Contributions of Protected Area for Local Community Livelihood: The Case of Senkele Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary, South Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study on the contributions of protected area for local community livelihood was carried out in Senkele Swayne’s Hartebeest sanctuary (SSHS). Primary data were collected through questionnaire, Key Informant Interview (KII), Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and direct field observation. Secondary data were collected through review of literature. Out of the 32 rural kebeles found in the Siraro district, four kebeles surrounding the sanctuary were purposively selected for the study. Primary data collection involved 151 households for questionnaire survey, 40 discussants for FGD and 12 interviewees for KII. Results of survey point out there were open access resource use and illegal activities particularly illegal hunting in the Senkele area before it’s established as a Sanctuary. However, illegal hunting is very rare since the establishment of Sanctuary. It rarely happens when problem animals damage local community property or cause injury to human. The majority of sample households 41.06% were benefited a lot of resources from the sanctuary which includes fire wood, thatching the grass, grazing and collecting medicinal plants. Likewise, about 25.83% of respondents were benefited by thatching grass and grazing inside the sanctuary only. In addition, 11.92% benefited only throughout thatching grass from the area while rest few percent 3.31% privileged by collecting fire wood and livestock grazing. Currently Wildlife is facing malnutrition due to overgrazing by livestock and wildlife behavioral change is observed due to high human disturbance. Regarding to managing current destruction of the sanctuary, 27.2 % of respondents supposed that, the sanctuary could be managed through ensuring protection and conservation while 13.9%, 11.9% and 11.3% respondents stated sanctuary destruction could be managed through benefit sharing, participatory wildlife management and controlling grazing respectively. Some other 10.6% and 9.9% of the respondents said the sanctuary destruction can be managed through awareness creation and controlling illegal activities. Providing alternative means of livelihood like Ecotourism and livelihood diversification for local community is highly recommended.

Keywords: Livelihood, Local community, Senkele Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary, Protected area