Community Natural Forest Resource Dependency and its Degradation in Dembiya Woreda, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia

Even though forests are among the precious natural resources of the world, they are degraded from time to time at an alarming rate in many countries, including Ethiopia. Thus, this study was intended to explore community natural forest resource dependency and its causes of degradation in Dembiya woreda, using questionnaire, key informant interview, focus group discussion and analyzed using SPSS software. It was obtained as agriculture was the life of the sample household heads in the study kebeles and most others were engaged in selling of forest products (i.e., fuel wood and charcoal) so as to earn income for their livelihood. Some of the survey respondents didn’t rely on the forest resource in the area. The forest resources that are close to settlements are usually more degraded than those far away. Respondents replied that Dembiya woreda natural forest is the main source of fodder for rearing animals. Even their relationship and dependency on community forestry has been largely determined by the size and number of their livestock holdings. Many of the respondents argue as there was forest cover loss in the study area. The survey results also showed that the respondents identified decline of forest products, disappearance of wild animals and soil erosion respectively as sign of forest destruction in the study area. In line with this, many of the respondents agreed that fire wood collection was the major cause of forest degradation in the study area. On the other hand, the respondents identified expansion of agricultural land and population growth, demand for charcoal making, livestock raring, lack of community awareness, inadequate forest legislation, cutting trees for house construction and unintentional bush firing were the causes of forest degradation respectively.