Threats, Community Perception of Biological Resource Conservation and Solution in Dati Wolel National Park of Ethiopia

International Journal of Scientific Research in ______Research Paper . Biological Sciences Vol.6, Issue.6, pp.120-128, December (2019) E-ISSN: 2347-7520

Rabira Gonfa

Department of Biology, College of Teachers Education, Fitche, Ethiopia

Author: [email protected]. Phone number, +251913863446

Available online at: www.isroset.org

Received: 22/Nov/2019, Accepted: 05/Dec/2019, Online: 31/Dec/2019 Abstract-Protected areas are the core biodiversity home all through the world. The Dati Wolel National Park is also one of the newly protected areas of Ethiopia containing diverse habitat in the country. The park was established in 2010, this supports high levels of species richness and endemism. In Dati Wolel National Park several Mammalians and Birds have been recorded. In Addition, the park has vital source for more rivers and plants. In spite of the substantial potential of the area, agricultural land is increasing rapidly, grazing areas are heavily degraded, forests are being cut and cleared, and water systems disturbed. There is no actual resource possession, and employers are taking advantage as open access resource management regimes in the area. Consequently, resource damages are increasing alarmingly. Having the badly behaved, remedial solutions involved for management of park resources are negligible. Hence, this paper aims to foldaway the threats of Bio diversity of Dati Wolel National Park and to suggest solutions.

Keyword: Biological resource, Conservation, Community perception, Threats

I.INTRODUCTION

The growing of human population and the related economic needs are affecting protected areas in developing countries also the case of Ethiopia’s National Parks that are highly influenced by human activities. The underlying threats of many protected areas in developing nations are related with human activities such as deforestation and fuel wood collection access to grazing lands is also a problem associated with the pastoral communities in Ethiopia, and affects protected areas. Ethiopia with a land area of 1.12 million square kilometers is a relatively vast country having a wide variety of topography and climate [3]. Altitude ranges from 4620 m at sea level at the top of Ras Dashen to 116 m below sea level in the Danakil depression. The differences in altitude, joined with topographic variations. And have resulted in extensive variations in rainfall, moistness and temperature. Beside the different ecologies, there are many selected protected areas of land in Ethiopia including national parks, wildlife reserves, priority forests, biosphere reserves and community conservation areas. These regions act as biodiversity ‘banks’, main spiritual places, centers for traditional ecological knowledge and bringing revenues from tourism and carbon trading [16].

The increasing of human population and the connected financial wants are affecting protected areas [6]. The contribution of native people in protected area administration is a main influence in the long-term protection of the natural resources. In many situations, the relationship of people and protected area faces conflicts [7]

[12] found that the perceptions of local peoples towards protected areas are negative because people living near protected areas have subsistence needs that are direct opposition to the needs of the park. Satisfactory consideration is not set for local people participating in park management and protection actions. It is essential to comprise the native people through a community based conservation method in order to tolerate the protected areas [14]. This technique powerfully includes the native societies in resolution building and advantage sharing.

Ethiopia land covers a large number of fauna and flora in its different protected areas like in parks, wildlife reserves, priority forests, biosphere reserves and community. Conservation areas are designated protected areas of land in the country [6]. While, they face many challenges. Because of communities impact and Struggle between communities. Wildlife is also the main problem in various conservation areas of Ethiopia.

Dati Wolel National Park is one of the protected areas in Ethiopia with the largest areas of continuous forest habitats. It has unique ecosystem at north western edge of the south western tropical forest of the country. High levels of species richness and different medicinal plants are recognized in this National Park. In addition, it is an important water catchment area. In spite of its huge potential and importance, ecological degradation is rapid and poses a severe threat to the survival of most of species in Dati Wolel National Park. If conservation efforts are not successful and people continue to feat the resources in an unsustainable. Therefore, the main objective of this paper was to explore the threats of Dati Wolel National Park and to suggest solutions

Objective of the study The aim of this study was to define a framework where the roles of three major components in the park’s landscape, habitats types, threats and their solutions The main Specific objectives of the Paper are 1. To identify the habitat or land cover types of Dati Wolel National Park 2. To list down the main threats of Dati Wolel National Park 3. To make recommendations based on research results for the sustainable management of the Dati Wolel National Park.

II. RELATED WORK

Dati Wolel National Park has unique ecosystem, being at north western edge of the southwestern tropical forest of the country. The large extent of woodland savanna grassland, the Riverine forest associated with wetland form ideal habitats for medium and large sized mammals. One of the studies had revealed Dati Wolel National Park is unique in harboring the highest number of mega herbivores specially the African buffalo (S. caffer) and hippopotamus (H. amphibious) relative to any of the parks in the country [13].

From the above studies it is seen that Dati Wolel National Park possesses exceptional habitat with high potential of conserving biodiversity. The park contains diversities habitats suitable for diversities of flora and the associated fauna. The current studies focus on Threats, Community Perception of Biological Resource Conservation and Solution in Dati Wolel National Park of Ethiopia

III. METHODOLOGY

1.Geographic location of the study area The study was conducted in the Dati Wolel National park of the Western Ethiopia, Oromia regional state. It lies between the coordinates of 670 55’ 49”to 720 45’ 03” East and 100 05’25”to10051’01” North (Figure 1).

The Park covers an area of 1035km2 and the elevation with in the Park boundary ranges from1390m around Dati River to 1500m of Wolel Mountain

It is located about 647kms west from capital of the country (Addis Ababa), 116kms south and south west from Zonal capital of Kelam Wollega (Dembidollo) town and 170 km southwest from, the capital of West Wollega (Gimbi town ). The park was established in 2010. The name of the national park is derived from two prominent features in the area called the Wolel Mountain and Dati River and ultimately to form Dati Wolel National Park

The park is bounded by seven woreda namely: Gawo kebe woreda to south east, Begi woreda to west, Jimma Horo woreda to south, Kondala woreda to north, Gidami woreda to the west, Babo Gambel woreda to the east and Mana sibu woreda to the North. The largest portion of the park is found in Gawo kebe woreda.

Figure 1: Location map of the study area

2. Materials and Methods Prior to field survey, the first part of this research was focused on identification and characterizing the habitat types present within the Dati Wolel National Park landscape was occurred. To achieve this objective, Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing techniques were applied for the classification and quantification of land cover or vegetation cover within the park, For the purpose of spatial analysis, satellite images, topographic maps and digital elevation model were used for characterization of habitat, as well as to facilitate change detection over time. It was also vital for the organization of field surveys in the study area. To assess the threats and chances of biological resource conservation in the study area, different data collection methods were employed. Survey or filed visit was also made to obtain evidences of biological resource threats in the local area, environmental impacts and assess community perception towards conservation of the site. Interview with key informants was carried out to assess the biological resource conservation in the area.

3. Data analysis techniques: The qualitative data obtained through interview and field visits were analyzed in the form of descriptions

IV. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Description of habitat classes identified in the Dati Wolel National Park

I. Erica Wood Land This site covers large portion of the area next to wet land. Based on the types of dominant species the Erica wood land area can be characterized as mixed and combretum wood lands. The combretum wood land which is found at the border of the park is characterized by the dominant species of combretum and terminalia species this study site is typically cover with a well- developed grass and commonly burnt every year. This vegetation types has a clear tree grass formation. The dominant species are Maytenus arbutifolia, Terminalia brownie, Combretum colinum and Combretum mole.

II. Riverine forest Riverine forest occurs along the narrow stripe side of the river of the study area. The major rivers in the study area are Dati, Kumbabe, Dilla, Jirma Sadaka and Burar. In addition to that small seasonal rivers or streams are also covred with riverine forest. This habitat is characterized by mixed vegetation type composed of large tree and herbaceous species. The dominant plant species in this study site is phonex Ficus, podocarpus flacatus, Grewia ferrugunea and costa

III. Savanna Grass land This habitat covers small portion of the study area. It is characterized by extensive grass species with few dominant scattered trees. The dominant grass species in most distributional range of this habitat is elephant grass (pennisetum Species) the scattered trees that occur in this habitat are resistant to fire. They have thick barck and the dominant tree species in this study

© 2019, IJSRBS All Rights Reserved 122 Int. J. Sci. Res. in Biological Sciences Vol. 6(6), Dec 2019, ISSN: 2347-7520 site are broad-leaved combretum species in association with terminalia albiza. The local people in search of grazing land and clear site deliberately set fire. The tree species composition varies in relation to altitude. This may be due to variability in soil type and soil moisture

IV. Wet Land Wet land covers the largest portion of the study area. This habitat approximately covers more than 70% of the park. Elephant grass and some shrubs are important floristic components of the habitat. This site contains high population of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) under a normal condition the distribution of plants through the area is relatively uniform. Figure 5: Wet land cover in Dati Wolel National Park

Water This study area contain many important rivers that flooded throughout the year and forming important source of water for blue Nile (Abay) the largest Dati flood plain retains ground water recharge area for rivers originating, crossing and joining together in the park rivers such as kumbabe, Dilla, Jirma, Sadeka, Burar and Dati originate from the surrounding high lands and join together with in Dati wet land.

Then finally with water from the surface, substrate from the surrounding areas and ground water from the larger Dati wet land. From a big river at the out let to the north known as Dabus River. This is one of the biggest upper basin tributaries of Blue Nile. In Dati River there is a high population of hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibia)

Geology and Soil There is no reliable data regarding soil types found in the Park. However, rough information obtained on the issue from Gawo Kebe Agricultural office indicates that there are three types of Soils in the Park , loam soil, sand soil and clay soil. The high land soil of the study area are characterized by deep ,well drained clay soil with moderate natural fertility. Soil of the high land are divided into two groups these are well drained, red brown soils on slopes and heavy soils in the bottom of lands .well drained soils on slopes are dominated by deep to very deep red and reddish brown clay loams over clays. These soils are of moderate to low natural fertility. Poorly drained (bottom land) soils are predominately vertisols and soils of the lowlands are alluvial (Report from Gawo Kebe Woreda Agricultural Office)

Wild life Dati Wolel National park provides the last refuge for the larger mammalian species which were once frequent in western Ethiopia. The area is known especially by high population of hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) and the African buffalo (syncerus caffer). In addition to the globally threatened lion (panther leo) at Gara Arba.

Threats to Biodiversity in the study area During the study period, discussion with local people have revealed that the local communities and the government officials support the establishment of the area as a National Park, hoping that they will have benefits from the activities related to the development of the Park. During the study period the main wildlife threats identified were listed below:

1. Encroachment Due to lack of trained person around the park, the local people exploit the resource from the park. Deforestation and traditional farming activity close to the park might cause a serious impact on the mammals of the park [10] . As the result of this the mammalian species of the park were restricted to some part of the park. Because of human and livestock encroachment.

2. Village Expansion The Dati Wolel National Park has been under increasing pressure from a rapidly growing human population. The population is increasing almost linearly. As a result of this growth, existing settlements are growing, and new settlements are appearing in previously unsettled and environmentally sensitive areas [9].The emerging of new settlements is mainly associated with the rapid immigration from the surrounding. As a result of the expansion of villages. Moreover, people who have settled inside or on the fringes of the park make heavy use of the park’s resources. The increased settlement and more intensive exploitation of resources by humans in the past have resulted in environmental degradation in terms of soil erosion and loss of vegetation [8] .

3. Burning of the forest Fire is a major agent of change in Dati Wolel National park. And has the potential to significantly modify the habitats and available forage, there by impacting wildlife populations. Seasonal fires are started for hunting practices, honey collection and

© 2019, IJSRBS All Rights Reserved 123 Int. J. Sci. Res. in Biological Sciences Vol. 6(6), Dec 2019, ISSN: 2347-7520 preparation of new crop fields, amongst others. Fires commence in February and last March, with the most expansive fires occurring in the late dry season. In this year, fires burned in more than 50% the park. This significantly reduces the carrying capacity for grazing species, and represents a direct physical threat to the fauna [2]. Furthermore the occurrence and strength of late season fires can impact the structure and flora composition of park, reducing its natural carrying capacity and overall biodiversity

4. Hunting The park has only seven permanent scouts to protect the 1035 km2 park areas. Poaching of mammalian species is common in Dati Wolel National park. The small number of scouts may be one of the causes of ineffectiveness to protect the animal from illegal hunters. In addition to this, the staff members of the park live about 37 km away from the park in Kebe town. At the same time, the concerned officials are also reluctant to enforce the law.

5. Overgrazing This park is the newly established park of the country. Due to this, the park lacks natural buffer Zone. The local people regularly bring their cattle into the Park area in search of grazing land. High numbers of grazing domestic animals make a devastating effect on the edges of the park [17]. The increase of livestock number has been creating competition of resources between wild and domestic animals for food. Such competitions negatively affect resources in the park and finally result in overgrazing [15]. As the result of this the wild life of the park becomes minimized.

SOLUTIONS FOR Dati Wolel NATIONAL PARK The Oromia regional government has devoted in protection and development initiatives in the Dati Wolel National Park in response to the adverse and imminent threats. The innervations are principally concentrated on cultivating the management and conservation of the Park and conserving the unique ecosystems and wildlife of the area [11]. The new intervention program, however, has been evolving with a motivation on increasing management and improvement enterprises, taking local societies into a main role in sustainable natural resource management, and building sustainable natural resource based livelihoods. Therefore, the solutions for Dati Wolel National Park are discussed below.

Awareness creation Awareness creation should be the first action for communities around the protected area conservation. The local communities should be aware of the environmental, social and economic importance of protected areas. The establishment of the Dati Wolel National Park is important for soil erosion control, getting reliable rainfall, source of water, tourism and others. In addition, it is also important for the local community as a source of medicinal plants [1].

In this way, creating awareness help to reduce deforestation. In Dati Wolel National Park This awareness creation increase in numbers of wild animals especially Buffalo, which in turn increases economic returns through the development of tourism in the area. Therefore, awareness creation should be applied before the establishment of any protected area.

Promote community participation The community of Dati Wolel National Park is participating in protection of fire, conservation of wildlife, protection of forest, vaccination of domestic dogs, repairing fences and providing information about illegal activities found in the park. It is evident that the local communities are directly affected by the establishment of the park more than any other group. Therefore, it is believed that resource managements are effective when local communities are involved in all stages of the management process from planning to implementation stage. Involvement of local communities at all levels of management process is important [4]. Link protection activity with employment improvement through ecotourism is a rounded management approach that participates conservation of protected areas and improving the livelihoods of communities. The local People in and around Dati Wolel National Park are spoiled off-farming activities besides agriculture and rearing of animals. These include, guiding of tour, horse rental service and selling handicraft trade.

In this case, ecotourism is not only helpful in local environment safety but also plays an important role in changing local community views towards ecological use of natural resources as they derive direct monetary benefits out of ecotourism. Protected areas are biodiversity conservation bank and major tourism assets for a country, especially for developing countries like Ethiopia through providing sustainable benefit to the local community while supporting for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the protected areas themselves [5]. Therefore, advocating ecotourism in an extensive manner is suitable to increase the livelihoods of the community and to conserve the park.

V. CONCLUSION

Dati Wolel National Park has a huge potential in conserving the biodiversity of Ethiopia because of its advantage of containing different ecosystems. Nevertheless, it is one of the highly threatening parks of the country. The major threats are village expansion, agricultural encroachment, overgrazing, hunting, and burning of the forest. Solutions being taken are less effective in conserving the park from degradation. Therefore, controlling immigration from the surrounding areas, awareness creation, promoting community Participation, combining conservation activity with livelihood improvement through ecotourism, are believed to be important. The solutions are interrelated, and it is therefore important not only to understand

Figure 2: Erica Woodland Covered in Dati Wolel National Park(Source Author)

Figure 3: Riverine Forest Covered in Dati Wolel National Park (Source Author)

Figure 4: Savanna Grassland Covered in Dati Wolel National Park (Source Author)

Figure 5: Wetland Covered in Dati Wolel National Park (Source Author)

Figure 6: Water Cover in Dati Wolel National Park (Source Author)

Figure 7: Overgrazing (Source Author)

Figure 8: Burning of the Forest (Source Author)

Figure 9: African buffalo killed by hunters (Source Author)

Acknowledgements First of all I would like to express my especial thanks to almighty God who helped me in all my success. Next, I would like extremely grateful to the Warden of Dati Wolel National Park, the Administration workers, and also to all the scout members for creating a homely working Environment and their unlimited friendly relationship

REFERENCE

[1] CSA. (2007). National Livestock Sample Survey, 2005/06; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 1999 E.C.Feb.2007 [2] Young, J.Ethiopian protected Areas. Snapshot reference guide for future Strategic planning and project funding. pp. 46, 2012 [3] Asebe, R. Contesting views on a protected area conservation and development in Ethiopia. Soc, Sci. pp. 24- 46, 2012 [4] Demeke, A., Verma, A. Ecotourism For environmental conservation and Community Livelihoods, the case of the Bale Mountain National Park of Ethiopia. J.Environ, Sci, Water. 2(8):250-259, 2013 [5] Pratiwi,S. Local Community Participation in Ecotourism Development: A Critical Analysis of Selected Published Literature. J, Manajemen Hutan Tropika, 12(2): 69-77, 2006 [6] Scherl, L., Wilson, A., Wild, R., Blockhus ,J., Franks, P., McNeely, J.,McShane., T. Can Protected Areas Contribute to Poverty Reduction? Opportunities and Limitations. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. p.60, 2004 [7] Tews, J., Brose, U., Grimm, V., Tielborger, K, Wichmann MC. Schwager, M., Jeltsch, F. Animal species diversity driven by Habitat heterogeneity/diversity: The importance of keystone structures. J. Biogeo. 31: 79-92, 2004 [8] Rabira, G.,Tsegaye, G., and Tadese, H.The diversity, abundance and habitat association Of medium and large sized mammals of Dati Wolel National Park ,of Western Ethiopia 7(2):112- 118, 2015 [9] Maselli, D., Spehn, E., Körner, C. Mountain Biodiversity and global change. Published by Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA) of DIVERSITAS, Institute of Botany, University of Basel with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). pp.59, 2010 [10] Flintan, F., Chibsa, W., Wako, D., Ridgewell, R. ().Livestock and livestock systems in the Bale Mountains eco region: a report for the Bale Eco region sustainable management project, SOS Sahel Ethiopia and FARM Africa. Addis Ababa. Frankfurt Zoological Society (n.d). Bale Mountains National Park: General Management Plan 2007-2017. pp223. [11] FAO. Human-wildlife conflict in Africa: Causes, consequences and management Strategies .Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2009 [12] Vial F. Conservation science for Common ground: developing the Necessary tools to Manage livestock Grazing pressure in Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. PhD Thesis University of Glasgow, 2010 [13] Stephens, P., Zubiri, C., Williams, N. Impact of livestock and settlement on the large Mammalian wildlife Bale Mountains National Park, southern Ethiopia. J Biol. Conserv, 100(3):07-322, 2001 [14] Anteneh, B., Temesgen, Y. Extensive forest fire of 2007/2008 in Bale Mountains National Park of southeast Ethiopia. extent, causes and consequences, 2009 [15] Okello, F. Tourism and Hospitality Management: Ecotourism in Uganda a Case Study of the Mgahinga National Park. M.Sc. Thesis, Graduate Business School of Economics and Commercial Law Göteborg University, 2003 [16] Alers,M., Bovarnick, A., Boyle, T., Mackinnon, K., Sobrevila, C. Reducing threats to protected areas: Lessons from the field. A Joint UNDP and World Bank GEF Lessons Learned study. Pp.- 84, 2007 [17] Anteneh, G., Melaku, B., Teshale, W. Natural resource use conflicts in Bale Mountains National Park, South east Ethiopia. Int. J.Biodiver. Conser, 6(12):814-822, 2014 [18] Aramde F, Tsegaye B, Tiwar P the contribution of ecotourism for sustainable livelihood development in the Nech Sar National Park Ethiopia. Int, J, Environ, 2012 Sci. 1(1):19-25, 2008

AUTHOR PROFILE Mr.Rabira Gonfa has completed his Master of Science in the field of Ecological and systematic Zoology from Jimma University. Ethiopia, He is currently working as a Teacher in Fitche College of teacher’s education and he has contributing in various ecological awareness activities