Forest coversion - soil degradation - farmers´ perception nexus: Implications for sustainable land use in the southwest of Ethiopia

Forest conversion - soil degradation - farmers’ perception nexus: Implications for sustainable land use in the southwest of Ethiopia. Resettlements in the forest regions instigate considerable impacts on the natural resource base. This study presents a comparative assessment of the biophysical processes of resource degradation and the farmers’ awareness in a cereal-based farming system of the settlers and an indigenous coffee-based farming system. The study analyzes the extent of forest conversion and soil degradation in the two farming systems. Furthermore, the farmers’ response and coping mechanisms are assessed. The need for providing land management technologies to farmers to use their resources sustainably is emphasized and a review of the resettlement policy is underlined.