World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

ROLE OF NON TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS TO LIVELIHOODs OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS: SETIT HUMERA, WESTERN TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA

Brhane Meles*, Tsegaye Bekele and Semegnew Tadese

ABSTRACT

In Ethiopia Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are used to supplement diet and households (HH) income. Despite the recognition of NTFPs importance to livelihood, there is little study made on their ecology, use and managements. Hence, this study was carried out to assess contribution of NTFPs to HHs income, to identify NTFPs collected for income generation, to examine gender role in NTFPs utilization and to know access right of NTFPs collection in Setit Humera. The study employed stratified sampling from three wealth strata (poor, medium and rich) of one Kebele which was subdivided into eight subkebeles of which five were involved in the study. Data were collected through face to face interview with head of HHs and direct field observation. Results of the study revealed that regardless of wealth status 40 percent of HHs were participated in NTFPs collection. The commonly collected NTFPs for income generation were for: food, feed, fuelwood, construction materials and materials (including tool handles). The mean annual income obtained from NTFPs collection was statistically insignificant among the wealth groups. Nevertheless, average income Birr 1269, 1189 and 1031 was derived from NTFPs per year by the poor, medium and rich respectively. Moreover, collection and marketing of the NTFPs was dominated by men. Access to NTFPs was open with some restricted NTFPs types. Thus, it is essential to manage the woodland resources including NTFPs in order to sustain local peoples’ livelihood and the environment. Furthermore, detailed and extensive research is essential in the near future in order to obtain more reliable information on the existing woodland resources utilization and management.

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