Determinants of Household Choice of Livelihood Diversification Strategies in Selected Drought Prone Areas of the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ Region, Ethiopia

The study aimed at identifying the determinants of household’s choice of livelihood diversification strategies. The result of the study based on a total of 384 sample respondents selected using multistage sampling procedures. Furthermore the study employed bivariate Probit econometric model to identify factors affecting household’s choice of livelihood diversification strategies. The result of the descriptive statistics showed that households in the study area were engaged in four types of combination of livelihood diversification strategies: on-farm only, on-farm plus off-farm, on-farm plus non-farm, and on-farm plus off-farm plus non-farm with their respective share of 34.9, 11.5, 47.9 and 5.7 percent respectively. The econometric model result showed that wealth, sex, education level, livestok holding, and training were negatively and significantly determined households choice of off-farm livelihood strategies;whereas past erosion hazard and distance to market were positively and significantly determined their choice of off-farm livelihood strategies. On the other hand, wealth, dependency ratio, past erosion hazard, market availability, yield loss/reduction due to drought, distance to credit source, distance to market, frequency of extension contact, and ICT ownership (Radio, TV and/or Mobile phone) positively determine household’s choice of non-farm livelihood strategies whereas access to irrigation and distance to credit negatively determined their choice of non-farm livelihood strategies.

Livelihood diversification and cropland use pattern in agro-pastoral mountainous region of eastern Tibetan Plateau

This study examined livelihood diversification and cropland use pattern in Keerma village, located in Jinchuan County, eastern Tibetan Plateau. Through stratified random sampling survey, participatory rural appraisal, investigation of households＇ plots and statistical methods, 63 households and 272 cropland plots were systemically investigated and sampled. The results show： （1） Different types of household have variety livelihood strategies, portfolio and income. Livelihood diversification and introducing and expanding off-farm activities can be the future trend, whereas, adverse natural environment, socio-economic conditions and peasants＇ capabilities together affect sustainable livelihood and land use. （2） Each livelihood strategy has its own impact on land use, mainly affecting land use type and land use intensi- fication level. （3） Diversification into off-farm activities could be the key of building sustainable livelihood and the essential approach of realizing sustainable land use in the region.

Impact of livelihood diversification of rural households on their ecological footprint in agro-pastoral areas of northern China

Human-environment relationship is a focus of academic researches and an understanding of the rela- tionship is important for making effective policies and decisions. In this study, based on rural household survey data of Taibus Banner, Duolun county and Zhengxiangbai Banner in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region of China, we identified the impact of livelihood diversification on ecosystems in these agro-pastoral areas by using the ecological footprint theory and methodology together with the one-way analysis of variance （ANOVA） and correlation analysis methods. In 2011, the total ecological footprint of consumption （EFC） was 0.665 g hm2, and the total ecological footprint of production （EFP） was 2.045 g hm2, which was more than three times the EFC. The ecological footprint of arable land consumption （EFAC） accounted for a large proportion of the EFC, and the ecological footprint of grassland production （EFGP） occupied a large proportion of the EFP. Both the ecological footprint of grassland consumption （EFGC） and EFGP had a significant positive correlation with the income, indicating that income was mainly depended on livestock production and the households with higher incomes consumed more livestock prod- ucts. The full-time farming households （FTFHs） had the highest EFP, ecological footprint of arable land production （EFAP）, EFGP and EFGC, followed by the part-time farming households （PTFHs） and non-farming households （NFHs）, which indicated that part-time farming and non-farming employment reduced the occupancy and con- sumption of rural households on local ecosystems and natural resources to some extent. When farming households engaged in livestock rearing, both the EFAP and EFAC became smaller, while the EFP, EFC, EFGC and EFGP increased significantly. The differences in ecological footprints among different household groups should be taken into account when making ecosystem conservation policies. Encouraging the laborers who have the advantages of participating in non-farming employment to move out of the rural areas and increasing the diversification of liveli- hoods of rural households are important in reducing the environmental pressures and improving the welfare of households in the study area. Moreover, grassland should be utilized more effectively in the future.

Relationship between Prosopis juliflora invasion and livelihood diversification in the South Afar region,Northeast Ethiopia

This study assessed the effects of Prosopis juliflora invasion on livelihood diversification and evaluated the determinants of livelihood diversification in two districts in the South Afar region of Northeast Ethiopia.Using random sampling method,154 households and 2 focus groups composed of 10 individuals were selected from four sites in the two districts.The relationship between P.juliflora invasion and incomes obtained from P.juliflora varied across the study sites.In Awash Fentale District and Amibara District,11.0%and 3.2%of households,respectively,earned income from P.juliflora charcoal production.In total,14.3%of households were involved in charcoal production.In addition,19.9%of households earned income from selling P.juliflora pods and wood materials in the two districts.With the exception of income from P.juliflora charcoal production,the sex of households did not affect incomes from other livelihood activities.Moreover,household educational attainment significantly affected income obtained from vegetables,fruits,and cereal crops.Male householders were engaged in more diverse livelihood activities than female householders.Reversing the severe invasion of P.juliflora on grazing and woodlands in the region is advisable through integrated natural resources,pastoralist participation,and multidisciplinary research strategies.

Livelihood Diversification as an Adaptation Approach to Change in the Pastoral Hindu-Kush Himalayan Region

Migratory livestock raising has been one of the most important livelihood options for people residing in high mountain areas and has made a significant contribution to the economy of the Hindu Kush Himalayan(HKH) region, both in terms of supporting households and in export earnings. However, in recent decades, changes in the socioeconomic situation and increasing climate variability have led to a need to enhance adaptation by building the resilience of local socio-ecological systems, including economic diversification and sustainable management of natural resources. Based on semistructured interviews with pastoral communities in six countries within the pastoral HKH region, this paper discusses the situation, trends and driving forces behind the diversification of pastoral livelihood. For internal diversification the study highlights the need for enhancement of pastoral livelihoods through value-adding activities in the pastoral sectors. For external diversification changes on policy changes are needed to support free out-migration, market exploitation, and multiple resource use. Finally the paper highlights the role of education in determining household adaptation strategies in the face of various socio-ecological pressures and recommends integrating innovative and indigenous knowledge to develop appropriate methods for risk management and resource management in the pastoral HKH region.

Livelihood diversification of farmers and nomads of eastern transect in Tibetan Plateau

Livelihoods of farmers and nomads in Tibetan Plateau are severely affected by grassland and herbal resources degeneration. How to help them achieve livelihood diversi- fication is a key sustainable development issue. This paper examines livelihood assets, live- lihood diversification level and livelihood strategies of farmers and nomads in 3 regions of eastern transect in Tibetan Plateau. The results show that livelihood diversification is a popular strategy. From high mountain gorge region to mountain plateau region and plateau region, livelihood diversification level is reduced, and livelihood activities and proportion of extended livelihood also decrease. Livelihood assets and livelihood diversification level decrease with the increase of elevation, mainly shown in human assets and natural assets. Livelihood diversification level is highly correlative with livelihood assets, mainly shown in natural assets, human assets and social assets. Livelihood improvement strategies of farmers and nomads are still based on existing livelihood assets, mainly raising livestock and digging herbs, and less farmers and nomads consider off-farm employment or doing business. Nomads in plateau region should learn much from experiences of extended livelihoods of people in high mountain gorge region and mountain plateau region. Therefore, aids of governments should focus on relieving restricted factors of livelihood diversification and help them improve their abilities to build up extended type livelihoods.

Sensitivity of livelihood strategy to livestock production and marketization:An empirical analysis of grasslands in Inner Mongolia,China

Recent researches have primarily focused on the relationship between livelihood strategies and livelihood capital,with few empirical studies on the sensitivity of livelihood strategies to livestock production and marketization in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China.This study used an income distribution approach to categorize livelihood strategies of the respondents(n=394)into three types,i.e.,herder livelihood strategy(LS1),petty-herder livelihood strategy(LS2),and non-herder livelihood strategy(LS3).Using the multinomial logistic regression model,we compared livestock production and marketization across the three livelihood strategies.Our findings showed that(1)livestock production and marketization tended to favor LS1;(2)an increase in the land asset(contracted and rented grassland)and off-take rate increased the probability of households choosing LS1;(3)stocking rate was higher for LS1;and(4)the higher critical market-related risks perceived by herders were animal price and hay and corn price.Moreover,higher livestock price acted as a deterrent to diversifying into other livelihood strategies(LS2 and LS3).Finally,this study advocates for policies that will promote the land transfer market,adopt modern techniques in animal husbandry,improve the medium for disseminating market information to herders,and provide incentives for long-term livelihood transformation.

The Role of Community-Based Ecotourism in Biodiversity Conservation in the Mount Oku Area, Cameroon

Forests are biodiversity hotspots which provide livelihood and act as safety nets for adjacent communities. Increasing dependence on forest is threatening this biodiversity. Ecotourism, a biodiversity conservation strategy has the potential to restore degraded habitat, and create socio-cultural and economic benefits that improve communities’ livelihoods. This study focused on the role of community-based ecotourism in biodiversity conservation in the Mount Oku forest, of the North West region of Cameroon. The study identified and ranked livelihood activities that led to biodiversity destruction, assessed ecotourism potentials and conservation practices, identified ecotourism benefits and assessed household income levels before and after the institution of ecotourism. We randomly selected three communities from the study area. The study was guided by the Forest Management Plan, the Simple Management Plan of the Kilum/Ijim forest project and the concept of Biosphere Reservation. Descriptive statistics were simple percentages presented on tables, while the inferential statistics of Wilcoxon rank test was used to analyze the data collected for the study. Our findings reveal that, the livelihood activities that led to biodiversity destruction include agriculture, logging, fuelwood collection and grazing. Ecotourism potentials/conservation strategies were nature-based, education-based, culture-based, and agriculture-based;value chain was integrated in all these aspects which enhanced livelihood diversification. The benefits include business opportunities, infrastructure development, and forest regeneration. Income level generated after the institution of ecotourism was higher than the level of income before (Z = -1442, p = 0.001). Clear indicators need to be established to measure long-term project effectiveness in biodiversity conservation and livelihood sustainability.