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Wood Extraction Among the Households of Zege Peninsula, Northern Ethiopia

Author

Listed:
  • Amare, Dagninet
  • Mekuria, Wolde
  • Wondie, Menale
  • Teketay, Demel
  • Eshete, Abeje
  • Darr, Dietrich

Abstract

The dependence of smallholder farmers on forest resources for their sustenance and livelihoods is a major driver of deforestation and degradation of forest resources in tropical countries. Understanding the socio-economic drivers that aggravate the extraction and overexploitation of forest products is vital for designing effective forest conservation and restoration measures. This particularly holds with regard to the importance of two fundamentally opposing motivations of smallholder forest exploitation, which we label “wood extraction for need” vs. “wood extraction for greed”. This study was conducted at Zege peninsula in Northern Ethiopia to investigate the factors affecting the extraction and marketing of wood from the peninsula's primary dry Afromontane forest by smallholders. Data was collected using household survey, focus groups discussions and key informant interviews. Data analysis employed the Heckman two-steps econometric model. The predominant involvement of vulnerable households in forest exploitation suggests that wood extraction was driven by need and mainly served sustenance and safety net functions. In addition, we also found evidence of greed-driven forest exploitation. As a consequence of selective rule enforcement and nepotism, the forest enforcement committee was not effective in safeguarding the forest, there by contributing to increased wood extraction and marketing by community members for income generation. This suggests that, in order to protect the forest, interventions are needed that aim at creating alternative income opportunities for smallholders through improved production of non-timber forest products, enhanced market access and the provision of locally adapted technologies; as well as at increasing the integrity of law enforcement.

Suggested Citation

  • Amare, Dagninet & Mekuria, Wolde & Wondie, Menale & Teketay, Demel & Eshete, Abeje & Darr, Dietrich, 2017. "Wood Extraction Among the Households of Zege Peninsula, Northern Ethiopia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 177-184.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:142:y:2017:i:c:p:177-184
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.06.002
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    2. Lun Yang & Moucheng Liu & Qingwen Min, 2019. "Natural Disasters, Public Policies, Family Characteristics, or Livelihood Assets? The Driving Factors of Farmers’ Livelihood Strategy Choices in a Nature Reserve," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Harun M. Kiruki & Emma H. Zanden & Patrick Kariuki & Peter H. Verburg, 2020. "The contribution of charcoal production to rural livelihoods in a semi-arid area in Kenya," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 6931-6960, October.
    4. Nhem, Sareth & Lee, Young Jin, 2019. "Using Q methodology to investigate the views of local experts on the sustainability of community-based forestry in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 1-1.
    5. Mazhar Biland & Alam Zeb & Ayat Ullah & Harald Kaechele, 2021. "Why Do Households Depend on the Forest for Income? Analysis of Factors Influencing Households’ Decision-Making Behaviors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-17, August.
    6. Nugroho, Eko & Ihle, Rico & Heijman, Wim & Oosting, Simon J., 2024. "The role of forest user group membership in the extraction of teak forest resources for smallholder cattle farming," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).

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