Assessment of Livelihood Impacts in and Around Jorgo Wato Forest, West Wollega, Oromia

Abstract

Assessment of livelihood impacts is necessary information for the identification of whether the livelihood of the community is impacted or not. A study was conducted to explore impacts of forest cover change on rural local livelihoods in and around Jorgo Wato forest, West Wollega Zone of Oromia National Regional State. Purposive and random sampling selection of 120 household’s interviews and 12 focus group discussions were used in this study. Due to forest cover changes, the livelihoods of the communities were affected and changed to more diverse activities. In order to minimize the impacts of forest cover change on communities and communities on forest cover change, programmes and strategies to use multiple benefits sharing of the communities from the various forests and forest products services as well as strengthening/establishing participatory forest management and forest policies that give carbon rights to land users are desirable prerequisites for enhancing forest benefits as the main means of protection.

Keywords: Assessment, impacts, livelihood