Abstract
Human beings are utterly dependent on nature particularly on the forest ecosystem services. Our health, economy, prosperity, and development are all connected to the forest ecosystem services. Forest ecosystems afford variety of the ecosystem services that human beings depend up on them. Ecosystem services are base for the survival of mankind and play significant role in economic development, prosperity, health, etc. Arba Minch Forest ecosystem is a crucial asset that maintains the continuity and survival of the Arba Minch town and its environs. Despite its tangible and worthy ecosystem services, it has been exposed to the conservation constraints due to the anthropogenic activities. However, limited studies have been conducted on its conservation constraints and strategies. Hence, this study focuses on identifying conservation constraints and finding out conservation strategies. Accordingly, the study was carried out using four sample categories (Arba Minch town residents households (n=151), key informants (n=21), accommodations delivers (n=9) and peoples entering into the forest (n=21)) besides to field observation. Altogether (n=199) peoples involved in this study. Collected raw data were chosen, refined, categorized edited, coded and entered to SPSS version 20 software. Descriptive statistics were computed for relevant variables and information obtained from the key informants was described in meaningful content. Findings of this study revealed that in spite of its undeniable ecosystem services, conservation constraints are ongoing like deforestation, dependence of households and accommodation delivers, lack of alternative livelihood generation, and so on. Hence, to overcome the stated constraints; putting into practice variety of the identified conservation strategies like enhancing public awareness, stakeholders’ participation, providing alternative livelihood generation, ensuring alternative energy sources, etc. are core activities to save the forest and sustain its ecosystem services.
Highlights
Forest ecosystems are very important for social, economic and ecological reasons
Human beings are utterly dependent on nature on the forest ecosystem services
Economy, prosperity, development and security are all connected to the forest ecosystem services
Summary
Forest ecosystems are very important for social, economic and ecological reasons. They play an important role in ecosystem processes, air pollution abatement and ground water recharge [1]. In this era of global warming, forest ecosystems help mitigate the effects of climate change [2]. Ecosystem services refer to the range of conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species that they contain, help sustain and fulfill human life [4]. The four broad categories of forest ecosystem services are: provisioning, such as the production of food and water; regulating, such as the control of climate, flood and diseases; supporting/habitat, such as nutrient cycles and crop pollination; and cultural, such as spiritual and recreational benefits [5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
