Analyzing The Causes Of Natural Forest Degradation: The Case Of Lalo Ayra District, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study assesses the drivers of FD at the farm level and also identifies options for regrowth/revegetation. Various methods were used during data collection, including interviews with key informants, focus group discussions (FGDs), two hundred fifty interviews. In order to test hypothesis about the entire population random sample technique was chosen from part of population. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used in analyzing the data. Low agricultural production expressed in the sizes (areas) and ages of farms together with land tenure insecurity were found lead to increased deforestation. Results suggested that a 10% increase in farm size would result in a 4% increase in annual deforestation. In the study also multicollinearity was tested. Furthermore, farmers contributed more towards activities considered environmentally degrading, such as deforestation, overgrazing etc. On the other hand, the adoption of sustainable land management practices was relatively low among the poorest farmers. The Thesis concludes that tenure insecurity and low agricultural production contribute to DD at the farm level on the one hand while tree plantations, land management practices, such as fallow and assisted natural regeneration of indigenous tree species are important activities promoting regrowth/revegetation. Improved fallows should be promoted by agricultural extension services in the area by providing farmers with nitrogen-fixing tree species. And other measures should be taken nature based solution such as forest landscape restoration can help countries reverse the effects of degradation and regain the ecological, social, climatic and economic benefits of forests