scholarly journals The Socioeconomic impacts of Eucalypt Plantations on Rural Livelihood in Western Gurage Watersheds, Central-south Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belay Zerga Seware ◽  
Bikila Warkineh Dullo ◽  
Demel Teketay Fanta ◽  
Muluneh Woldetsadik Abshare
Keyword(s):  
P Value ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Fuel Wood ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
Rural Landscapes ◽  
South Ethiopia ◽  
Eucalypt Plantation ◽  
Eucalypt Plantations ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
Central South

Abstract Background Rural landscapes, particularly those close to human settlements and main roads throughout the highlands of Ethiopia, appear greener than the outfields because of eucalypt plantations. The most common factors for eucalypt plantations are two: fuel and construction demands and to generate income. Objective This study tried to investigate the socioeconomic impacts of eucalypt plantations in Western Gurage Watersheds located in Central-south Ethiopia. The specific objectives are: to evaluate the socioeconomic importance of eucalypt plantations on the livelihood of farm households, and to assess perceptions on impacts of eucalypt plantation and copping strategies. Methods Systematic and purposive sampling method was employed by selecting households with eucalypt woodlots from the list of each Woreda’s Kebeles. Close- and open- ended questionnaires were distributed to every fifth households that possessed eucalypt plantations. Three hundred eighty three questionnaires were distributed and collected from households found in three Woredas (districts) namely Cheha, Enemorna Ener, and Eza located in the Watersheds. To supplement the information critical observations, discussions with focus groups and interviews with key informant were employed. The survey data were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. To describe data acquired from critical observations, focus group discussions and key informant interviews; critical and logical qualitative data analysis technique were used. Descriptive and dispersive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, variance, standard deviation, p- value and correlation were employed using SPSS Version 20. Results The result showed that eucalypt plantation dominated fuel wood and construction consumption and substituted further encroachment to natural forests. From multiple responses given, households prefer planting eucalypts to indigenous trees because it is fast growing (100%), profitable (100%), needs lesser labor (100%), needs lower capital (100%), can be used for multipurpose (100%), and coppice itself fatly (93%). They rated income gained from eucalypt as 2nd next to enset. Conclusions Households may continue planting the species particularly for fuel wood and construction need since substituting it by other alternative seems not feasible and challenging. To sustain the livelihood and environment; appropriate management like site selection and substitutions by horticultural and cash crops using micro irrigation schemes for market needs are recommended. Conducting in-depth participatory research and specific policy ratification and promulgation on eucalypt plantations will sustain its utilization and curb the drawbacks.

scholarly journals The Sustainability of Reforesting Landscapes with Exotic Species: Case Study of Eucalypts in Central-South Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belay Zerga Seware ◽  
Bikila Warkineh Dullo ◽  
Demel Teketay Fanta ◽  
Muluneh Woldetsadik Abshare
Keyword(s):  
P Value ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Fuel Wood ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
Rural Landscapes ◽  
South Ethiopia ◽  
Eucalypt Plantation ◽  
Eucalypt Plantations ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
Central South

Abstract Background Rural landscapes, particularly those close to human settlements and main roads throughout the highlands of Ethiopia, appear greener than the outfields because of eucalypt plantations. The most common factors for eucalypt plantations are two: fuel and construction demands and to generate income. Objective This study tried to investigate the socioeconomic impacts of eucalypt plantations in Western Gurage Watersheds located in Central-south Ethiopia. The specific objectives are: to evaluate the socioeconomic importance of eucalypt plantations on the livelihood of farm households, and to assess perceptions on impacts of eucalypt plantation and copping strategies. Methods Systematic and purposive sampling method was employed by selecting households with eucalypt woodlots from the list of each Woreda’s Kebeles. Close- and open- ended questionnaires were distributed to every fifth households that possessed eucalypt plantations. Three hundred eighty three questionnaires were distributed and collected from households found in three Woredas (districts) namely Cheha, Enemorna Ener, and Eza located in the Watersheds. To supplement the information critical observations, discussions with focus groups and interviews with key informant were employed. The survey data were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. To describe data acquired from critical observations, focus group discussions and key informant interviews; critical and logical qualitative data analysis technique were used. Descriptive and dispersive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, variance, standard deviation, p- value and correlation were employed using SPSS Version 20. Results The result showed that eucalypt plantation dominated fuel wood and construction consumption and substituted further encroachment to natural forests. From multiple responses given, households prefer planting eucalypts to indigenous trees because it is fast growing (100%), profitable (100%), needs lesser labor (100%), needs lower capital (100%), can be used for multipurpose (100%), and coppice itself fatly (93%). They rated income gained from eucalypt as 2nd next to enset. Conclusions Households may continue planting the species particularly for fuel wood and construction need since substituting it by other alternative seems not feasible and challenging. To sustain the livelihood and environment; appropriate management like site selection and substitutions by horticultural and cash crops using micro irrigation schemes for market needs are recommended. Conducting in-depth participatory research and specific policy ratification and promulgation on eucalypt plantations will sustain its utilization and curb the drawbacks.

scholarly journals Perceptions on Impacts of Competition of Eucalypt Plantations with Other Land Uses on the Rural Livelihood in the Western Gurage Watersheds, Central-South Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belay Zerga ◽  
Bikila Warkineh ◽  
Demel Teketay ◽  
Muluneh Woldetsadik
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Farm Households ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
South Ethiopia ◽  
Eucalypt Plantations ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
Market Needs ◽  
Individual Farm ◽  
Land Use Competition ◽  
Central South

Abstract Since recent years, conversions of croplands, grasslands or cash crop fields to eucalypt plantations are becoming common trends in Ethiopia. Reasons for the conversions are better return from eucalypt than crop farming. This study tried to assess the land use competition impacts of eucalypt plantations with other land uses in the Western Gurage Watersheds, Central-south Ethiopia. The specific objectives were to investigate households’ and experts’ perceptions on land use competition of eucalypt plantations; and to assess perceptions on impacts of eucalypt plantation and copping strategies. Samples from three woredas (districts) namely Cheha, Enemorna Ener, and Eza located in the Watersheds were used. These woredas were purposefully selected due to large coverage of the watersheds, extensive expansion of eucalypts farming and thereby high eucalypts pole production, incidences of serious competition of eucalypts with other uses, and the presences of road accessibility for data collection. To get detail information on perception of the households and experts, in-depth discussions with focus groups and key informant were employed. Individual farm households whose age were greater than 70 years old and knowledgeable persons to discuss on the issue of eucalypt plantations were selected purposefully with the guidance of each kebele (sub-district) chairpersons and district experts. Thereafter, three focus group discussions with farm households were conducted in the three districts. Key informant interviews were conducted with purposefully selected and well experienced individual farm households and experts in each district. The result showed that young farmers planted from 1000 to 5000 eucalypt seedlings on lands previously covered with crops. The young people resisted advice from elders and converted farmlands to eucalypt plantations. Previous practitioners (adoptees) who benefitted much from eucalypt products tended for further expansion. This, in turn, resulted in serious land use competition with farmland and grasslands. To mitigate such serious competition with food crops and grasslands, and to sustain the livelihood and environment, appropriate management, e.g. site selection and substitutions by horticultural and cash crops using micro irrigation schemes for market needs are recommended. Conducting in-depth participatory research and specific policy ratification and promulgation on eucalypt plantations will curb its serious land use competition with farm and grazing lands.

Eucalypt plantation effects on organic carbon and aggregation of three different-textured soils in Brazil

Soil Research ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri L. Zinn ◽  
Rattan Lal ◽  
Dimas V. S. Resck
Keyword(s):  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Soil Texture ◽  
Strong Increase ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Particle Size Fractions ◽  
Cerrado Vegetation ◽  
Central Brazil ◽  
Eucalypt Plantation ◽  
Eucalypt Plantations ◽  
Nitrogen Concentrations

Short-cycle (~7 years) tropical eucalypt plantations can sequester much carbon (C) in biomass, but their impact on soil organic C (SOC) varies considerably according to soil properties. Three Oxisols (sandy, loamy, and clayey) under 14-year-old eucalypt (Eucalytus camaldulensis Dehnh.) coppice stands and native cerrado vegetation were sampled to a depth of 1 m, in order to assess whether soil texture controls SOC response to afforestation in central Brazil. Both SOC concentration and stocks were proportional to contents of clay+silt to 1 m depth, with no effect of eucalypt plantation. However, there was a 40% decrease in water-stable aggregates of 2–8 mm size in all soils under eucalypt stands in the 0–0.05 m depth, which probably helped to release occluded particulate organic matter (POM) into free POM. In the 0–0.05 m depth, SOC partition throughout particle-size fractions (sand, silt, and clay) was unaltered in the loamy and clayey Oxisols, whereas in the sandy Oxisol, clay-bound SOC strongly decreased simultaneously with a strong increase in free POM. As free POM is often more susceptible to decay than clay-bound SOC, this change suggests a higher susceptibility to SOC change in sandy soils. Soil respiration in the 0–0.05 m depth was more strongly correlated with the mean weight diameter and clay+silt contents than with SOC and nitrogen concentrations, with no effect of eucalypt plantation. In conclusion, soil texture affects total SOC retention and soil respiration, with little or no effect of eucalypt plantation. However, decreased aggregation and lower POM occlusion occurred in all soils planted with eucalyptus, suggesting that SOC levels in eucalypt plantations can be better conserved with less intensive soil preparation practices, especially in coarse-textured soils.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic Characteristics and the Impacts of Land Use Changes to Sugar Cane in Quirinópolis, Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Jean Marc Nacife ◽  
Frederico A. Loureiro Soares ◽  
Gustavo Castoldi
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Sugar Cane ◽  
Survey Methodology ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Wilcoxon Test ◽  
P Value ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
Socioeconomic Characteristics ◽  
Productive Systems

The socioeconomic impacts arising from the change in the traditional productive systems for sugar cane have caused weightings. This article proposes to investigate the socioeconomic characteristics and impacts of the use of the land with cane field, by using municipal indicators and agricultural establishments of Quirinópolis. The field survey used margin of sampling error of 5% and a confidence level of 95%, sampling 58 establishments and aiming to analyze their characteristics and impacts in function of this change by means of socioeconomic indices proposed, statistical tests and correlations. We used the survey methodology applying inferential statistical techniques, cluster analysis, Spearman correlation tests of normality (Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk) and hypothesis tests (Wilcoxon Test). The analysis of the socioeconomic indices approached two perspectives. In the Municipal Prospect, found that the indexes: IFDM-2005 [0.6713], IFDM-2016 [0.8387] and IFDM-V [0.1996]. The indices show the range of a high municipal development. In the analysis of agricultural establishments, the indices assessed the following values: rural exodus [-0.09], succession [1.44], association [3.75], rural heritage [-0.44 and -0.04] and overall remuneration [0.57]. About land use change, it was detected that occurred mostly in pastures converted to sugar cane; there is a correlation between the indices that the Wilcoxon tests confirmed the statistical significance at the level of 5% (p-value). It is concluded that the socioeconomic impacts promoted from change in land use of traditional productive systems for sugar cane were overwhelmingly positive and promoted the development in a view of municipal and agricultural establishments in the period studied.

China's Natural Forest Protection Program: evolution, impact and challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 338-350
Author(s):  
D. Qiao ◽  
W.T. Yuan ◽  
S.F. Ke
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Design ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Forest Protection ◽  
Economic Resource ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
Early Twenty ◽  
Natural Forest Protection Program

In order to improve environmental conditions and the well-being of its population, China has implemented one of the world's largest ecological rehabilitation projects of the early twenty-first century: The Nat ural Forest Protection Program (NFPP). This program aims to prevent deforestation and conserve natural forests, mainly by banning logging. With heavy central government financing, the NFPP has profound global ecological and socioeconomic impacts. While most previous studies have focused on the positive aspects of the NFPP, some negative aspects should also be examined. Chiefly, the NFPP does not fully address the untapped potential of the natural forest and the uses of this sustainable economic resource, which should be approached using nature-based solutions. Some major policy points in the NFPP, such as forest management, institutional design, diversified funding resources, and comprehensive monitoring, need revision. This study of the NFPP can provide significant insights for other countries addressing urgent environmental issues.

scholarly journals Modeling the Influence of Eucalypt Plantation on Wildfire Occurrence in the Brazilian Savanna Biome

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 844
Author(s):  
Luiz Felipe de Castro Galizia ◽  
Marcos Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Accuracy ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Brazilian Savanna ◽  
Ignition Probability ◽  
Wildfire Occurrence ◽  
Eucalypt Plantation ◽  
Eucalypt Plantations ◽  
And Cluster Analysis

In the last decades, eucalypt plantations are expanding across the Brazilian savanna, one of the most frequently burned ecosystems in the world. Wildfires are one of the main threats to forest plantations, causing economic and environmental loss. Modeling wildfire occurrence provides a better understanding of the processes that drive fire activity. Furthermore, the use of spatially explicit models may promote more effective management strategies and support fire prevention policies. In this work, we assessed wildfire occurrence combining Random Forest (RF) algorithms and cluster analysis to predict and detect changes in the spatial pattern of ignition probability over time. The model was trained using several explanatory drivers related to fire ignition: accessibility, proximity to agricultural lands or human activities, among others. Specifically, we introduced the progression of eucalypt plantations on a two-year basis to capture the influence of land cover changes over fire likelihood consistently. Fire occurrences in the period 2010–2016 were retrieved from the Brazilian Institute of Space Research (INPE) database. In terms of the AUC (area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve), the model denoted fairly good predictive accuracy (AUC ≈ 0.72). Results suggested that fire occurrence was mainly linked to proximity agricultural and to urban interfaces. Eucalypt plantation contributed to increased wildfire likelihood and denoted fairly high importance as an explanatory variable (17% increase of Mean Square Error [MSE]). Nevertheless, agriculture and urban interfaces proved to be the main drivers, contributing to decreasing the RF’s MSE in 42% and 38%, respectively. Furthermore, eucalypt plantations expansion is progressing over clusters of high wildfire likelihood, thus increasing the exposure to wildfire events for young eucalypt plantations and nearby areas. Protective measures should be focus on in the mapped Hot Spot zones in order to mitigate the exposure to fire events and to contribute for an efficient initial suppression rather than costly firefighting.

scholarly journals Rooftop Gardening as A Need for Sustainable Urban Farming: A case of Kathmandu, Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-246
Author(s):  
Sandesh Thapa ◽  
Anjal Nainabasti ◽  
Sashila Acharya ◽  
Neha Rai ◽  
Rakshya Bhandari
Keyword(s):  
Food Production ◽  
Positive Response ◽  
P Value ◽  
Plastic Bags ◽  
Rooftop Farming ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
Proper Training ◽  
Rooftop Garden ◽  
Planting Materials ◽  
Stormwater Retention

Rooftop gardening is one of the present needs for urban settlement for solving food security problems and promoting sustainable agriculture. To highlight the present status of rooftop gardening in Kathmandu a key informant survey was conducted where 52 respondents were selected where the majority of the rooftop garden maintainers were females (52.8%). All of the respondents have a positive response regarding rooftop gardening and was significant with a year of farming in roofs (χ²= 45, df= 9, P-value=0.000) and the area covered by rooftop farms range from 5-13%. There was a significant monetary value of the soft benefit from rooftop garden as food production ($3456.86), air quality ($11-19), stormwater retention ($20609), and carbon sequestration ($6-7) benefits. However, the traditional method was employed to maintain rooftop gardens with planting materials such as plastic bags, pots, and styrofoam carats. Since constraints were recorded in the study area regarding rooftop farming establishment and also is continuing, thus, there should be proper training for the individuals interested in rooftop gardening which enables them to manage and continue their farms more efficiently. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 8(2): 241-246

scholarly journals Ecological and social impacts of eucalyptus tree plantation on the environment

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
GK Bayle
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Harmful Effect ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Careful Analysis ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Tree Plantation ◽  
Fuel Wood ◽  
Economic Implications

Eucalyptus is an ever green flowering tree and a shrub which belong to the family Myrtaceae, subfamily Myrotideae and consists of some 800 species. This tree is native to Australia and widely planted for various uses in the different parts of Ethiopia integrating into the various farming systems, and their planting has resulted in high economic profitability. It is over a century since eucalyptus was introduced in Ethiopia for multipurpose use and rescues the remaining indigenous forests from being destroyed, for controlling soil erosion, for replacing indigenous species for fuel-wood, thereby preventing further degradation of natural forests by quickly producing firewood, would eliminate the causes which frequently may have led to land degradation and desertification and also a food and habitat for wild animals. But, it also a harmful effect on the environment, uses a lot of nutrient which is leading to soil exhaustion and reduction of crop yields, secretion of allelochemical and decreasing crop production, but the trees are neither good nor bad, and careful analysis of the ecological and social implications should be undertaken before planting. Decisions, such as what, where, why and how to grow and how to manage it have to be made; and the social and ecological implications of each decision, as well as the economic implications, have to be weighted up. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2019, 5(1): 93-104

scholarly journals Screening of Tree Species For Fuelwood Production in The Mid-Altitudes of North Shewa, Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melese Bekele Nigussie ◽  
Lemma Habteyohannes Habteyohannes ◽  
Getabalew Teshome Reta ◽  
Damtew Ababu Wudinehe ◽  
Mesafint Minale Fenta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Wood Property ◽  
Eucalyptus Camaldulensis ◽  
Ash Content ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Fuel Wood ◽  
Wood Moisture ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Acacia Polyacantha

Abstract The source of energy at household level in Ethiopia mostly comes from wood biomass. The increasing population and shrinkage of natural forests resulted in shortage of wood supply for energy. Hence, looking for fast-growing with better fuel wood characteristics is required to access wood and for the supply of fuelwood consumption. This study aims to select tree species with better biomass and good fuel wood characteristics. Seven tree species: Acacia polyacantha, Acacia abyssinica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Albizia lophantha, Acacia melanoxylon, Acacia decurrens, and Eucalyptus globulus were selected to study the growth performance, biomass and fuel wood characteristics. Six trees per species were randomly selected and harvested for fuel wood property (wood moisture, ash content and fiber content) analysis. Acacia abyssinica, Acacia polyacantha and Eucalyptus camaldunesis showed better survival rates than other species. The better height performance was recorded from Acacia .decurrens, Acacia polyacantha, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and Eucalyptus globules. A. polyacantha and A.decurrens provided the highest biomass. A. decurrens showed the lowest wood moisture (31.1%) and wood density (0.76 g/cm3), and the lowest ash content (2.2%). Hence, A. decurrens and A. polyacantha are recommended for fuel wood due to high density, low moisture, and low ash content and good biomass production.

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