Local Farmers’ Perception towards Eucalyptus Woodlot: Lesson Drawn from the Jamma District, Northeastern Ethiopia
Abstract
Eucalyptus woodlots are the most economically important and extensively planted exotic tree species in Ethiopia. However, there are different arguments on Eucalyptus’s contribution and its effect on the environment from scholars and communities as a whole. Hence, this study investigates farmers’ perceptions and factors affecting their perception of Eucalyptus woodlot plantation. The sample size of respondents was 150 farmers who were selected randomly, and data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The collected data were analysed through descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model. The result revealed that 65.3% of farmers had a positive perception, but they perceived negative effects like Nutrient competition of Eucalyptus on crops, effect on water resources, drying out of other plant species, shading effect, and causing soil infertility. Eucalyptus contributed 41.6% to the total household income, next to agriculture (54.2%). Degraded land, roadsides, and farm boundary were the common niches of Eucalyptus plantations. Furthermore, Eucalyptus wood products are the most preferable construction materials for local communities. The result shows that the majority of the farmers plant Eucalyptus on degraded land. The model result indicated that staying years in the area, farmers’ experience, age, educational status, and distance to market had significant effects on farmers’ perception towards Eucalyptus plantation. The findings recommended that different concerned bodies should work to address different socioeconomic and biophysical factors affecting farmers’ perception towards Eucalyptus woodlot. The findings further suggest that experts and policy-makers should consider the interests and perceptions of farmers to make decisions regarding Eucalyptus woodlot plantations
Downloads
References
Alemayehu, A., Eckhard, A., & Tsegaye, B. (2018). Value Chain Analysis and Identification of Upgrading Options for Eucalyptus Pole and fuelwood. The case of Hawassa Zuria District, Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia, p. 139.
Alemayehu, A., Melka, Y. (2022). Small scale eucalyptus cultivation and its socioeconomic impacts in Ethiopia: A review of practices and conditions. Trees, Forests and People, 8, 100269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2022.100269
Alemu, M. (2016). Eucalyptus Tree Production in Wolayita Sodo, Southern Ethiopia. Open Access Lib. J., 3, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1103280.
Alfred, K., Zaiton, S. And Norzanalia, S. (2020). A Review on The Potential Socioeconomic Impact of Eucalyptus Plantation on Local Community. The Malaysian Forester, 83(2), 322-339.
Bayle, G. K. (2019). Ecological and social impacts of Eucalyptus tree plantation on the environment. Journal of Biodiversity Conservation and Bioresource Management, 5(1), 93-104.
Bekele, T. (2015). Integrated utilisation of Eucalyptus globulus grown on the Ethiopian highlands and its contribution to rural livelihood: a case study of Oromia, Amhara and Southern
Birhanu, S., & Kumsa, F. (2018). Review on expansion of Eucalyptus, its economic value and related environmental issues in Ethiopia. Int. J. Res. Environ. Sci, 4, 41-46. Nations Nationalities and People’s Regional State, Ethiopia. Int J Basic Appl Sci, 4, 80–87
Daba, M. (2016). The Eucalyptus Dilemma: The Pursuit for socioeconomic benefit versus environmental impacts of Eucalyptus in Ethiopia. Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 6(19), 127-137.
Deginet, M. B., van der Werf, E., Ingram, V., & Wesseler, J. (2022). Community perceptions: A comparative analysis of community participation in forest management: FSC-certified and non-certified plantations in Mozambique. Forest Policy and Economics, 143, 102815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2022.102815
Dejene, T., & Kidane Yilma, Z. (2018). Farmers’ perception towards farm level rubber tree planting: a case study from guraferda, south–western Ethiopia. Forest Res Eng Int J, 2(4), 192-196. DOI: 10.15406/freij.2018.02.00047
Derbe, T. (2018). Factors Influencing Smallholder Farmer’s Adoption of Eucalyptus Woodlot in Wogera District, North Gondar Zone, Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia.
Dessie, A. B., Abtew, A. A., & Koye, A. D. (2019). Determinants of the production and commercial values of Eucalyptus woodlot products in Wogera District, Northern Ethiopia. Environmental Systems Research, 8(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-019-0132-6.
Edesa, D. Y. (2021). Economic Contribution of Eucalyptus globulus to the livelihoods of local communities in Chelia District, Oromia, Ethiopia. Eur. Bus. Manag. 7 (6), 159–167. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ebm.20210706.11.
Feyisa, D., Kissi, E., & Kebebew, Z. (2018). Rethinking Eucalyptus globulus Labill. based land use systems in smallholder farmers livelihoods: a case of Kolobo Watershed, West Shewa, Ethiopia. .Ekológia, 37(1),57-68.
Gebreegziabher, Z., Mekonnen, A., Kassie, M., & Köhlin, G. (2020). Household tree planting in Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia: Tree species, purposes, and tenure security. Land Use Policy, 96, 104635.
Getnet, M. T., Ketema, M., Alemu, B., & Demilew, G. (2022). An Assessment on Socioeconomic Impacts of Smallholder Eucalyptus Tree Plantation in the case of Northwest Ethiopia. European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 11(1), 250.
Gizachew, K. (2017). Expansion of Eucalyptus Woodlot and Its Factors in Cheha District, Southern Ethiopia. World Scientific News, Pp. 163–180.
Gujarati. (2004). Basic Econometrics, fourth edition. (Fourth). The McGraw−Hill Companies.
Israel, G. D. (1992). Sampling the evidence of extension program impact. Program evaluation and organisational development, ISAF, University of Florida
Janice, L., Travis, R., Alemayehu, W., Cathy, C., & Atalel, W. (2016). Effects of exotic Eucalyptus spp. plantations on soil properties in and around sacred natural sites in the northern Ethiopian Highlands [J]. AIMS Agric. Food 1 (2), 175–193. https://doi. org/10.3934/agrfood.2016.2.17.
Kebede, T. A. (2022). Analysis of Factors Affecting Local Household Income Derived from Eucalyptus Woodlot in Jamma District, Ethiopia. Indonesian Journal of Social and Environmental Issues (IJSEI), 3(3), 289-299. https://doi.org/10.47540/ijsei.v3i3.710
Liang, J., Reynolds, T., Wassie, A., Collins, C., & Wubalem, A. (2016). Effects of exotic Eucalyptus spp. plantations on soil properties in and around sacred natural sites in the northern Ethiopian Highlands. AIMS Agriculture and Food, 1(2), 175-193.
Negasa, D. J., Mbilinyi, B. P., Mahoo, H. F., & Lemenih, M. (2016) Evaluation of land use/land cover changes and Eucalyptus expansion in Meja watershed, Ethiopia. J Geogr Environ Earth Sci Int, 7(3), 1–12
Negasa, T., Ketema, H., Legesse, A., Sisay, M., & Temesgen, H. (2017). Variation in soil properties under different land use types managed by smallholder farmers along the toposequence in southern Ethiopia. Geoderma, 290, 40-50.
Nigussie, Z., Tsunekawa, A., Haregeweyn, N., Adgo, E., Nohmi, M., Tsubo, M., Aklog, D., Meshesha, D., & Abele, S. (2017). Factors affecting small-scale farmers’ land allocation and tree density decisions in an Acacia decurrens-Based taungya system in Fagita Lekoma District, North-Western Ethiopia. Small-scale For. 16, 219–233.
Tadesse, S. A., & Kotler, B. P. (2016). Attitudes of local people towards the mountain nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni) in Munessa, Ethiopia. Afr J Ecol, 54, 488–499.
Tadesse, S. A., & Teketay, D. (2017). Perceptions and attitudes of local people towards participatory forest management in Tarmaber district of North Shewa Administrative Zone, Ethiopia: the case of Wof-Washa forest. Ecol Process, 6(17), 1–16.
Tadesse, S. A., & Tafere, S. M. (2017). Local people’s knowledge of the adverse impacts and their attitudes towards growing Eucalyptus woodlot in Gudo Beret Kebele, Basona Worena district, Ethiopia. Ecological Processes, 6(1), 1-13.
Tefera, B., & Kassa, H. (2017). Trends and Driving Forces of Eucalyptus Plantation by Smallholders in the Lake Tana Watershed of Ethiopia. In Social and Ecological System Dynamics (pp. 563-580). Springer, Cham.
Tesfaw, A., Senbeta, F., Alemu, D., & Teferi, E. (2021). Value Chain Analysis of Eucalyptus Wood Products in the Blue Nile Highlands of Northwestern Ethiopia. Sustainability 13, 12819. https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/su132212819.
Tesfaye, M. A., Bravo, F., & Bravo–Oviedo, A. (2016). Alternative silvicultural stand density management options for Chilimo dry afro–montane mixed natural uneven–aged forest using species proportion in Central Highlands, Ethiopia. European Journal of Forest Research,135(5), 827–838.
Teshome, M. T. (2019). Presenting natures, factors, and security implications of farmland-related inter-household conflict in Northern Ethiopian Highlands of Wollo: Evidence from Jamma Woreda. Int. J. Peace Dev. Stud. 10, 1–10. https://doi.org/ 10.5897/IJPDS2018.0332.
Xu, Y., Du, A., Wang, Z., Zhu, W., Li, C., & Wu, L. (2020). Effects of different rotation periods of Eucalyptus plantations on soil physiochemical properties, enzyme activities, microbial biomass, and microbial community structure and diversity. Forest Ecology and Management, 456, 117683.
Zerga, B. (2015). Ecological impacts of Eucalyptus plantation in eza wereda, Ethiopia. Int. Inv. J. Agric. Soil Sci, 3(4), 47-51.
Zerga, B., & Berta, A. (2016). Preference, purpose, and pattern of Eucalyptus tree farming in Eza Wereda, Ethiopia. J. Soc. Sci. Humanit. Res,3, 30-38.
Zerga, B., Warkineh, B., & Teketay, D. (2021). The sustainability of reforesting landscapes with exotic species: a case study of eucalypts in Ethiopia. Sustain. Earth 4, 5. https:// doi.org/10.1186/s42055-021-00044-7.
Copyright (c) 2023 Tesfanesh Ababu Kebede, Xiaoqian Chen
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
