Local Communities’ Accountability for Natural Resource Conservation: a Comparative Study of Chiro and Fiche, Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia’s natural resources base, its land, water, forests and trees are the foundation of any economic development, food security and other basic necessities of its people. Smallholder agriculture is the dominant sector that provides over 85 percent of the total employment and foreign exchange earnings and approximately above 45 percent of the GDP. However, natural resource degradation is a major concern for Ethiopia’s poor rural communities. Post-modernism approach to natural resource management assumes that sustainability of specific natural resource conservation and management measures is at risk when local communities feel no ownership over the resources for the way it is used and managed.  The main purpose of this study was, therefore, to assess conduciveness of factors for local communities’ accountability for natural resource conservation in Chiro and Fiche area, Ethiopia. The research variables were economic benefits; right and access to natural resources; and knowledge and capacity to implement conservation activities. For comparison purpose, two successful and unsuccessful watershed developments were purposively chosen for this study. Data were collected using survey instrument from 304 head of households sample population in Fiche and Chiro areas within Ethiopia. Qualitative data were also collected through interview and document review. The study used descriptive statistics represented by frequencies and percentages. Chi-square test was also used to analyze whether or not significant variation existed between the sites. The results indicated high local communities’ accountability for natural resource conservation in Chiro. Existence of economic benefits is a critical and an effective means to provide the incentive for feeling a sense of ownership by the local communities.  Knowledge and capacity of carryingout conservation activity is equally vital for successful implementation of community based natural resource conservation. It is also possible to implement successful community based natural resource conservation under the existing rural land ownership system in Ethiopia.

Keywords:  sense of ownership, local communities’ accountability, natural resource conservation, watershed development