Management of Gum and Resin Bearing Vegetations North-Western Zone of Tigray Region

Abstract

This study was conducted in Tselemti and AsgedeTsimbla districts of North Western Zone of Tigray region. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the management of Gum and resin bearing vegetations, identify management practices applied and management constraints. A survey method which included interview and focus group discussions guided by semi-structured questionnaires were conducted to collect data from private enterprises, district offices of agriculture, experts and randomly selected 80 sample respondents from local communities. From the study it was found that different management practices are applied primarily by private enterprises with limited participation of local communities. The current utilization system which favors to private enterprises is hindering local communities from the management of the vegetation and leading to conflict of interest and human encroachment. In general the result revealed that the management of the vegetation is very low affected by low participation of local people, lack of coordination and lack of monitoring and follow-up. Establishing strong institutional arrangement which can strengthen the coordination among stakeholders and introduction of management and utilization system that empowers local people as users and managers of the vegetation could promote sustainable management and utilization of the vegetation.

Keywords: Dry land vegetations, Gum and resin, Management practices, Management constraints