ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS INDUCED BY RESETTLERS IN BOREDA WEREDA: THE CASE OF GUMGUMUTA KEBELE, GAMO GOFA ZONE, SOUTH WEST ETHIOPIA.

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.