Abstract:
Non-timber forest products are biological products and services derived mainly from forests other than timber. The study was conducted atDegem district North showa zone Oromia regional state around Ellen natural forest with the objective to assess major types of non-timber forest products and its contribution for the Livelihood of the community around Ellen Forest, Degem district, North Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Purposive and simple random were used for the study. To conduct the study and address the objectives data were collected froma total of 372 respondents through household interview by using both structured and semi- structured questionnaire, direct field observation, focus group discussions and market surveying that obtains reliable information. The study's findings demonstrated that the forest in the research area produces several Non-timber forest products. From the analysis of the collected data, the commonly Non-timber forest products were firewood, charcoal, fodder, medicinal plant, material (such as farming tools, furniture, and handcraft), wild edible food, and honey. Almost the entire sampled household’s harvested and used at least one type of Non-timber forest products. But distribution of the products among wealth categories were varies.Fuel wood contributes the largest proportion of the total Non-timber forest products income (30% for the Livelihood of the communityfound around Ellen Forest.The Non-timber forest products ofmean annual incomecontribution to poor- and medium households was 46.3% and 32.4% respectively, while for rich house hold it contributing about 21.3% of the total house hold income.The regression analysis show that among the various characteristics considered family size, total land holding, and wealth status of the households have positive and significant relationships on Household Participation in Non-timber forest products Collection and income derived from it.In general, the annual income of the sampled house hold in the research area is greatly influenced by the income obtained from the collection of forest products in the form of Non-timber forest products.Therefore, the study recommends that policies and strategies that aim to improve the well-being of rural people and natural resource conservation should give attention to the contribution of Non-timber forest products to the local population's standard of living
