightening phenomena from multiple angles and helps the researcher
to reveal better-detailed evidence of the study.

I. questionnaire

Questionnaires can be defined as a written document that has exact questions of all
individuals in the sample group, and which respondents can answer at their own
convenience (Gall, 2007). Questionnaires are believed to be better in order to get a large
amount of data from large number of respondents in a relatively shorter time with minimum
cost. The researcher used questionnaires to collect data from farmers, agricultural experts,
‘and, teachers. Hence, open ended and close-ended questionnaires were prepared in Amharic
language and administered to all respondents with the assumption that they can understand
the language. The researcher used more close-ended questionnaires because it is the most
frequently used instrument in descriptive survey research and is convenient to relieve
reliable and adequate information from a large number of respondents.

Therefore, for close-ended question items, Likert’s scale was employed, because Liker’s
scale is mostly used in survey research and is easy to construct. In addition, it is a simple
way to describe opinion, suggestion, and frequency of respondents and it provides more
freedom to respondents. The scale consists of five scales: 5- strongly agree, 4-agree, 3-
undecided, 2- disagree, and 1- strongly disagree.

29
II. Interview
Interview was mainly used to strangulate the issues and concerns that surfaced during the
questionnaire over which supplementary information was needed. One of the major
advantages of the interview method in qualitative research is its strength to access social and
behavioral issues that are abstracted out of the concrete experiences of people (Seidman,
1998). Interview as qualitative tool gains its strength through the flexibility. It allows to
informants in narrating through stories without being constrained by the investigator
(Seidman , 1998, Bogdman, & Biklen, 1998).

Therefore, besides the questionnaire, for this study a semi structured interview was used.
The interview was conducted to field observation in Bench language to make
communication easier and in order to avoid ambiguity to each of the interviewees. Finally,
interview notes was taken, summarized, and translated into English .

III. Field observation

Personal Field observation supported with photographs and recording were also employed to
realize how agricultural activities, planting of invascive species ,as source of energy and
population growth were the main causes of deforestation that affect the forest resources of
the study area.

IV. Semi-structured Interview of key informants: was additional method that was used
to collect primary data. It was used to collect in-depth information about cause of
deforestation. The information gathered through key informants’ was used to harmonize and
supplement the data collected from household survey through structured questionnaire.
Interview was conducted with key informants such as elder people who lived and worked
for long time in the study area, kebele leaders, supervisors and Development Agents
(DAs).Each group having 1Member from each kebele generally consists of 6,in number for
the response of causes of deforestation.

V. Focus group discussion (FGD): was another most important data collection technique
used to collect qualitative data by preparing discussion questions related to cause of
deforestation. FGDs were held with farmers of the sample kebeles, religious leaders,

30
agriculture extension workers and supervisors. There were two 2 sessions each contains (6
participants)

3.9. Data Collection Procedures

To answer the basic research question raised, the researcher went through a series of data
gathering procedures. The expected relevant data was gathered by using questionnaires,
interviews, focus group discussion, and documentary analysis. In doing so, having letter of
authorization from Adama University and zone and woreda education offices: the researcher
directly went to six sample kebeles and principals of respective Agriculture office for
consent. After making agreement with the concerned participants, the researcher introduced
his objective and purposes. After this, to collect the data from the sample respondents
convenient time and place chose in order to place them freely and maximize the quality of
response and degree of return. Before giving the questionnaire for the participants, the
researcher gave orientation to make clear about the objectives of the research. Then after,
the questionnaires dispatched according to the time schedule of the selected kebeles. Then
the questionnaires administered to sample farmers, woreda agricultural office experts and
teachers within selected kebeles. The participants had to allow giving their own answers to
each item independently. They closely assisted and supervised by the researcher himself.

Finally, the questionnaires collected back. The interview was conducted with farmers of the
sample kebeles, religious leaders, agriculture extension workers and supervisors. After their
consent proved to lessen communication barriers during in depth discussion and relevant
document was analyzed

3.10. Validity and Reliability

Validity in mixed research type refers to the degree to which explanations of phenomena
match realities of the worlds and reliability refers to the consistency of the researcher’s
interactive style, data recording, data analysis and interpretation of participants meanings
from the data McMillan and Schumacher (1993:385-391). Therefore, checking the validity
of and reliability of data collecting instruments before providing to the actual study subjects
is the core to assure the quality of data (Yalew, E., 2004). To insure validity of instruments,

31
initially the instruments prepared by the researcher and developed under the close guidance
of an advisor, who provided his inputs for validity of the instruments. To further check, the
researcher used the pilot testing of the instruments. A pilot study was conducted prior to the
final administration of the questionnaires with all respondents. The pilot test was conducted
to secure the reliability of the instruments with the objectives of checking whether or not the
items enclose in the instruments can enable the researcher to gather relevant information.

In order to check the reliability of the instruments, a pre-test was done on twenty- DA
workers from Kula kebele, which was not included in the study. Then the prepared
questionnaires distributed and the SPSS software program computed the result of the pilot
testing. As suggested by Cohen, L. et al. (2002), the Cronbach’s Alpha result > 0.9
excellent, > 0.8 good, > 0.7 acceptable, α < 0.7 questionable, and < 0.5 poor. As crombach’s
alpha formula for internal consistency of the instruments and Cronbach’s alpha of 0.70 and
above (α ≥ 0.70) was accepted in the study in line with Norman’s (2003) recommended
value. In this study, alpha formula was selected as the appropriate method because it
involved a rating scale with five options. The results yielded that from the total 40 pilot
questions, five poorly responded were omitted while the rest 15 were improved. Thereafter,
all instruments were administered by the researcher and distributed to a sample subjects.
Finally, enough time was given to fill the necessary information.

3.11. Data analysis Techniques

The analysis of data in this study was conducted just at the beginning of data collection and
was finalized after data collection. The data were collected and organized based on the
questions. Besides, discussions and interpretations were made focusing on the obtained data.

Depending on the nature of basic questions and variables treated, different statistical
techniques were employed based on the nature of the data collected. Consequently, the data
collected from the respondents were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. In organizing
and analyzing quantitative data: tables, percentage, mean scores, and standard deviation
were used for analyzing the questionnaires with five point Likert scales to assess causes of
deforestation and conservation of forest resources in Shay –Bench woreda. The scale was
interpreted as 5 =very high, 4 = high, 3 = moderate , 2 =low, and 1 = very low. For the

32
purpose of easy analysis and interpretation, the total mean score values of each item and
dimension were interpreted 1.00-2.47 as the item were resulted represented as the item was
almost none, 2.50-.3.00 low, 3.10-3.50 moderately, and ≥ 3.6high for table 4.;the total mean
score values of each item and dimension were interpreted 1.00-2.47 as the item were
resulted represented as the causes of deforestation associated with population growth leads
to expansion of agricultural land by farmers, the item was almost none, 2.50-3.00, low
3.10-3.5moderately, and ≥3.60high for table 8; and the weighted mean values of each item
and dimension were interpreted 1.00-2.47 as the experts were asked to responses that causes
of deforestation associated with as a source of energy almost none, 2.50-3.00 low, 3.10-
3.500 moderately, and ≥ 3.60 high for table 9.

To compare whether the scores of the means of the three groups of respondents were
statistically significant or not, processed by statistically package of social science (SPSS )
V.20.0 software program and tested by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at alpha
0.05 (α = 0.05) level of significance.

At the end, in analyzing the data obtained through interview, focus group discussion, were
analyzed by narration.

3.12. Ethical Considerations

In planning a research project involving human subjects, it is important to consider the

ethical guidelines designed to project the research. With this, Mcmillan& Schumacher
(1993) cited potential ethical dilemmas such as informed dialogue, confidentiality and
anonymity in order to avoid problems related to ethical issues and encouraging participants
to overlook lost privacy in favor of valuable contribution made to make the research process
professional, ethical consideration made. Therefore, the researcher was informed the
respondents about the purpose of the study, chiefly that is for purely for academic purposes
of the study was also introduced in the introduction part of the questionnaires, interview, and
focus group discussion guide to the respondents; and confirm the subjects’ confidentiality
was protected. In addition to this, the researcher informed that their participation in the study
was based on their consent. The research was not personalized and the respondents’

33
responses during data presentation, analysis, and interpretation. Furthermore, all the
materials used for this research was acknowledged and was remain confidential. The next
part will focus on the presentation, analysis, and interpretation.

The awareness of ethical consideration in a scientific research is a fundamental concept in

which researcher was considered appropriately. The ethical principles of scientific research
include Voluntary or the willingness of participants to be involved in the study, informed
consent and risk of harm, confidentiality or secrecy, anonymity and human dignity or
respecting the respondents. Understanding these realities, the researcher was getting the
consent of key informants, and discussion members. The researcher were appropriately
inform all these respondents with the main purpose of the interview and discussion, the
reason why this study method were used, the need of their involvement in the study, the
benefit they gain being participating in the research and as their personal information were
kept at most confidential level. These ethical principles were notified at beginning of the
study. Furthermore, the researcher was informing the respondents to express their feelings,
opinion and experiences without any fear. In addition to the human dignity, the research
ethics also consider salutation of data produced by others and correct citation of materials
and related documents. So the researcher was cited and acknowledge for all the information
gathered from any sources.

34
 CHAPTER FOUR

4. Data Analysis and Interpretation

This chapter has two parts: the first part deals with the characteristics of the respondents,
and the second part presents the presentation, analysis and interpretation of the main data
obtained from various groups of respondents in relation to causes of deforestation in Shay
Bench woreda. To this end, both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered by using
questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussion and document analysis. The data gathered
through interview, focus group discussion and documentary analysis was supposed to
complement the quantitative data. For this research purpose, 20 close-ended and 3 open-
ended questionnaires respectively 227 farmers, 86 agricultural experts and 11 teachers, 3 -
interview guideline for 6 kebele administrator , and 5-discussion guideline for 12 were for
2DA, 2 religious leader 2 agricultural expertise 6 farmers prepared. From these, 227 farmers,
86 agricultural experts and 11 teachers were responded. Therefore, from total 333 (100%)
respondents 324 (96.2%) were gave response.

4.1 Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents

This section deals with demographic characteristics of the research participants. Frequency
and percentage of demographic variables relate to sex, age, academic qualification and their
field of the study. The participants were categorized in to three groups: farmers, agricultural
experts and teachers were asked to indicate their background information and responded as
follows in the table two below.

Table 4.1: Gender of the Respondents

Gender Number Percentile
Male 239 71.7
Female 94 28.2
Total 333 100

35
From the above table of 4.1, 239 (71.7) were male and 94 (28.2) were females. Thus one can
be understand that minimal participation of women in deforestation activities. The re fore,
it is possible to concluded that deforestation practice were dominated by male. This

may be because females do not are not encouraged by societies to pursue these
positions.

Table 4. 2: Age of Respondents

Age Number Percentile

18-25 72 21.6
26-33 95 28.5
34-42 109 32.2
43&abave 57 17.1
Total 333 1oo

Concerning to the ages of respondents from the above table, 109 (32.2%) were at the age of
between 34 -42 and 95 (28.5) of respondents were at the age of 26-33 and 72 (21.6%)
respondents were at the age of between 18-25 and 57 (17.1) of the respondents were at the
age of above 43.From this one can concluded that most of the respondents 109 (32.7)
responds that they were mature for fulfilling their basic need in participating of expansion
agricultural land due to shortage of land in relation to population growth. And planting of
invasive species by cutting and dawning of original forests which were grow in the study
area. According to this study, adult aged groups between ages of 34-42 were more engaged
in deforestation activities to satisfy their basic needs.

36
Table 4. 3: Characteristics of Respondents by Educational Background

Job category Educational level Number Percentile

Farmers 8-12 230 69.9
Agricultural experts Diploma 89 26.4
Teachers Degree 14 4.2
Total 333 100

As indicated from table-, 230(69.9%) of farmers have educational status below 12 grade,
while experts have 89 (26.4) diploma holders and 14(4.2%) of teachers are degree level of
education. Respondents whose grades were above 8 have been highly participated to
destruction of forest resources because lack of alternative jobs.

This was due to the fact that, farmers with secondary education have no alternative
economic opportunities.

4.2 The Main Cause of Deforestation in Shay Bench Woreda

Table 4. 4: Cause of Deforestation

No Item Response Respondents F- Sig

Value value
Farmers Experts Teachers Total
A The main causes
of deforestation
4.1 Agricultural M 4.06 4.29 4.20 4.11 1.024 .360
expansion SD .973 .825 .756 .914
4.2 Planting of M 3.27 4.79 4.62 3.69 84.456 .000
invasive SD 1.016 .426 .488 1.091
tree(Eucalyptus)
4.3 Expansion of M 3.00 3.36 3.03 3.02 1.269 .283

37
 settlement SD .876 .497 .686 .817
4.4 As source of M 3.35 4.36 3.90 3.54 12.975 .000
energy for SD 1.122 .745 .942 1.101
cocking and
heating of house
4.5 For grazing of M 4.07 3.06 4.05 4.06 .464 .629
animal SD .821 .770 .801 .812
4.6 Population M 2.48 4.50 3.48 2.83 45.421 .000
poverty and SD 10.82 .519 1.104 1.208
unemployment
4.7 Environmental M 2.76 3.00 2.72 2.76 .687 .504
unfriendly profit SD .841 .679 .870 .842
making (illegal
logging)
4.8 Development of M 2.70 3.86 2.57 2.71 16.116 .000
institution(school) SD .853 .535 .638 .826
4.9 Construction road M 2.82 4.64 4.01 3.22 128.856 .000
SD .724 .497 .593 .910
4.10 Processing of M 3.77 4.21 3.98 3.84 2.114 .122
home furniture SD 1.111 .699 .977 1.067

*NB: =number of participants M=mean; SD=standard deviation; F-value=statically calc

As can be seen in item 4.1 of table 4, respondents were asked to determine the main causes of
deforestation. Consequently, the suggestions of the respondents were high at that point. The
cause of forestation level was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). It is
found to be insignificant, F (2, 333) = 1.024, p > .05, with (M = 4.11, SD = .914) suggest high.
Subsequent analysis indicated that with the overall mean score values (M = 4.11) the main
cause of deforestation was high at that point. Besides to that interview and focus group
discussion (FGD) was raised to agricultural officers and religious and kebele administrators
respectively supported the above point by saying the cause of deforestation was high.

38
Similarly, literatures point out that expansion of agricultural land is one of the causes of
deforestation.

Therefore, based on the overall mean score values and qualitative data it can be concluded that
agricultural expansion is one of the causes of deforestation

Photo 4. 1: Expansion of agricultural land in Shay Bench Woreda

From the same table of item 4.2, respondents suggested whether planting of invasive specious -
for cash is accelerating the rate of deforestation. Consequently, the suggestions of the
respondents were high at that point. From the analysis of ANOVA test, it is found to be
significant, F (2, 333) = 84.456, P < 0.05, with (M = 3.69, SD = 1.091) indicated that there is
significant relationship between plantation of invasive species and deforestation. The focus
group discussion indicated that the plantation of monoculture as source of income and revenue
of the woreda affected the natural forests of the study area that in turns caused disruption of
ecological balance. Hence, many participants informed that the plantation and introduction of

39
invasive species resulted in the destruction of biodiversity, and ecosystem. Thus, the quick
harvest and good profit in short term encouraged farmers accelerate the clearing of local
forests, thus planting of invasive species (Eucalyp tus tree) destroys forest in hill area.

Photo 4. 2: Eucalyptus tree one of the Shay Bench forest areas.

In table 4 item 4.3 respondents were replied that the resettlement program which conducted
in the study area were as causes of deforestation. From the analysis of ANOVA test, it is found
to be insignificant, F (2, 333) = 1.269, P >0.0 5with (M=3.02, SD=.817), causes of
deforestation on that point is moderate. As FGD and KII indicated that the resettlement
program which conducted during Military regime was as causes of deforestation in the study
area.

Photo 4. 3: Resettlement program in Shay Bench Woreda

40
As can be seen in item 4.4 of table 4, respondents were asked to determine the main causes of
deforestation. Consequently, the suggestions of the respondents were moderate at that point.
The cause of forestation level was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). It
is found to be significant, F (2, 333) = 12.975 p < .05, with (M = 3.54, SD = 1.101) suggested
moderate. Subsequent analysis indicated that with the overall mean score values (M = 3.54) the
main cause of deforestation was moderate at that point. Besides to that interview and focus
group discussion (FGD) was raised to agricultural officers and religious and kebele
administrators respectively supported the above point by saying the cause of deforestation was
high. Similarly, literatures point out that as sources of energy for urban and rural area is one of
the causes of deforestation.

Therefore, based on the overall mean score values and qualitative data it can be concluded that
as sources of energy for urban and rural area is one of causes of deforestation.

Photo 4. 4: Charcoal in Shay Bench Woreda

As can be seen in item 4.5 of table 4, respondents were asked to determine the main causes of
deforestation. Consequently, the suggestions of the respondents were high at that point. The
cause of forestation level was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). It is
found to be insignificant, F (2, 333) = .464 p > .05, with (M = 4.06, SD = .812) suggested high.
Subsequent analysis indicated that with the overall mean score values (M =4.06) the main
cause of deforestation was high at that point. Besides to that interview and focus group

41
discussion (FGD) was raised to agricultural officers and religious and kebele administrators
respectively supported the above point by saying the cause of deforestation was high.
Similarly, literatures point out that grazing of animal is one of the causes of deforestation.

Therefore, based on the overall mean score values and qualitative data it can be concluded that
grazing of animal is one of the causes of deforestation.

Photo 4. 5: Grazing animal around forest land of study area

As can be seen in item 4.6 of table 4, respondents were asked to determine the main causes of
deforestation. Consequently, the suggestions of the respondents were low at that point. The
cause of forestation level was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). It is
found to be significant, F (2, 333) = 45.421 p < .05, with (M =2.83, SD =1.208) suggested low.
Subsequent analysis indicated that with the overall mean score values (M =.2.48) the main
cause of deforestation was low at that point. Besides to that interview and focus group
discussion (FGD) was raised to agricultural officers, religious and kebele administrators
respectively supported the above point by saying the cause of deforestation was high.
Similarly, literatures point out that population, poverty and unemployment is one of the causes
of deforestation.

Therefore, based on the overall mean score values and qualitative data it can be concluded that
population, poverty and unemployment is one of the causes of deforestation.

42
As can be seen in item 4.7 of table 4, respondents were asked to determine the main causes of
deforestation. Consequently, the suggestions of the respondents were low at that point. The
cause of deforestation level was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). It is
found to be insignificant, F (2, 333) = .687 p > .05, with (M =.687, SD = .842) suggested low.
Subsequent analysis indicated that with the overall mean score values (M = 2.76), the main
cause of deforestation was low at that point. Besides to that interview and focus group
discussion (FGD) was raised to agricultural officers, religious and kebele administrators
respectively supported the above point by saying the cause of deforestation was low. Similarly,
literatures point out that illegal logging is one of the causes of deforestation.

Therefore, based on the overall mean score values and qualitative data it can be concluded that
illegal logging is one of the causes of deforestation.

Photo 4. 6: Illegal logging around forest land of study area

As can be seen in table 4 item 4.8 respondents were asked to determine the main causes of
deforestation. Consequently, the suggestions of the respondents were low at that point. The
cause of forestation level was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). It is
found to be significant, F (2, 333) =16.116 p < .05, with (M =2.71, SD =.826) suggested low.
Subsequent analysis indicated that with the overall mean score values (M =.2.71) the main
cause of deforestation was low at that point. Besides to that interview and focus group

43
discussion (FGD) was raised to agricultural officers, religious and kebele administrators
respectively supported the above point by saying the cause of deforestation was low. Similarly,
literatures point out that development of institution is one of the causes of deforestation.

Photo 4. 7: Institution of Kuka Primary School in Shay-Bench Woreda

As can be seen in table 4 item 4.9 respondents were asked to determine the main causes of
deforestation. Consequently, the suggestions of the respondents were moderate at that point.
The cause of forestation level was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). It
is found to be significant, F (2, 333) =128.856 P< .05, with (M =3.22, SD =.910) suggested
moderate. Subsequent analysis indicated that with the overall mean score values (M =3.22) the
main cause of deforestation was low at that point. Besides to that interview and focus group
discussion (FGD) was raised to agricultural officers, religious and kebele administrators
respectively supported the above point by saying the cause of deforestation was moderate.
Similarly, literatures point out that construction of road is one of the causes of deforestation.

As can be seen in table 4 item 4.10 respondents were asked to determine the main causes of
deforestation. Consequently, the suggestions of the respondents were high at that point. The

44
cause of forestation level was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). It is
found to be insignificant, F (2, 333) =128.856 > .05, with (M =3.84, SD =1.067) suggested
high. Subsequent analysis indicated that with the overall mean score values (M =3.84) the main
cause of deforestation was high at that point. Besides to that interview and focus group
discussion (FGD) was raised to agricultural officers, religious and kebele administrators
respectively supported the above point by saying the cause of deforestation was high.
Similarly, literatures point out that processing of home furniture is one of the causes of
deforestation.

Photo 4. 8: Home timber production of shay-bench

45
 Table 4. 5: Conservation Practices of Forest Resource

No Item Respo Respondents F Sig

nse
Value Value
Farmers Exper Teac Total
ts hers
4.1 Reforestation and a forestation M 2.62 4.54 4.26 3.14 185.84 .000
program take place in study
SD .726 .514 .719 1.074
area?
4.2 Is agro forestry program M 3.83 4.50 4.55 4.05 26.975 .000
conducted in the study area?
SD .890 .519 .585 .868
4.3 Is there social forestry program M 3.36 4.64 3.97 3.57 53.150 .000
in the study area?
SD .594 .497 .686 .708
4.4 Is there awareness creation in M 4.05 4.43 4.28 4.12 2.667 .071
the study area?
SD .990 1.08 .726 .937

NB: n = number of participants M= mean; SD= standard deviation; F-value= statically calculated of
one way ANOVA test; sig= critical value a< .05

As can be seen in item -1 Table -6 respondents were asked to response that reforestation and a
forestation program were takes to improve the forest resources in the study area were suggest
that high.
As can be observed one way ANOVA testes .it is founded to be significant F (2, 333),
(,185.84,p<0.05 with both experts (M=4.57,SD=0.514) and teachers (M=4.26,SD=0.19) were
replied that reforestation and afforest program were conducted it help to maintain forest
resources , but as farmers (M=2.62,SD=0.726) was low. The division scale of the respondents
was seen as high in teacher and experts but low in farmers without significant difference
among the respondents. . Subsequent analysis indicate that with the overall mean score value
(M=3.14) respondents said that reforestation and afforest ion program was moderate .Beside
that, KII informant interview, FGD and personal observation indicated that reforestation and
afforest ion program conducted where not conducted to conserve forest resources.

46
In item 2 the same table respondents where suggested that Agro forestry program was not
conducted in the study area .accordingly the group of the respondents, teachers and experts
with (M=4.55, SD=0.585), (M=4.50, SD=0.519) and farers (M=3.83, SD=0.890) mean score
value respectively suggested that agroforestary program were not conducted to conserve forest
resources. Besides to that interview and focus group discussion (FGD) was raised to
agricultural officers, religious and kebele administrators respectively supported the above
point by saying if agroforestary program were conducted it is possible to minimize rate of
deforestation. Similarly, literatures point out that agroforestary program is one of mitigation
major that conserves forest resources.

As can be seen in table item respondents were asked to determine that social forestry program
were lunched reduced deforestation. Consequently, the suggestions of the respondents were
high at that point. The social forestry program was analyzed by using of one-way analysis of
variance (ANOVA). It is found to be significant, F (2, 333) =53.150 < .05, with (M =3.57, SD
=.708) suggested high. Subsequent analysis indicated that with the overall mean score values
(M =3.57) social forestry program is best practice approach and priorities for the Conservation
of forests and their habitats within the overall context of sustainable management of forest
resources.

Besides to that interview and focus group discussion (FGD) was raised to agricultural officers,
religious and kebele administrators respectively supported the above point by saying of social
forestry program will be conducted is possible to conserve forest resources.

As can be seen from Table 6 item 4 the respondents asked to replied that the awareness
creation program was conducted in the study area due to this most people aware of the
advantage of forest resources .consequently, experts, farmers and teacher suggested that
people who found in the study area high level of understanding . By using of one way
ANOVA test it is found to be insignificant, (F2.71), 2.667, P>0.05 with experts (M=4.43,
SD=1.089), teachers (M=4.28, SD=7.26) and farmers (M=4.05, SD=1990) said to be the
aware of forest resources. the division scale of the respondents was seen high in experts low in
teachers with significance difference among the respondents .subsequent analysis indicated
that with the overall mean score values (M=4.12) said to be high level of awareness among of
the study the people of the study area about the importance of forest .However they have

47
awareness about resource are not to stop the distraction of forest resources because its basic
need largely depends up on forest resources. Qualitative and Quantitative data indicated that
the growing population, poverty and unemployment are considered as underlying causes of
deforestation in all six kebeles of forest land.

48
 CHAPTER FIVE
5. Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1 Conclusion

From the data it can concluded that the main cause of deforestation was expansion of
agricultural land, plantation of Eucalyptus tree, as source of energy for both urban and rural
area, expansion of settlement, logging, grazing and processing of home furniture, population
poverty and unemployment which increase rate of deforestation and decreasing the forest
density. Logging that results selective cutting of suitable forest trees for timber production
definitely decrease forest density. In case of Eucalyptus production there was intensive
cutting of forest in order to optimize the in cam. In addition there were livestock that used to
graze the area causes damage on under vegetation of forest. These practices, apart from
change in density, it has great impact on biodiversity and wild life habitat through changing
forest cover. On the other hand decrease in bare land was due to conversion into agricultural
land. The result indicates that deforestation was alarming due to absence of alternative
energy resources and synthetic material was that aggravated rate of deforestation. This is
because of both human induced and ecological change.

The increase of agricultural land is purely population induced. The amount of increase in
agricultural land in relation of population growth which is more than the total amount of
agricultural land that the study area; and it was mainly at the expense of the wood land and open
forest lands. Based on survey conducted, the Agricultural expertise point out that the plantation
of Equlaptus tree has been increasing during recent periods due to short period of harvesting
time encourage farmers to plant in the study area by cutting and replacing of original forest in to
Eucalyptus tree plantation land. They said the inhabitants were forced to clear forests in order to
sustain their lives.

This shows that the impact of population pressure on the Shay bench forest and surrounding area
at recent years has been increasing at alarming rate, which needs serious attention and
appropriate solution.

49
There were efforts on enhancing the reclamation of forest vegetation previously cleared for
different purposes: reforestation, a forestation, agro forestry. Social forestry and awareness
creation program were conducted to conserve the indigenous forests of the study area and
try to eliminate the foreign Eucalyptus species that were planted in the study that able to
conserve the finite resources.

5.2 Recommendations

From the above conclusion the researcher recommended the following:

 Population policy; woreda Agriculture and Health offices should educate the anti
natal population policy and informal and formal education training would be
recommended as the remedial major for reduction of growing population.
 Creating off farm Job Opportunity: woreda government should create job
opportunity like provision for small scale cottage industry and related activities
rather than agricultural activities, especially the youths, should be involved in other
jobs like service. This may need intensive study to identify the potential economic
activities for that particular area that accommodates as much as possible youths and
should reduce unemployment.
 Make bigger the boundary of Shay Bench forest land: Woreda agriculture office
should bound forest land. The usual forest that is found at the North-Western part of
the woreda that should be included Kusha, Gaya-shame, Shapa and Kashta kebele
boundary. Since deforestation and degradation of natural resource particularly forest
was high due to lack of agricultural land and plantation of invasive species so that
protected Zone and area closure of land for forest is indispensable
 Education: Education is one of key building block that have a tendency to bring
equalization of people inequalities the marginalized people whom called Manja have
get a likelihood to create awareness and access to send their kids to school for
developing of séance of equality and have chance to reduce deforestation pressure
over the study area. Therefore, woreda education, Agriculture offices should
education the society.

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