A study on Perception and Practices towards Environmental Conservation in Lemo Woreda Watersheds, Hadiya Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Environmental conservation for sustainable development is widely felt now, invariably by all the nations. Development at the cost of environment, leads to not only environmental scarcity, but affects standards of living too. Of course, environmental scarcity is the biggest challenge before the human kind in this century. How to confront these challenges becomes a formidable task for all the countries, especially developing countries with Ethiopia being no exception. It is high time that all the stakeholders of economic development and environmental conservation are to be taken on this regard. One such a kind of activity is to undertake research so as to gauge the levels of perceptions and resultant practices especially from the major stakeholders. i.e farmers’ community. Generally, behavior pattern is the outcome or the product of one’s attitude or perception. How perception of farmers’ particularity in this study area impacts on their practices towards conservatism of natural resources and environment is the main objective of this research study. This study was mainly limited to an assessment of perceptions and practices of farmers with respect to soil and water conservation though other practices are not totally neglected. A sample of 232 households was selected by systematic sampling out of the study population of farmers spread over to 35 kebeles inhabiting in the Lemo Woreda. By employing appropriate data collection tools like questionnaire, interview schedule, focus group discussion and participant observation, data was collected and analysed by using apt quantitative as well as qualitative methods. In the study area farmers community have no problem of perceiving the existence of soil erosion problem. They have even identified types and severity of erosion by water. The study also finds out their willingness to cooperate in activities arresting further erosion of Sing and degradation of environment, prided they set sufficient support and encouragement.