Conservational Tree Growing by Smallholder Farm Households: Evidence from Gamo Highlands of Southern Ethiopia

Abstract Background: Deforestation and environmental degradation were identified among the leading factors worsening risk exposure in developing countries. Conservational tree growing was found a permissible option and an awake up policy direction to curve down the problem in Ethiopia. However, the uptake of this practice is far from complete and the art has not been made to a level that could make households self-reliant at least in tree resources, particularly in the highlands. This study was aimed at identifying the main decisive factors that potentially influence conservational tree growing behavior of smallholder farm households in Gamo highlands of Southern Ethiopia. Methods: The study was based on survey data collected from 11 villages in 2011/2012. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 335 farm households. A structured interview schedule and observation were used to collect primary data. Descriptive and inferential statistics and Logistic regression model were used to analyze the data. Results: The key findings showed that a host of factors significantly influenced smallholders’ decision to practice conservational tree growing. The study found that tree growing experience, age of the household head, farm size, and availability of suitable land area for tree growing and cash income from sales of trees were the significant factors explaining the variation in conservational tree growing behavior of households. The study also observed that indigenous social and cultural organizations and religious and old-aged funeral sites were the homes for old-aged but live indigenous tree species than private farms. Conclusion: Based on the findings, the study concluded that intra-farmer experience sharing, and support to efficient indigenous institutions and rural tree markets as potential entry points for mitigating deforestation, improving forestry, and developing environmentally sustainable agriculture.