Determinants of household wetland resources use and management behavior in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Abstract

Sustainability of wetland resources requires pro-environmental behavior of use and management. This study examins determinants of household wetland resources use and management behavior in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. The study used data generated from 405 randomly selected sample households complemented with that collected through Participatory Rural Appraisals. Multiple linear regression and the Sobel Mediator Test analyses were employed to investigate factors that determine household behavior. The study showed that majorities (94.1%) of the households believe that the wetlands are already degraded; however, only 54.1% of the households have high level of pro-environmental behavior. The result of multiple regression analysis revealed that household wetland use and management behavior is significantly and positively influenced by age, family size, gross annual income, deriving benefit from wetlands, number of livestock owned, farmland size, knowledge about wetlands and their ecosystem services, attitude and participation intention to wetland resources management. Off-farm job participation and distance to wetlands negatively influence wetland use and management behavior. The study result suggests the need to devise strategies to reinforce locals’ pro-environmental behavior of use and management of wetland resources of the study area. Accordingly, measures that enhance and promote knowledge, attitude and participation intention should be targeted to fortify the pro-environmental behavior of locals. Providing incentives in the form of tax holiday, payment for environmental service and creating off-farm livelihood options in their locality could be the most proactive measures to promote locals’ pro-environmental behavior while safeguarding livelihood and easing pressures on wetlands.