Socioeconomic factors affecting tree species abundance and composition in Gondar, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study investigated if there is variation in the frequency of tree species maintained at household level, and the socioeconomic factors that can explain its variation. Data were collected from 156 randomly selected households in 2009 in Ambober village of Gondar district, Ethiopia. Farm visits and recording, observation, group discussion and interview were the methods used to collect the data. Data were analyzed using mean, independent samples test, one way analysis of variance, and multiple regression techniques. The results showed that there was significant variation in tree species abundance with fast growing tree species like Ecucalyptus camaldulensis being the most common. The ordinary least square estimation results indicated that family size, income, and household’s head age contributed positively towards household level tree species abundance. While farm size, tropical livestock unit, walking distance affected the variation in tree species abundance negatively, sex of household head, location dummy, land tenure and years of land ownership turned out to be insignificant. On the other hand, tropical livestock unit, family size, income, household’s head age, tenure insecurity, and walking distance positively affected household level tree species composition. Introduction of multi-purpose tree species that have animal feed values and that can address the fuel wood demand of farm households is believed to enhance household level tree species abundance.