Assessment of Factors that Contribute to Deforestation in Shabe Sombo Woreda, Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia

Abstract Deforestation is the process of removing forest areas and using the land for other uses. Deforestation also has been described as the cutting down of trees without planting others in their place. The causes of deforestation are varied but may broadly be categorized into anthropogenic and natural factors. For the anthropogenic factors, increased wood fuel collection, clearing of forests for agriculture, illegal and poorly regulated timber extraction, social and environmental conflicts, increasing urbanization and industrialization. This study is aimed to assess the deforestation status and contributing factors in making Shabe Sembo woreda, Jimma Zone South West Ethiopia. The main objective of this study is to assess the factors that contribute to deforestation in Shabe sombo woreda, jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia. The study has been conducted in Shabe Sombo woreda located in Jimma Zone, Oromia regional state. A cross sectional study design has been employed. The source of population was all households found in Shabe sombo Woreda. The sample size of this study was 100 householders from 1200 total households. Data were collected by using open and close ended questionnaires for gathering important information used for this study. About 52(54.167%) of the respondents reported that the most factor contributing to deforestation in Shabe Sombo was expansion of agricultural land. Whereas About 28 (29.167%) of the respondents reported as cutting trees for fire wood is one factor contributing to deforestation in shabe Sombo woreda, Jimma zone, Southwest Ethiopia.