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.