Pastoral Community’s Perception Towards Natural Resources Management in Aura, Chifra, and Eua Districts of Afar Region; Ethiopia.

Abstract

This study aims to look in to pastoral community’s perception towards the overall natural resources management experiences in Aura, Chifra, and Eua districts of Afar region. It adopts cross-sectional study design. A total of 90 individuals were participated in the study. Districts and kebele administrations were selected purposefully, whereas, sample households were selected randomly. Both qualitative & quantitative data were collected from primary & secondary data sources using survey questionnaire, key-informant interview, focus group discussion sessions, & document analysis tools. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Statistical packages for social science/SPSS/ software version 20 were used for data analysis purpose.

The socio-economic situation of Afar pastoral community in the study area were very harsh in most livelihood indicators. Sociologically, the community’s educational level is low, they got married at their early ages, and have high household size. In the case of economic issues, about, three-fourth of Afar community in the study area are totally pure pastoralists whose main source of income is mobility-based livestock production. Whereas, agro-pastoralists whose main income source is a combination of livestock and crop productions, account about one-fourth of the community in the study area. Generally, either of the two-production system doesn’t sustain households’ livelihood.

Afar pastoral communities in the study area perceived that their customary institution is the most important, effective, and widely accepted institution to manage natural resources in their area followed by government structures. The community, however, know that their customary institution doesn’t as strong as previous over natural resources management at present day.

The major factors that result natural resources (vegetation) depilation in the study area are largely anthropogenic in nature. These include overgrazing, cutting trees for fuel and house construction, and producing charcoal are the main constraints that affect natural resources depilation and rangelands’ loss of it carrying capacity. Furthermore, climate change and Alaine invasive species encroachment are the other treats and triggered growth of indigenous vegetation in the study area. Therefore, both Federal and Regional governments should adopt natural resources management and conservation policies and strategies that recognize pastoral customary institution and harmonize with the modern governmental structures; and strengthen traditional pastoral institutions that allow to add its contribution to manage natural resources in a sustainable manner in pastoral areas. Generally, all responsible bodies and stakeholders that are engaged in natural resources management and conservation should work together and implement various natural resources conservation and management techniques appropriate for pastoral area context that help reduce environmental degradation.

Key words: Natural resources management, Pastoral community, Customary institutions.

DOI: 10.7176/JCSD/76-04

Publication date: June 30^th 2026