Assessments of Grazing Land Degradation and Communities' Response in Farta Woreda, South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract In poor countries, grazing area is a valuable source of cattle feed. It has social, economic, and environmental benefits for the communities of Ethiopia. As a result, the general purpose of this study was to assess grazing ground degradation in Farta Woreda, as well as local community reactions, and 360 sample respondents were chosen from the target group using a stratified random sampling approach. The factors contributing to grazing land degradation in the area were identified using descriptive data like frequency, percentage, and mean, as well as inferential statistics from multiple logistic regressions models. According to the findings of the inquiry, there were both communal and private grazing grounds. The grazing land's capacity is not proportionate to the amount of livestock kept on it. Grazing land degradation is caused by both natural and human-made processes. Livestock size, slope type of the grazing land, traditional grazing practices, bush encroachment, and climate change were positive predictor variables of grazing land degradation at p < 0.05 significant level, and also Rotating grazing land, grazing field fences, minimizing animal size, grazing land management, and avoiding illegal grazing practices were among the mitigation strategies used by local communities to rehabilitate degraded grazing land. While, landholding size, frequency of extension service, and distance from grazing land to residence have negative predictor variables of grazing land degradation at a p < 0.05 significant level. Therefore all responsible bodies and communities should collaborate to develop contemporary grazing land management procedures to address the degradation issues.