The Role Of Participatory Forest Management In The Livelihood Of Rural Community And Economic Development: The Case Of Jibat Forest, In West Shewa Zone, Oromia National Regional State

Abstract

Participatory Forest Management project initiated by red+ Investment Program in Jibat woreda was operational since 2011 in Jibat forest.The study was generally intended to the role of Participatory Forest Management in the Livelihood of Rural Community and Economic Development: The Case of Jibat Forest, West Shewa Zone. Moreover, it was concerned with asking the current statusParticipatory Forest Mangement practices, identifying community’s major livelihood activities, and to assess roles of participatory forest management in the study area .To attain these objectives, questionnaire was used purposively to identify 165rural communities, with six key informants purposively selected to get sufficient information from the from Jibat forest institution. To answer the study's aims, the study used descriptive research design along with Qualitative and Quantitative research approaches. A closed-ended questionnaire and a five-point measuring scale were used as measuring methods. In addition, data were collected through interviews and document reviews to supplement data gained through a questionnaire survey. Tables and figures were used to show the data, which were then evaluated using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviations). The data was presented and analyzed descriptively using percentages, mean and Standard deviations by the help of SPSS version 20. The results showed that there was a significant livelihood improvement for the beneficiaries in the study area. In general, it can be inferred that, the establishment of PFM improved livelihood activities of participant households and also that peoples are positive towards PFM and the was changes in their livelihood as the result of PFM