Natural Resource Conservation Practices of Resettlers in the New Resettlement Areas of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

     The objectives of this research were to: 1) assess the land-use changes and soil fertility management activities of resettlers in the new resettlement areas of Metema and Quara Woredas (Districts), 2) compare average working days spent by resettlers on private and communal land conservation practices before and after the resettlement, and 3) compare resettlers' level of participation in natural forest protection and tree planting in the two Woredas. The study was conducted in six resettlement Kebeles (villages) of Metema and Quara Woredas of Amhara region, Ethiopia. An interview schedule was employed to collect data from 337 resettlers, selected by simple random sampling technique. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics to test hypotheses at the .05 significant level. The findings revealed that above 76 percent of sampled resettlers in Metema and above 65 percent in Quara never practiced any type of soil fertility management practices in the new resettlement areas. Resettlers' total level of participation in natural forest protection and tree planting was found to be at low level in both of the Woredas. Hypotheses testing using paired t-test revealed that average number of working days spent on private and communal land conservation before the resettlement were significantly higher than after the resettlement at p < .001. On the other hand, hypotheses testing using independent t-test revealed that total level of participation in natural forest protection and tree planting between the two Woredas did not show significant difference except for seedling preparation at p < .01. In general, natural resource degradation in the resettlement areas was moving at an alarming rate, while conservation practices were found at the low level. Hence, the local government should strive to raise the awareness of resettlers towards natural resource conservation activities; and the appropriate authorities need to intervene to integrate urgently needed development and conservation measures.