Assessment of Non-timber Forest Products and Their Contribution for Livelihood Improvement in Ilu Galan District, West Shoa Zone, Central Ethiopia

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.