Abstract:
This study examines the factors influencing household participation in
participatory forest management (PFM) in the Bench-Sheko Zone of
Southwest Ethiopia. The study was conducted in two woredas
(Gurafarda and Sheko) where PFM has been implemented. Two kebeles
where PFM has been implemented were selected from each woreda. For
the interview, household heads in the sampled kebeles were stratified
based on the membership status into members and nonmembers of
PFM. Then, a sample of 408 household heads were interviewed from the
selected kebeles. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and
logistic regression. Access to forest-related extension services, marital
status, benefits derived from the forest, understanding PFM goals
clearly, access to market information on forest products, and the size
of livestock held by household heads had a positive and significant
effect on the participation of the household heads in PFM. To achieve
the promise of PFM, it is critical to provide forest-related extension
services on forest resource management and use that specifically pro-
mote PFM, for example, by creating awareness of the economic value
and benefits of forests among household heads.
