The role of indigenous knowledge practice in forest management: the case of Kaarra Baddessaa forest priority in Nadhi Gibe woreda

Abstract

The practice of Indigenous Knowledge in forest management is vital to sustain for forest management. The main purpose of this study is to investigate indigenous knowledge practice in forest management in Nadhi Gibe woreda and the major challenges hampering the indigenous knowledge practice in forest management in the study area. To achieve this, the study employed a cross-sectional design through qualitative and quantitative research approaches to collect relevant information and data. Data was obtained through the survey, FGD, in-depth interviews, key informants, and field observation based on the purposive sampling technique to get genuine and reliable information from local elders, religious leader‟s .woreda environmental forest protection and climate change authority, local farmers, forest and wildlife enterprise and kebele administration. The data generated was analyzed by using quantitative and qualitative techniques such as summarize, categorization, and thematic. Finding Show that awareness on forest management comes from the communities perception on forest utilization ,care and respect for the existing indigenous knowledge practices which have great contribution for the forest management, local administration were not caring, respect, appreciate and sustaining an indigenous knowledge practices im forest management is well understood in traditional way due to failure of local administration, failure of youngsters and increase of population size. It is recommended that the Indigenous knowledge practice and appropriate policy should be commensurate with forest management