: Assessing Effectiveness of Local Institutions in Participatory Forest Management Arrangements: The Case of Tiro –Botor Becho Forest, South Western Ethiopia.

Abstract

The economy of Ethiopia and the livelihoods of its people largely depend on the utilization of forest resources. Despite the significant role of forest resources in Ethiopia, its management has been challenged because of poor legal and institutional framework, which resulted in considerable loss of the country's forest cover and bio-diversity resources. Ethiopia has introduced Participatory Forest Management (PFM) around mid-1990s to establish effective alternative to address the prevailing forest management problems in the country. The new scheme created a framework for collaborative forest management between local communities and government forestry agencies by defining their respective roles, responsibilities and benefits in the management of forest resources. It attempted to create a local solution to the forest management problems by building community based institutional arrangement and accountability to foster collective action for better management and use of forest resources. However, there is limited empirical evidence whether participatory forest management has ensured sustainable forest management and contributed to the livelihoods of forest dependent communities. Therefore, this study aims at assessing the performances of participatory forest management institutions in Tiro- Botor becho National forest priority area. The study was designed specifically to assess the similarities and differences among different local institutions at different scales in sustainable forest management and the diverse benefits that communities derive from forest resources as an incentive for engaging in sustainable forest management. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. About 120 respondents from three forest cooperatives were randomly selected for interview. Besides the structured interview, key informant interview and focus group discussion were conducted to triangulate data. Descriptive statistics is used for data analysis. This study revealed that the establishment of PFM in the study area facilitated easy access for local community to extract various forest resources. The PFM members perceive that they can easily access different forest products such as fuel wood, poles for building houses and fences, grass for livestock and grazing land, medicinal plants for human and livestock, edible wild fruits and fibers for hand crafts preparation. The study also revealed that drivers of deforestation and forest degradation such as agricultural expansion, illegal harvesting of forest products, overgrazing in the forest, and forest fire were reduced after the establishment of PFM institutional arrangement in the study area. About 83% of the respondents believe that forest conditions such as regeneration have improved since the establishment of PFM in the study area. The improvement in forest condition is mainly because of active involvement of PFM members in exercising their use right and shoulder management obligations. Therefore, this study concludes that the establishment of PFM institution in the study area has a potential to achieve the twin goals of sustainable forest management and improving the livelihoods of forest dependent communities. However, emphasis should be given to improve the awareness of community members about different rules and regulations, enforce monitoring system and accountability of different parties involved in the forest management.