Land Degradation and Community Response to Environmental Management: The Case of Wayu Tuka Woreda, East Wollega Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Tasfaye Fayera; Gadisa Teshome

doi:10.70110/osse.v3i2.35

Authors

Tasfaye Fayera Centre for studies of Environment and Society, College of Natural and Computational Science, Department of Environmental Science, Wallaga University, Ethiopia
Gadisa Teshome Department of Public Administration and Development management, Collage of Business and Economics, Wallaga University, Ethiopia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70110/osse.v3i2.35

Keywords:

Community Response, East Wollega Zone, Environmental Management, Land Degradation

Abstract

Background: In Ethiopia, land degradation is a common environmental problem. Land Degradation is a critical issue resulting from prolonged soil erosion, deforestation, and farmers’ lack of awareness of its impacts and of environmental management. With a growing population and global climate change, the problem is exacerbated, and communities are suffering from food shortages and famine. There is limited information on the impact of land degradation and the Community Response to Environmental Management in Wayu Tuka Woreda, in general, and in Kebele in particular.
Aims: The study aimed to examine land degradation and community responses to environmental management in the Wayu Tuka district of the Oromia region.
Methods: Primary data were collected using a household survey. Secondary data was collected from materials like published books and unpublished books. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics, such as means, frequencies, and percentages, and qualitative data were analysed using narrative and explanatory methods. The survey data were collected from 350 sample respondents through interviews. The study identified the following as the main causes of land degradation: deforestation, population growth, overgrazing, and lack of awareness.
Result & Conclusion: The respondents pointed out that lack of awareness and knowledge of land degradation and Causes of Land Degradation deals more deforestation; overgrazing, population increase and lack of awareness are the major causes for land degradation. And the soil conservation mechanism that is available in study area was traditional method of soil erosion mitigation which is filling the sack with soil or crop residue to protect the soil erosion in bar and step slop farmland. Generally, findings from the study recommended that the government should introduce an effective forest conservation mechanism through public participation to inform everyone about the effectiveness of conserving the forest and to design appropriate land use policy and strategy to protect the land from degradation and community response to environmental management, to recommend to farmers and local government agents how to curb the problems.

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Author Biographies

Tasfaye Fayera, Centre for studies of Environment and Society, College of Natural and Computational Science, Department of Environmental Science, Wallaga University, Ethiopia

ETHIOPIA

Gadisa Teshome , Department of Public Administration and Development management, Collage of Business and Economics, Wallaga University, Ethiopia

ETHIOPIA

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