Home About Browse Search
Svenska


Poultouchidou, Anatoli, 2012. Effects of forest plantations on soil carbon sequestration and farmers’ livelihoods : a case study in Ethiopia. Second cycle, A2E. Uppsala: SLU, Dept. of Soil and Environment

[img]
Preview
PDF
2MB

Abstract

The establishment of monoculture forest plantations with exotic, fast-growing species is common in tropical countries. This study was conducted to determine both (1) the long-term effects of plantations on soil organic carbon (SOC) and (2) the social impact of the plantation on farmers’ livelihoods in Ethiopia. Tree plantations of
Cupressus lusitanica and Eucalyptus saligna were established on abandoned mechanized farmland nearly 30 years ago. SOC amounts under forest plantations
were compared with SOC of mechanized farmland, traditional farmland and natural forest which was the reference site. The study had a retrospective design and differences in SOC contents were compared between the five land uses sampled at
two different occasions with a 10-year interval. Moreover, 20 farmers in total, both male and female, living at different distances from the plantations, were interviewed
in order to assess the difference in the social impact of the plantations on farmers’ livelihoods.

The results showed that the amount of SOC sequestered under the five land uses in the 0-20 cm soil layer differed significantly and was highest under C. lusitanica followed
by E. saligna, natural forest, and traditional and mechanized farmland. However, the forest plantations do not yet seem to be in a steady-state with respect to SOC. Due to
the establishment of plantations, farmers’ livelihoods have changed in different aspects. The impact of the plantations was stronger in households situated closer to the plantations than for those people who lived further away from the plantation area.

Those farmers who lived near the plantations had easier access to collect firewood and graze their livestock. They had also more job opportunities and access to shelter and
were inspired to start on-farm Eucalyptus plantings. On the other hand, they also had to face problems associated with the plantations such as loss of agricultural land due
to the establishment of plantations, crop destruction by wildlife, and conflicts with the forest guards.

Main title:Effects of forest plantations on soil carbon sequestration and farmers’ livelihoods
Subtitle:a case study in Ethiopia
Authors:Poultouchidou, Anatoli
Supervisor:Karltun, Erik and Alarcón Ferrari, Cristián
Examiner:Nilsson, Ingvar
Series:Examensarbeten [Elektronisk resurs] / Institutionen för mark och miljö, SLU
Volume/Sequential designation:2012:03
Year of Publication:2012
Level and depth descriptor:Second cycle, A2E
Student's programme affiliation:NM012 Forest as Natural Resource - Master's Programme 120 HEC
Supervising department:(NL, NJ) > Dept. of Soil and Environment
Keywords:plantations, soil organic carbon, farmers, livelihood
URN:NBN:urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-936
Permanent URL:
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-936
Subject. Use of subject categories until 2023-04-30.:Rural population
Forestry - General aspects
Social sciences, humanities and education
Language:English
Deposited On:16 Feb 2012 15:42
Metadata Last Modified:20 Apr 2012 14:25

Repository Staff Only: item control page