Methods
Study area description
The area of this study, Yotyet/Yewezera Community forest, is located in southern portion of Central Ethiopia in Eza Wereda, Gurage Zone of SNNPR. The Yotyet/Yewezera forest is specifically found in West Gurageland, which proper part of the Shewan Plateaus, Central Highlands of Ethiopia. West Gurageland refers to highland portion of the so called ‘Gurageland’, part of Gurage Zone (an administrative unit), which is politically made part of the SNNPR. The Gurage Zone consists of two major physiographic regions: East Gurageland, which is situated in the western rim of Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia, and Western Gurageland which consists of highland section and is proper southern part of the Shewan Plateaus, Central part of Ethiopia. The forest area is located between 80 7’ 32” to 80 8’ 8” north latitude and 380 4’ 38” to 380 5’40” east longitude. It is found 209 km. and 50 km. away from Addis Ababa to the south (following Addis Ababa to Wolkite route) and Wolkite, seat of Gurage Zone administration respectively. Genemar and Girar villages bound it in the north, Yegeremuje (Atirfo Debrework Kidus Giyorgis Church) in the south, Nereshe in the west, and Yeshemya in the east respectively. The climate of Yotyet/Yewezera forest may be considered cool and it may be conventionally further identified as temperate (dega) climatic region for it occurs in an elevation zone ranging from 2504 to 2808 meters a.m.s.l.
Yotyet/Yewezera community forest (with an area of about 76.08 hectare) is one of the residual (remaining) forests and the largest in the West Gurageland. It is protected surprisingly in similar cases with other protected community forests of the wereda. Ten other community managed forests in the wereda include Koter Gedra, Genemar, Abangiya-Megecha, Geche, Wabe, Geme, Amba, Shashat-Yeganetiye, Genet Mariam, and Yame (Belay et al ., 2019). There were open forest areas in the forest before the 1980’s, which were covered by grassland and bushland, and used by grazing and browsing domestic animals of surrounding five villages namely Nereshe, Genemar, Girar, Yeshemya and Yegeremuje (Atirfo Debrework Kidus Giyorgis). Many of the forest species of Yotyet/Yewezera are predominantly composed of Juniperus, Podocarpus , Bamboo Ebony, and Hagenia. The forest is luxuriant in its species composition and scenic attraction. The area is also known for its high concentration of eucalyptus woodlots. The forest is the source of various wild animals and wild edible plants. It is also the source of River Koshkoshe, which is the tributary of Megecha which finally joins River Wenke, which is one of the main tributaries of River Gibe on the left side.
The majority of population of the study area earns its livelihood mainly from rain fed mixed farming. The cool and hospitable climatic condition of the region enabled the area to host a good soil type, which in turn created favorable conditions for crop cultivation. The most important food crops cultivated in the area include enset, wheat, barley, potato, beans, peas and other food crops. The land use pattern consists of settlements and footpaths, enset plantation, horticulture, cropland, grassland (including grazing land), eucalyptus woodlots, bushland and forestland. The land use and linear settlement pattern and housing construction give an inspiring and attractive scene to the landscape. Settlements are situated on both sides of ridges that are running from northeast to south and or southwest, facing each other and separated by an avenue referred to as jefure.