The Role of Women in Participatory Forest Management: The Case of Belete-Gera Regional Forest Priority Area in Shebe Sombo Woreda, Jimma Zone

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the role of women in Participatory Forest Management (PFM) taking the case of Belete-Gera Regional Forest Priority Area (RFPA) in Shebe Sombo woreda, Jimma Zone. Data were collected from 275 respondents through household survey as well as from key informant interviews and focus group discussion from different sampling units/groups, field observation and secondary documents. Thus, both primary and secondary data were used. Collected data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Information obtained from field observation, focus group discussions and interviews were transcribed, organized and described in written text. Data obtained from household survey were analyzed by using descriptive tools such as frequencies and percentages to present results using table. The study result indicated that women are involved in all stages of participation in Forest Management Association or Waldaa Bulchiinsa Bosonaa (WaBuB) approach such as planning, execution, decision making and controlling stages as a member of household members of the approach in the Shebe Sombo woreda. Although women’s participation in the forest management has improved compared to before the inception of PFM project of Belete-Gera Regional Forest Priority Area in the study area, their participation in controlling stage and decision making process particularly speaking up and power of influencing decision making process is found to be low. The study result shown that women in the study area have positive attitude towards the importance of PFM in forest management activities. They have great value for the forest in their day to day life. Both enhancing and hindering factors that influence women’s participation in WaBuB approach were identified by this study. Identified enhancing factors of women’s participation in the study area were: Benefit derived from forest resources, improved awareness about forest management, granting ownership right, homogeneity of interest on forest resource products, fear of displacement from their living area, environmentalism and accountability. Housework and child care burden, lack of incentives, perception of women on their femaleness and local people perception towards women’s participation in outside activities were identified to be hindering factors of women’s participation in forest management activities in the woreda. It is also identified that PFM has helped great in addressing challenges of gender inequity in the study area.