Critical Solutions for Critical Problems: Threats to Sustainable Use and Management of Nech Sar National Park (NSNP): Ethiopia

Abstract

Article InfoIn flawless speaking, National parks are considered as most important instrument for the conservation and protection of biodiversity, particularly for rehabilitation of critically endangered species in Ethiopia. However, the management of most of the national parks is threatened by complex socioeconomic and political factors. This paper, thus, was designed to assess the socio-economic and political factors that threaten the management of Nech Sar National Park. Document analysis; previously conducted empirical research and d reports were utilized as main sources of data. Apart this, interview and personal observation were applied as tool to generate supplementary data. The analysis indicates that there are enormous socioeconomic and political factors that limit and challenge the management and sustainable use of the park: using of the park as primary source of livelihood: using it as grazing land, expansion of agriculture, establishment of settlement, and investment center are the most important factors that are threatening and challenging the management of the park., conflict of interests, lack of political commitment, lack of clear demarcations, and capacity problems were also other factors that constraint the sustainability of the park. Therefore, in order to use the park for its primary management objectives, overcome the chronic threats of the management, and reap the benefits in a sustainable way, all stakeholders should work hand in hand rather than starving to meet its own individual interest with the expense of the park and its objectives.

The study of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants at Mojana Wodera district, central Ethiopia

“…In this study, most of the plants 26 (78.79%) were harvested from the wild and the others 6 (18.18%) were collected from the home garden and the remaining single (3.03%) species was available in both home gardens and wild. This finding was in line with the of [ 19 , 22 , 23 , 27 ]. This clearly indicates that in the study area the practice of cultivated plants in the home garden for medicinal purposes is very rare.…”

“…Different parts of the plants have been used to cure different ailments; however, leaves (55.3%) were the most widely used part of the plants in the study district followed by roots (23.21%). This finding agrees with works of [ 28 ] in Amaro special districts of southern Ethiopia [ 22 ], in Horro Gudurru district of western Ethiopia, [ 14 ] in Melkabello district of eastern Harerghe; however, it contradicts with the works of [ 29 ] in Berbere District of Bale zone of Oromia region and [ 23 ] at Enarj Enawega district of east Gojjam zone of Amhara region. Usage of leaves for medicine has less effect on the survival of the plants in their natural habitat.…”

“…This may be due to the relative abundance of shrub and availability of it to the practitioners in the study district. In contrast, other researchers reported that herbs are dominant [ 14 , 22 , 23 ].…”

The ethnomedicinal plants used for human ailments at Mojana Wodera District, central Ethiopia

“…Ethiopia reaches in biological resources and has about 6,500 species of higher plants, with approximately 12% endemic (Seid 2019;Wassie 2020). This gives good opportunities for the country where medicinal plants play a significant role in supporting the country's primary healthcare system.…”

Medicinal ethnoveterinary plants used for treating livestock ailments in the omo-gibe and rift valley basins of Ethiopia

“…The bulk of plant growth forms investigated for medicinal purposes were herbs; shrubs came in second, and trees and climbers next in sequential order of species. In a different region of Ethiopia, a high consumption of shrubs for their therapeutic benefits was noted [ 18 , 41 , 44 ]. This can occur as a result of the relatively abundant herb availability for practitioners in the study districts.…”