Abstract:
Ethiopia has been practicing resettlement since the Imperial era. The current resettlement
scheme has some peculiarities from the former regimes as it is voluntarism based, intra
regional and secures resettlers’ right. Environmental impacts induced by resettlers at
Gumgumuta were the focus of this study. The main objective of the study was to assess
environmental impacts induced by resettlers. To attain this, pertinent data were gathered
employing interview, questionnaire, FGD and field observation. 80 sample respondents were
selected by systematic sampling technique from the homogenous population. Mixed research
design specifically Concurrent Triangulation Strategy was used as it better helped to
understand the problem. For analysis, SPSS version 20 for quantitative data both descriptive
and inferential statistics as well as verbal descriptions for qualitative data were employed. The
findings indicated as human resettlements induce adverse environmental impacts at
destinations namely deforestation, wildlife threats and quantity declines of water bodies.
Concerning deforestation, only 4.77% of the area (23 ha of forest cover) was remained from
72.56% of its area (349.85 ha of forest cover) before the resettlement as much was lost by
conversion to homesteads (16.1ha), farmlands (302.5 ha), and institutional occupations (8.25
ha) with increased extent while exploiting as source of fuel wood, construction materials and by
road construction. Most wild lives existed before the relocation were hardly available at the
area being exposed to various threats like complete disappearance, forced habitat change, loss
of habitat and feeding sources as well as conflicts with humans and each other. Rivers of the
area were examined with varied quantity problems (seasonal volume fluctuation, early drying
and disappearance of impressive waterfalls). Possible remedial interventions quoted as
“EARTH for environment” were recommended to sustain the risky environmental components
in which each bold letter has its own implication.
