Socio-Economic Importance of Non-Timber Forest Products and Its Implication on Natural Forest Conservation: The Case of Jello-Muktar Forest, Southeastern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the socio-economic importance of non-timber forest products in Jello-Muktar protected forest located between 8⁰55’N-9⁰05’N latitude and 40⁰50’E-40⁰51’E longitude in south-eastern Ethiopia. Stratified random sampling technique was used to collect data by using both formal and informal survey. Informal survey was conducted using semi-structured questionnaire and structured questionnaire was used for formal survey. From a total of 900 households living in the vicinity of the forest, 10% of the households were randomly selected for interview and discussions. Households were stratified according to wealth categories; rich, medium and poor based on their farmland size hold and off-farm activities. Survey of four local markets was also conducted to assess collection of data about the number of non-timber forest products sellers involved in each selected market place, the type of products supplied to these markets and to provide information on the importance of non-timber forest products to the household economy as a means of supplementing gaps in the household survey. The result indicated that all households interviewed make use of non-timber forest products to a greater or lesser extent. Nine categories of non-timber forest products were identified which include traditional medicine, household utensil, honey, fuelwood, farm implement, animal fodder, edible wild food, smoking/flavouring products, and spices. Sale of non-timber forest products was found to contribute 36 %, 9% and 4% of their average annual income for the poor, medium and rich households, respectively. The poor households generate more income from the sale of non-timber forest products than the medium and rich households. NTFPs business also provides employment opportunity for the local people. On average 340 individuals per market day are engaged in NTFPs sale in four local markets found around the forest. The use of non-timber forest products was found to be significantly influenced by farmland size hold, off-farm activities and age of the head of the household (p < 0.01 and P<0.05). This investigation showed that non-timber forest products harvested from the forest contribute to the livelihood of households residing in the vicinity of the forest. Therefore, the management plan of Jello-Muktar forest should include the contribution and sustainable utilization of non-timber forest products.

Keywords: Wealth category; Household; Non-Timber Forest Products; Socio-economic; Forest Resource