MATTU UNIVERSITY
COLLAGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT
DEPARTEMENT OF FORESTRY
SEMINAR PROPOSAL ON
REVIEW ON MAJOR OF THE CAUSE OF DEFORESTATION
AND ITS IMPACTS ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
IN ETHIOPIA.
NAME ID NO
Ibse Yaikob ……………………………………RU/2353/13
ADVISOR: Damana E (Dr.)
MARCH, 2024
METTU, ETHIOPIA
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Background Information....................................................................................................................1
1.2 Statement of the problem...................................................................................................................3
1.3 Objective of the study........................................................................................................................4
1.3.1 General Objective.......................................................................................................................4
1.3.2 Specific Objectives.....................................................................................................................4
1.4 Research Questions............................................................................................................................4
1.5 Significance of the Study...................................................................................................................4
2. LITERATURE REVIEW........................................................................................................................5
2.1 Concept and Over View of Forest & Deforestation...........................................................................5
2.2 Deforestation in Global Context........................................................................................................5
2.3 Deforestation in Ethiopia...................................................................................................................6
2.4 Cause of forest Deforestation of Ethiopia..........................................................................................7
2.4.1 Expansion of farming land..........................................................................................................7
2.4.2 Forest and other plantations........................................................................................................7
2.4.3 Logging and fuel wood...............................................................................................................7
2.4.4 Overgrazing................................................................................................................................7
2.4.5 Fires............................................................................................................................................7
2.4.6 Mining........................................................................................................................................8
2.4.7 Urbanization/industrialization and infra-structure.......................................................................8
2.5 Effects of forest Deforestation...........................................................................................................8
2.5.1 Climate change...........................................................................................................................8
2.5.2 Water and soil resources loss and flooding.................................................................................8
2.5.3 Decreased biodiversity, habitat loss and conflicts.......................................................................9
2.5.4 Economic losses of Ethiopia.......................................................................................................9
2.5.5 Social consequences...................................................................................................................9
2.6 Socio-economic benefits of Deforestation.........................................................................................9
References.................................................................................................................................................11
i
ABBREVIATIONS
CSA: Central Statistical Agency
DRC : Democratic Republic of Congo
FAO : Food and Agricultural Organization
FGD : Focus Group Discussion
GDP : Gross Domestic Product
HHs : House Holds
NGOs: Non-Governmental Organization
UNRISD: United Nations Research Institute for Social development
US: United State
ii
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Information
Forests provide a wide variety of ecological, economic and social services, including the
conservation of biological diversity, carbon storage, soil and water conservation, provision of
employment and enhanced livelihood, enhancement of agricultural productivity and
improvement of urban and per urban living conditions (FAO,2011). Obviously, these services
differ widely in nature and therefore tend to be valued in different manners by different society
and different social groups. While some services are immediately visible, other are of a long
term nature and take their full sense only in the perspective of intergenerational equity. These
services are at risk where they are most needed, especially in fragile ecosystem which
characterized many poor countries and areas in the developing countries (FAO, 2011). However,
these forest functions and services are being continuously affected by forest deforestation and
degradation.
Deforestation defined broadly can include not only conversion to non-forest, but also
degradation that reduces forest quality, density and structure of the trees, the ecological services
supplied, the biomass of plants and animals, the species diversity and the genetic diversity (FAO,
2010). Ethiopia is one of the most severely deforested countries in sub- Saharan African
countries, particularly in forest degradation which resulted in soil erosion and degradation of
agricultural land. The decline in overall stability and productivity of the country’s natural
resource is the result of complex and interrelated series of processes that were triggered by the
loss of forest cover in critical watershed (Tumcha, 2004).
Altitude and topographic location have favored Ethiopia to have numerous or varying agro
climatic zone. This has given rise to the presence of a botanical treasure house containing 6000
different flowering plants in Ethiopia. Out of these flowering plants, 12% are probably endemic.
These diverse floras are found in the natural forests, which have once covered 35% of the
county’s total land area in 1980. However, today the forest coverage has shrunk to an area of
only 2.5% of the total land size (FAO, 2012). In Ethiopia the rate of deforestation was in
1
alarming and the rate of afforestation was very negligible in light of the very high rate of clearing
for fuel, agricultural expansion, and construction purposes.
Measuring the total rate of habitat conservation for the 1990-2005 intervals, Ethiopia lost 3.6
percent of its forest and woodland habitat due to firewood collection, conservation to farm land,
overgrazing and use of forest for building materials. As a result Ethiopia will face a difficult
future, because the agricultural sector which forms the back bone of economy is totally
dependent on forest resource (FAO, 2009).
The existing rate of deforestation is estimated to be 200,000 hectares per year. As a result large
areas of the country are now exposed to heavy soil erosion. It is estimated that fertile top soil is
lost at a rate of 1 billion cubic meters per year (FAO, 2006), resulting in a massive
environmental degradation and serious threat to sustainable agriculture and forestry. According
to Williams (2011).
The causes of deforestation are complex and often differ in each forest and country. It may be
difficult to determine the cause of deforestation in a particular forest and noted that there are
three schools of thought with regards to the causes of deforestation. One is the Impoverishment
school, which believes that the major cause of deforestation is “the growing number of poor”.
This school of thought sees smallholders as the principal agents of deforestation. The second
school of thought is Neoclassical which believes that the major causes of deforestation are
“open-access property rights”. They see various agents as the principal agents of deforestation.
The third school of thought which believes that the major cause of deforestation is that “capitalist
investor’s crowd out peasants” is called political-ecology. This school sees capitalist
entrepreneurs as the major agents of deforestation. Deforestation has many far-reaching
consequences. The environmental functions and services of the forest ecosystem are reduced or
even lost, depending on the extent of deforestation (Sponsel et al., 2010). Forests contain
numerous species of flora and fauna and protect the soils from heavy rainfall and its effects on
erosion.
2
1.2 Statement of the problem
The most severe environmental problems in least developed countries are found in rural areas
where most of the people live ( Hillstrom, 2003). The agricultural sector in Ethiopia accounts for
over 50% of the GDP and provides livelihood for over 80% of the population. Agricultural
development in Ethiopia is hampered by many factors among which deforestation is the major
one. Forests and the benefits they provide in the form of food, income and watershed protection
have an important and often critical role in enabling people around the area to secure a stable and
adequate food supply.
The full implication of the loss or deterioration of forest for humankind as well as other life is
not known. What is known, however, is the loss of forest resource can lead to diminished
income, and food-generating capacity for forest dependent communities, higher rates of soil and
siltation of water ways, loss of species and genetic diversity and an increase in carbon emission,
which, contribute to global warming (FAO, 2003).
The consequence of the disappearances of different plants and animals and low productivity
considerably affect the attempt to achieve food security. These problems have greatly
necessitated putting an increased effort for conservation measures that could after the
deteriorating forest condition and the environment (FAO, 2005).
Deforestation reduces biological diversity and increases soil erosion and the siltation of rivers
and streams and can endanger hydroelectric dams, agricultural irrigation systems, and other
technological and economic facilities. The environmental functions and services of the forest
ecosystem are reduced or even lost, depending on the extent of deforestation (Sponsel et al.,
1996). These types of problems are the major challenge in Ethiopia where there is lack of
information for the country. Thus, this research is intended to assess the major causes of
deforestation and its impacts on socio-economic development of Ethiopia in this area.
3
1.3 Objective of the study
1.3.1 General Objective
The general objective of the assess of the cause of deforestation and its impacts on socio- economic
in Ethiopia.
1.3.2 Specific Objectives
The specific objectives of the study will be:
To identify the major causes of deforestation in the study area.
To identify the impacts of deforestation on the socio-economic development of Ethiopia.
1.4 Research Questions
What are the major causes of deforestation in the study area?
What are the impacts of deforestation on the socio-economic development of Ethiopia?
1.5 Significance of the Study
Instability of many ecosystems is mainly caused by manmade and natural factors. However, the
former was more responsible in Ethiopia. In the attitude of Ethiopia on the causes and
consequences of deforestation are not assessed. Therefore, the study will be significantly
contributed to the effort being made to fill research gab in the area and provide tangible findings
as:
At national level the government of Ethiopia and other stakeholders are working in
collaboration to address the problem of deforestation. Hence, the output of this research
can contribute to the endeavors by creating awareness at grass root level.
The study will be further enriching knowledge on forests conservation activities from
Ethiopia’ perspective, which would be indispensable for policy makers, development
practitioners and future researchers.
4
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Concept and Over View of Forest & Deforestation
Forest: defined as ecosystems with a minimum of 10% crown cover of trees and/or bamboo,
generally associated with wild flora, fauna, and natural soil conditions and not subjected to
agricultural practices whereas, deforestation as a change of land use with a depletion of tree
grown cover to less than 10% crown cover (FAO,2005).
Deforestation: is the conversion of forest to an alternative permanent non-forested land use such
as agriculture, grazing or urban development (van Kooten and Bulte, 2000).
Deforestation defined broadly can include not only conversion to non-forest, but also
degradation that reduces forest quality, density and structure of the trees, the ecological services
supplied, the biomass of plants and animals, the species diversity, and the genetic diversity
(FAO, 2005). United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) also defines
deforestation as the loss or continual degradation of forest habitat primarily due to human related
causes. Agricultural, Urban sprawl, unsustainable forestry practices and mining all contribute to
human caused deforestation. In this case the term deforestation used to refer to activities that use
the forest, such as fuel wood cutting, commercial logging, as well as activities that cause
temporary removal of forest cover such as the slash and burn technique, a component of some
shifting cultivation agricultural system or clear cutting. It also used to describe forest clearing for
annual crops and forest loss from over grazing (FAO, 2011).
2.2 Deforestation in Global Context
The causes of ongoing global deforestation and degradation are commonly attributed to a
number of factors, including in particular agricultural expansion, wood extraction (including
logging) and infrastructure redevelopment (FAO, 2005). At the global level, agricultural
expansion including large-scale commercial activities such as palm oil production, soy
production and cattle ranching, have been the major causes of deforestation. These activities
have been particularly prominent in countries such as Brazil and Indonesia; they are now
5
increasingly expanding into lower income countries. For instance, 3 million hectares in
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was recently given a Chinese company for oil palm
plantation (Laporte, 2007).
Small holder agricultural expansion is a further cause of deforestation, although the extent of this
remains controversial, especially in terms of the role of cyclical cultivation systems. In an often
quoted meta-analysis of 152 sub-national case studies, Geist and Lambin (2002) concluded that,
while shifting cultivation certainly played a role, it had been exaggerated as the sole direct driver
of deforestation. Their study further questioned the role of population growth as a driver of
deforestation except in terms of population dynamics, such as in-migration in connection with
forest colonization (Kanninen, 2007). Logging also as a cause of deforestation refers to clear-cut
or selective logging forest trees. This may be caused by both legal and illegal practices. World
Bank data from 2006 found that illegal logging constituted as much as 80-90% of total forest
production in some countries, and further indicated that illegal logging cuts across tropical
countries, regardless of levels of economic development (World Bank, 2006).
2.3 Deforestation in Ethiopia
Deforestation is caused by what human beings do to the forests and can be accentuated by
drought. Generally deforestation occurs when people clear forest for their personal need such as,
for fuel, hunting, when they need the land to grow and harvest crops, for building houses, and at
times because of religion beliefs (Sucoff, 2003). The main causes of deforestation in Ethiopia are
shifting agriculture, livestock production and fuel wood in drier areas. Ethiopia is a country in
Eastern Africa; it has the second largest population in Africa and has been hit by famine many
times because there was a shortage of rain, and a depletion of natural resources (Haileselassie,
2004).
Growing populations are increasing forest degradation which is leading the country to famine.
As the population continue to grow the need of the people increase. And the country has lost
98% of its forested regions in the last 50 years (Parry, 2003).
Forests in Ethiopia play a big role in protecting erosion, because if there are more trees the water
wouldn’t be able to wash away the soil. Trees also help to keep water in the soil and reduce
global warming by uptake of carbon dioxide. Because there are not enough trees, the Blue Nile is
6
carrying all the soil and other nutrients in the water to the neighboring countries of the Sudan and
Egypt, where their land is very fertile.
2.4 Cause of forest Deforestation of Ethiopia.
2.4.1 Expansion of farming land
About 60 per cent of the clearing of tropical moist forests is for agricultural settlement (Myers,
2009; Anon., 2010) with logging and other reasons like roads, urbanization and Fuel wood
accounting for the rest (Anon., 2009 b). Tropical forests are one of the last frontiers in the search
for subsistence land for the most vulnerable people worldwide (Myers, 2010).
2.4.2 Forest and other plantations
Plantations are a positive benefit and should assist in reducing the rate of deforestation. Tree
crops and rubber in particular plays a more important role in deforestation in Indonesia than
subsistence-oriented shifting cultivation (Chomitz and Griffiths, 2009).
2.4.3 Logging and fuel wood
Logging does not necessarily cause deforestation. However, logging can seriously degrade
forests (Putz et al., 2009). Logging provides access roads to follow-on settlers and log scales can
help finance the cost of clearing remaining trees and preparing land for planting of crops or
pasture. Logging thus catalyzes deforestation (Chomitz et al., 2010).
2.4.4 Overgrazing
Overgrazing is more common in drier areas of the tropics where pastures degraded by
overgrazing are subject to soil erosion. Stripping trees to provide fodder for grazing animals can
also be a problem in some dry areas of the tropics but is probably not a major cause of
deforestation. (Hays, 2008 web page).
2.4.5 Fires
Fires are a major tool used in clearing the forest for shifting and permanent agriculture and for
developing pastures. Fire is a good servant but has a poor master. Fire used responsibly can be a
7
valuable tool in agricultural and forest management but if abused it can be a significant cause of
deforestation (Repetto et al., 2009; Rowe et al., 2011).
2.4.6 Mining
Mining is very intensive and very destructive (Sands, 2007). The area of land involved is quite
small and it is not seen as a major cause of primary deforestation. Mining is a lucrative activity
promoting development booms which may attract population growth with consequent
deforestation.
2.4.7 Urbanization/industrialization and infra-structure
Expanding cities and towns require land to establish the infrastructures necessary to support
growing population which is done by clearing the forests (Sands, 2007).The role of population in
deforestation is a contentious issue. The impact of population density on deforestation has been a
subject of controversy. Poverty and overpopulation are believed to be the main causes of forest
loss according to the international agencies such as FAO and intergovernmental bodies.
2.5 Effects of forest Deforestation
2.5.1 Climate change
It is essential to distinguish between microclimates, regional climate and global climate.
Deforestation can change the global change of energy not only through the micrometeorological
processes but also by increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (Pinker,
2010) because carbon dioxide absorbs thermal infrared radiation in the atmosphere.
Deforestation affects wind flows, water vapor flows and absorption of solar energy thus clearly
influencing local and global climate (Chomitz et al., 2007).
2.5.2 Water and soil resources loss and flooding
Deforestation also disrupts the global water cycle (Bruijnzeel, 2004). With removal of part of the
forest, the area cannot hold as much water creating a drier climate. Filtering and treating water is
expensive. Forests can reduce the costs of doing so either actively by filtering runoff or passively
by substituting for housing or farms that generate runoff (Dudley et al., 2011).
8
2.5.3 Decreased biodiversity, habitat loss and conflicts
Forests especially those in the tropics serve as storehouses of biodiversity and consequently
deforestation, fragmentation and degradation destroys the biodiversity as a whole and habitat for
migratory species including the endangered ones, some of which have still to be catalogued.
More research can establish the relative importance of various plants and animal species (Anon.,
1998).
2.5.4 Economic losses of Ethiopia
The tropical forests destroyed each year amounts to a loss in forest capital valued at US $
45billion (Hansen et al., 2007). By destroying the forests, all potential future revenues and future
employment that could be derived from their sustainable management for timber and no timber
products disappear.
2.5.5 Social consequences
Deforestation, in other words, is an expression of social injustice (Colchester and Lohmann,
2005). The social consequences of deforestation are many, often with devastating long-term
impacts. The intrusion of out siders destroys traditional life styles, customs and religious beliefs
which intensify with infra-structure development like construction of roads which results into
frontier expansion often with social and land conflicts (Schmink and Wood, 2007).
2.6 Socio-economic benefits of Deforestation
Deforestation is often asserted as “evil” because of the long term environmental implication for
sustainable development. Though it is undeniable that the dependence of millions of people on
forests leads to degradation and deforestation, there are numerous benefits accruing from such
loss (in the form of livelihoods, income and employment) for the sustenance of indigenous
people. According to the World Bank (2004), it is estimated that approximately 60 million
indigenous people are almost wholly dependent on forests while 350 million people depend on
forests for a high degree for subsistence and income, and about 1.2 billion people rely on agro-
forestry farming systems (cited in Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2009.
9
The sustenance of people (human well-being) is core to the sustainable development which is
achievable through sustainable livelihoods. According to the UNEP (2006) sustainable
livelihoods guarantee access and entitlement to a range of assets and opportunities which are
essential in achieving human well-being. This is essential for most indigenous people especially
in forest fringe communities who often lack the basic necessities to maintain a decent standard of
living such as sufficient and nutritious food, adequate shelter, access to health services, energy
sources, safe drinking-water, education and a healthy environment (Secretariat of the Convention
on Biological Diversity, 2009).
The trade of wood products is an obvious source of substantial income for national and local
governments as well as traditional rulers and individuals. This often comes in the form of export
earnings, taxes, royalties and personal income for those engaged either directly or indirectly in
the exploitation of these forest products. According to the World Commission on Forests and
Sustainable Development (1998), export of tropical wood contributes approximately US $ 100
billion annually, about 0.5% of global gross domestic product (cited in Mahapatra and Kant,
2003). The sale and distribution of chainsaw lumber is argued to generate some un-estimated
revenue in the form of market tolls, income tax, taxes from waybills and custom duties within
national economies (Obiri and Damnyag, 2011).
10
References
Bruijnzeel, L. A. (1991). Hydrological impacts of tropical forest conversion.
Nature et Ressources (UNESCO).
Chomitz, K. M., & Griffiths, C. (1997). An economic analysis of woodfuel
management in the Sahel: The case of Chad (Vol. 1788). World Bank Publications.
Chomitz, V. R., McGowan, R. J., Wendel, J. M., Williams, S. A., Cabral, H. J.,
King, S. E., ... & Hacker, K. A. (2010). Healthy Living Cambridge Kids: a
community‐based participatory effort to promote healthy weight and fitness.
Obesity, 18(S1), S45-S53.
Dudley, N., Krueger, L., MacKinnon, K., & Stolton, S. (2011). 11 Ensuring That
Protected Areas Play an Effective Role in Mitigating Climate Change. Ecological
Consequences of Climate Change: Mechanisms, Conservation, and Management,
237.
FAO, [Link] outside forest: Towards rural and urban intgratedresoures
[Link], Italy. For Policies to Promote REDD. Forest Perspective No.
4. Bogor, Indonesia: Center for
FAO, 2011. Natural Resource and the Human Environment for Food and
Agriculture inForest Sector. Washington DC: Rights and Resources Initiative.
Geist, H.J. and E.F. Lambin. 2002. Proximate Causes and Underlying Driving
Forces of
11
Haileselassie, A. April 2004. Ethiopians struggle over land reform. World press
Review 51.4.
Hansen, J., Sato, M., Kharecha, P., Russell, G., Lea, D. W., & Siddall, M. (2007).
Climate change and trace gases. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 365(1856), 1925-1954.
12
