Browsing by Author "Dawit Desta"

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    Local communities’ attitudes and willingness to participate in postwar wildlife restoration and conservation in Mt. Soloda Adwa communal forest, Tigray regional state, Ethiopia
    (Mekelle University, 2025-02-18) Dawit Desta
    Wildlife conservation has emerged as an increasingly critical global concern, necessitating the implementation of effective strategies. Community attitudes and engagement are pivotal in ensuring the success of these conservation efforts. However, assessments of community attitudes and participation in wildlife conservation remain inadequate. In Tigray, the impact of war has exacerbated wildlife and habitat degradation, highlighting the urgent need for restoration initiatives. Consequently, this study was conducted to evaluate the community's knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to engage in post-war wildlife restoration and conservation efforts in Mt. Soloda, Adwa. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques to assess community attitudes toward wildlife conservation. Data were collected through structured surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews involving 269 randomly selected households across four Kushets. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 27.0, applying descriptive and inferential statistics, including Chi-Square tests, Spearman's rank correlation and binary logistics. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed to contextualize the findings. The findings indicated that a majority of respondents (207) happy for the existence of wildlife in Mt. Soloda, whereas 62 respondents reported unhappiness (P < 0.001). Notably, 235 individuals demonstrated a willingness to actively participate in post-war wildlife restoration initiatives (P < 0.001), with age, education significantly influenced their willingness. Moreover, factors such as training program, costs and benefits, access to natural resources influenced active participation. Despite the community's post-war context, the study revealed a generally positive attitude and willingness to engage in wildlife conservation efforts. The study concludes that effective post-war wildlife conservation in Mt. Soloda necessitates an integrated approach that combines intensive training program, incentives, and long term sustainable utilization. Therefore, conservation programs must focus on alternative use of wildlife resources.