This study aimed to investigate perception, attitude and impacts of local communities on Senkele Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary. Questionnaire survey, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and observation were employed to collect data. A total of 196 households participated in the questionnaire survey. The findings revealed that the local communities of SSHS had unfavorable perceptions and attitude towards the conservation of the sanctuary. A higher proportion of the respondents (44.9%) perceived that the size of the sanctuary is too large so that it should be shrunk while only 26.5 and 28.6% of them viewed that the size of the sanctuary is small and optimum, respectively. Majority of the respondents (57.7%) perceived that people and wild animals cannot coexist since they are threats to their livelihoods and a means to their resources restriction. Over half of the respondents (54.6%) had negative attitude while only 22.4% had positive attitude towards the sanctuary. There was a significant difference in attitude across age groups, education level, family sizes, level of landholding size and size of livestock ownership (P<0.05).

This study was conducted to investigate avifauna diversity and anthropogenic threats to wetlands in Sheka and Bench-Maji Zones. A total of 5 wetlands, 4 swamps and 1 artificial lake, were purposely selected. Avian diversity data were collected using point count method. Household surveys were undertaken to collect data on anthropogenic threats of wetlands. A total of 1,130 individuals of birds belonging to 28 families and 61 species were recorded. Species richness and diversity were higher in the wet season (51 species, H = 3.65) than the dry season (40 species, H = 3.37). The Bray-Curtis Dissimilarity Index (BC) revealed the three study sites were 78.77% dissimilar in species composition (BC ijk = 0.7877) with a total number of 18 shared species.Chega-Gawussi wetlands and Chonkie-Shinke wetlands have 70.89% similarity with BC Dissimilarity Index value of 0.291. The study identified that drainage for farming practices, grass overexploitation and Eucalyptus plantations were the main threats to Chonke-Shinkie wetlands, and Lake Dembi has been threatened by sedimentation from the adjacent farmlands, waste disposal from the Mizan-Aman Municipality, coffee washing plantations, whereas Chega-Gawussi wetlands were affected by grass overexploitation and deforestation. Therefore, due attention and conservation actions are required from stakeholders for the protection of these ecosystems. RésuméCette étude a été réalisée pour étudier la diversité de l'avifaune et les menaces anthropiques pesant sur les zones humides des régions de Sheka et Bench-Maji. Un total de 5 zones humides, 4 marais et 1 lac artificiel, ont été sélectionnés à ces fins.Les données sur la diversité aviaire ont été recueillies en utilisant une méthode de dénombrement. Des enquêtes menées auprès des ménages ont été entreprises pour recueillir des données sur les menaces anthropiques des zones humides. Un total de 1,130 oiseaux appartenant à 28 familles et 61 espèces a été enregistrés. La richesse et la diversité des espèces étaient plus élevées pendant la saison des pluies (51 espèces, H = 3.65) que pendant la saison sèche (40 espèces, H = 3.37). Le coefficient de dissimilarité de Bray Curtis (BC) a révélé que les trois sites d'étude différaient à hauteur de 78.77% en termes de composition des espèces (BC ijk = 0.7877), avec un nombre total de 18 espèces partagées. Les zones humides de Chega-Gawussi et de Chonkie-Shinke présentent une similitude de 70.89% avec la valeur du coefficient de dissimilarité de Bray Curtis (BC) de 0.291. L'étude a démontré que le drainage | 413 ALEMKERE BEZABIH Et AL.