Farmers’ Perception and Indigenous Knowledge for Natural Resources Management, Abo-Wonsho Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

Melku Dagnachew  Alemu

doi:10.4236/as.2019.1011103

Melku Dagnachew Alemu

Abstract: In this study, the roles of indigenous knowledge and farmers’ perception of natural resources management were analyzed. A total of seventy households were selected by simple random sampling with replacement method for collection of data. Formal interviews were conducted to the 5% plus of households in the study area in addition to the focus group discussions and qualitative field observations. It was expressed by 98.6% of the total respondents that “Sera” which is the traditional practice has being used to manage natural resources in the study area. In the “Sera” systems, individuals are excluded a punishment from any kind of social interaction in a response to their unlawful action in the community natural resources. It was indicated by 84.3% of respondents that deforestation and related problems are the major challenges including grazing and shortage of farm size for the management of the culturally protected forest in the study area. The majority of the respondents (77.1%) believed that soil fertility decline in the study area. Development of effective participatory forest management and encouragement and supporting the traditional method of natural resources management is required to ensure the preservation and protection of these areas essential to ecosystem service provision, provide high biodiversity value and cultural heritage, and maintain the sustainability of culturally protected forest.

Keywords: Indigenous Knowledge, “Sera”, Participatory Forest Management, Abo-Wonsho, Southern Ethiopia

Cite this paper: Alemu, M. (2019) Farmers’ Perception and Indigenous Knowledge for Natural Resources Management, Abo-Wonsho Woreda, Southern Ethiopia. Agricultural Sciences, 10, 1405-1422. doi: 10.4236/as.2019.1011103.

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