Determinants for Households’ Dependency on Natural Resources of Arsi Mountain National Park: a Case of Chilalo-Galema Block, Ethiopia

Abstract

For sustainable environmental management, protected areas should improve the socioeconomic living conditions of local communities in addition to their envisioned goal for biodiversity conservation. The main objective of this study was to assess the determinants of households’ dependency on natural resources of Arsi Mountain National Park. In order to address the major objective of the study, data were collected from 128 sample respondents through survey instrument, two focus group discussion and eight in depth interview. Determinants for households’ dependency on natural resources of the block were analyzed by using binary logistic regression analysis model. Qualitative data were analyzed alongside quantitative data. The finding of the study revealed that adjacent households were highly dependent on natural resources derived from Chilalo-Galema block. That means, on average 55% of their annual income were derived from Chilalo-Galema block. Land holding size, age, household size, proximity to the local market and proximity to the block significantly determined their dependency. At the end, the study recommends that command and control approach of natural resources conservation (fortress conservation) will promote park- people conflict or it affects both resources users and natural resources itself; hence, managers of the park must employ a proactive approach and work with local people through addressing their socioeconomic concern.