Benefits Gained from Woodland Resource Uses The Cases of Lare District, Gambella Regional state of Ethiopia

Abstract

Forest income in general is important for the low income households. The Gambellalowland woodland has diverse woody plant species. The objective of this study was toidentify the level of benefits gained by local households from the woodland uses fromGambella lowland woodland of Lare woreda. The benefits of woodland use values(timber products, wood fuel, wild edible fruits, medicinal plants, water consumption,fish resources extraction and Bush meat) of Lare area woodland were tested from 200rural households’ heads by using structured survey questionnaires. Timber product(e.g. log products) was seen more significant to local people livelihood support inwhich about 86% of respondents agreed on this use in a range of 100-301+ numbers oftimber per household per year. Wood fuel consumption analysis revealed that, 82.5%of households’ heads respondents consumed maximum head loads between (4-9+)head loads per household per month whereas about 17.5% of them were at the range of(1-3) head loads per household per month. Hence; the result indicated that communityin the study area is using woodland uses to a high degree. Regarding wild edible fruits63% of the respondent households were using wild edible fruits per household peryear. Medical plant also used by the households who consumed (7-10+) bundles ofmedicinal plant per year. Therefore; multiple stakeholders have to support thecommunity by provision of training on sustainable use of natural resources in thestudy area.