Abstract:
Forests are among the major components of our environment that provide different ecosystem
services on which human beings & other life forms depend for living .Non-timber forest products
are among the major forest ecosystem products that refer to any biological origin of forest
ecosystem rather than timber products that are extracted from forests, woodlands and other trees
outside of forest ecosystem. This study focused on the non-timber components of forest products
and their contributions. The study was conducted in Ilu Gala district of west showa zone Oromia
region with the objectives of identifying and documenting the major non timber forest products
known in the study area and evaluates their contributions to the livelihood of the community in
the district. To conduct the study and address its objectives Data were collected from 356
households through household interview by using semi- structured questionnaire. Direct field
observation and market surveying were also used to collect the data and obtain reliable
information. From the analysis of the collected data, fourteen major NTFPs were identified in Iiu
Galan district. The identified products were found to have great contributions for the livelihood
of the communities both in the form of subsistence uses and in generating cash income. The use
categories of these products were found to be categorized in to 9 including food and food
additives, fodder and bees forage, spices and condiments, Energy sources, medicinal products,
construction materials, furniture and handcrafts, farm implements and smoking and washing
materials. The degree to which the people depend on such products were found to be determined
by different factors like distance of the forest and the market, wealth status of the users, age,
family size, and gender as well as based on the types of the products. In addition to their socio
economic benefits the identified NTFPs were also reported to have different socio-cultural and
environmental values. Thus, we would like to recommend that great attentions have to be taken
to conserve the forest resources and rehabilitate the degraded ones so as to enhance and ensure
their sustainable uses.
