Abstract:
The study set out to assess determinants of collective action for
sustainable natural resource management in the Haramaya District of Ethiopia.
It employed a combination of purposive and random sampling techniques to
select three representative sites in the district and interviewees for the first
phase community level survey and 180 sampled respondents for second phase
household level survey respectively. The primary data were collected using
both qualitative and quantitative approach. Description of verbal expression of
respondents, interpretation and appreciation of facts were used for the
qualitative data analysis. Simple descriptive statistics were used to analyze the
quantitative data.
The study revealed an increasing level of natural resource scarcity and
degradation over time implying the need for collective action among different
resource users. However, the likelihood of collective action among resource
users was found less likely to happen mainly due to dwindling social capital
(trust) among resource users, low support of institutional (endogenous and
exogenous) arrangements, and differences among resource users (farm
proximity to commons). Furthermore, low level of past collective action
experience, low understanding of the resource situation 一 perceived level of
natural resource degradation and natural resource interdependencies - and
required coordinated action among resource users to overcome natural
resource degradation were found to have reasonably contributed to the low
likelihood of collective action. The research, thus, recommends the need for
institutional policy reform and the enhancement of community awareness
about the natural resource situation and the required collective action
