Vol. 3 No. 1 (2020): THE ROLE OF PARTICIPATORY FOREST MANAGEMENT IN SUSTAINING RURAL LIVELIHOOD AND FOREST CONDITIONS IN SHEKO FOREST, SOUTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract
Different arrangements of decentralized forest management highlighting the inclusion of communities have been promoted to halt deforestation and environmental degradation. The participatory Forest Management (PFM) scheme was introduced as an alternative tool to enhance sustainable forest management through community participation during the early 1990s. This study was conducted in the Sheko forest to examine the role of PFM on the livelihoods of rural community and forest conditions. Forest inventory and socioeconomic surveys were conducted to collect data through involving 95 households and 27 sample plots. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical tools.