Assessing Impact of Human Activity and local community attitude on Wildlife Conservation: The Case of Tiro Boter Bacho Natural Forest, Jimma Zone, Oromia National, Regional State and Southwest Ethiopia.

Abstract

A study on the impact of human activity and local community perception towards wildlife conservation in Tiro Boter Bacho forest was conducted in four purposely selected Kebeles of Nedhi Gibe district of Jimma zone .The objective of the study was to assess impact of human activity and local community attitude on wildlife conservation. Personal observation and formal discussion were used to identify the study site. Four Kebeles of the district that have common boundary with the forest were purposively selected for this study. Data were collected from different respondents at a single point in time. For this study, 183 respondents were selected both by simple random sampling from the householders. Interviewers were selected by purposive sampling from local community elders, Woreda and Kebele level agricultural experts and Kebele administrators. Personal observation, Interview and questionnaire were employed as data gathering method. Descriptive statistics was employed to analyze the data. Chi Square (χ²) test was used to determine association between categorical variables. From the result of the study, human activity that adversely affect wildlife resource were farmland expansion for agricultural purpose 60 (32.8%) and human wildlife conflict 44 (24.1%) in order of importance in the study area. Trend of wildlife population in the study area declined from time to time due to human impact such as forest clearing for farmland expansions (41%) and removing of fuel wood for market (35.5 %), and the growing of livestock grazing in the site. The attitude of local community towards wildlife is negative 87 (47.5%) because of increase in wildlife induced damage like crop raiding and predation, lack of awareness and less attention given by government. The study reveals that 118 (64.5%) of the respondents in the study area responded that they did not have awareness about wildlife conservation. On the contrary 52 (28.4%) of the respondents expressed as they have awareness about wildlife conservation and about 13 (7.1%) of the respondents have no idea on the issue. In conclusion, the study revealed human activity is one of the most important factors that have impact on wildlife and its conservations. Therefore, awareness creation programs should be organized in the community and it will help to reduce wildlife threats and to improve the local community attitude, participating the local community in the decision making process to increase sustainable conservation of wildlife.