Hunde, F. M.; Benti, A. A.; Kepula, T. J.

The research was carried out in the Yayo Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve, located in the Oromia region of southwest Ethiopia. Data were gathered from key informants, kebele leaders, development agents, selected households, focus group discussions, and field observations. Land use and land cover change data were obtained from satellite imagery spanning 1984 to 2007. Population growth data were sourced from the Ethiopian Central Statistical Agency\'s Jimma branch. Additionally, field visits included direct observations of the forest\'s condition. A total of 69 participants responded to both structured and semi-structured questionnaires designed to address the study\'s objectives. The communities in the study area do not rely on a single livelihood strategy but instead engage in various activities such as crop cultivation, forestry, livestock rearing, and off-farm work, with varying levels of dependence on each. Among the forest products collected, coffee, firewood, honey, and wild spices were the most common. The main factors contributing to forest degradation were ranked as population growth (88.6%), illiteracy (75.7%), lack of local participation (73.9%), poverty (64.3%), investment (47.1%), and urbanization (42.9%), in decreasing order. Satellite image analysis revealed a negative correlation between population growth and forest cover, with a significant difference at P<0.05. The study highlights the impact of population pressure on forest resource degradation in the Yayo Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve, stressing the need for effective strategies focused on sustainable management, conservation, and utilization of the biosphere reserve.