Abstract
Forest is one of renewable land properties which endowed with numerous resources that are valuable to man. The quality of the environment is constantly losing its status due to increase in population size in most countries of the world. The general objective of this study was to assess the effect of population dynamics on forest cover in West Hararghe Zone in general and Daro Labu Wereda (DLW) in particular. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select the target population of this study whose total number was 364 households from four kebeles of DLW. Questionnaire, interview, FGD and satellite imagery used as data gathering tools for this study. The quantitative data of this study were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the qualitative data were discussed and interpreted through narration. As the result in this study a mixed method was used. This study is triangulation study in its design. The study was found out that population dynamics had contributed a lot to deforestation of the wereda under the study through agricultural land expansion, settlement, fuel wood gathering and illegal tree cutting. Thus due to population growth, lack of alternative livelihood approach, ruthless profit making, lack of economic transformation human encroachment and lack of alternative sources of energy. Population growth had contributed greatly to forest deforestation especially as it affected the forest covers. The major findings were observed that expansion for cultivated and settlement LULC classes rapidly increased from1973 to 2013 on the contrary forest and shrub lands decreased in DLW due to population dynamics and human encroachment in the forest cover. Therefore, there is an urgent need with government for the various stakeholders in environmental resource management to provide mechanism that can prevent the forest cover from further reduction in the study area.
Highlights
OF THE STUDYForest is defined as wealth endowed with numerous resources that are valuable to mankind (Simmons, 1991; FAO, 2003)
The major findings were observed that expansion for cultivated and settlement LULC classes rapidly increased from1973 to 2013 on the contrary forest and shrub lands decreased in Daro Labu Wereda (DLW) due to population dynamics and human encroachment in the forest cover
Based on the above mentioned findings, the following conclusions were made: The population changes had a great role for forest deforestation and land use land cover change
Summary
Forest is defined as wealth endowed with numerous resources that are valuable to mankind (Simmons, 1991; FAO, 2003). It is a large area covered with trees and undergrowth which gives many benefits for the society, Delelegy Legese, and Alemayehu Diriba such as providing habitat for wild life, site for recreation, water shade protection, moderating climate, industrial raw materials, fuel wood as source of energy, construction materials and absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide (Dealon, 1993). Population dynamics is population change caused by birth, death and migration which refers either population growth or decline (World Bank, 1990). According to it population growth is an increase in the number of individuals in population but Population decline is the decrease in the number of individuals in population. Ethiopia with its 79 million (CSA, 2009) people living in a geographical extent of 1.1 million km has a GDP of US$ 6.1 million 39% of which is contributed by agriculture up on which 85% of the population are dependent for livelihoods (Amare, 2013)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
