Abstract
This study was done with the aim of analyzing the socioeconomic and bio-cultural significance of biodiversity of biodiversity hotspot areas in Assosa Zone of Benishangul Gumuz Regional state of Ethiopia. Forests in Ethiopia are threatened by unsustainable uses and conversion to alternative land uses. In spite of the consequences of forest degradation and biodiversity loss and reliance of communities on forests livelihoods, there is little empirical data on the role of biodiversity in livelihoods of the local communities. This study was done in Benishangul Gumuz Regional state, in selected kebeles of Assosa and Bambasi Districts aiming to determin the Socioeconomic and biocultural uses of biodiversity to the local communities living around biodiversity hotspot areas selected. These data were obtained by interviewing 151 households. Forest product market survey was undertaken to determine prices of various forest products for valuation of forest use. Forest income was significant to households contributing 33% of total household income. Fuel wood contributed 50%, food (27%), construction material (48%), and fodder, and thatching material 51% to household forest income. Absolute forest income and relative forest income (%) were significantly different across study locations and between ethnic groups. Moreover, floral and faunal diversity was determined through transect walk along straight line in all biodiversity hotspot areas selected (Anbessa, Kolkis and Mender-42 forests). More than 118 plant species and four community types namely: Combretum molle-Croton macrostachyus (community I); Dichrostachys cinerea-Carrisa spinarum (community II); Cordia africana-Terminalia laxiflora community (Community III) and Ziziphus abyssinica- Syzygium guineense community (Community IV) were identified. Moreover, the areas are home to 20 species of mammals, over 60 species of birds, 12 species of fish, and small mammals, bats, reptiles, and amphibians. These results provide valuable information on the role of forest resources to livelihoods and could be applied in developing biodiversity conservation policies for enhanced ecosystem services and livelihoods of the study areas. Keywords : biodiversity hotspots, bicultural, biodiversity conservation, socioeconomic, floral and faunal diversity, DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/68-03 Publication date: August 31 st 2020
Highlights
Background of the study Historically, biodiversity conservation was generally stated as environmental conservation which has been dominated by attempts to fence off or reserve areas for nature and exclude people from the reserved areas (Adams W, Hulme D, 2001)
The study has revealed the important role of forest resources in household income
On average 33% of annual household income is generated by consumption and sale of forest products
Summary
Background of the study Historically, biodiversity conservation was generally stated as environmental conservation which has been dominated by attempts to fence off or reserve areas for nature and exclude people from the reserved areas (Adams W, Hulme D, 2001). Economic incentives refer to specific inducements designed and implemented to influence government bodies, business, non-governmental organizations, or local people to sustainably and responsibly conserve, utilize and manage environmental resources whereas socio-economic incentives mostly reflect livelihood measures that strengthen and diversify the livelihoods of biodiversity users or residents of biodiversity areas (Emerton L, 2000) They aim at influencing people’s behavior by making it more desirable for them to conserve, rather than degrading or depleting biodiversity quality through communities’ course of their livelihoods’ activities (McNeely JA, 1980; UNEP, 2004). According to IUCN (2000) many of the most biodiversity rich ecosystems and species in Eastern Africa lie in remote rural areas that are physically or financially beyond the reach of government environmental and protected areas agencies Their conservation depends primarily on the actions of local communities. The provision of socio-economic incentives for these community members to conserve biodiversity is of paramount importance since community economic incentives are based on allowing local communities opportunity to benefit from conservation (McNeely JA, 1980; Panayotou T, 1994)
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