An Assessment of Urban and Per-Urban Household's Attitude to Participate in Urban Forest Conservation Practice in Assosa District, Western Ethiopia

Purpose: Urban forest provides environmental, social, and economic benefits to urban resident. Despite all this importance to the livelihood of the urban communities, urban forests in Assosa Woreda are facing man-made and natural challenges. Therefore; this study was designed for the assessment of urban and per-urban households' attitude to participate for conservation of urban forest ecosystem; in Assosa woreda, Western Ethiopia with the specific objectives of analyzing urban and per-urban residents' attitudes toward urban trees and supporting urban tree conservation programs and assessing attitude of urban and peri-urban households toward willingness to donate money for urban forest conservation program. Methodology: Data for the study were collected from both primary and secondary sources through semi structured questioner via face to face interview. Multistage random-sampling technique was used in selecting 392 respondent followed by a probability proportional to size. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and econometric model. From the total sampled households 84% of the respondents recognized that urban trees provide positive values, including aesthetics, shade, and improved air quality to people and their communities. Many Assosa town residents have performed at least one type of tree care activity. Findings: It is surprising to note that 43% strongly believed that tree topping is a legitimate tree care option, with an additional 38% stating that they somewhat agreed with this practice. The result from ordered probit model indicated that household's residential location, education level, total annual income and access to credit had positive significant effects on willing to donate money for urban forest conservation and sex of the respondent had a negative and significant effect on willingness to donate money for urban forest conservation. The study shows that the urban and peri-urban households has positive attitude with willingness of donating money toward urban forestry conservation programs and they have important attitudinal and behavioral information that can help local decision makers to increase the efficiency of urban forest distribution, maintenance, and promotion. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: As policy implications, an effort would be needed to strengthen literacy which increase urban households awareness about the importance of conservation practice and credit facilities expansion is important.