Tropical Ecology 52(1): 13-24, 2011 ISSN 0564-3295 © International Society for Tropical Ecology www.tropecol.com Socio-economic factors affecting sustainable utilization of woody species in Zegie Peninsula , northwestern Ethiopia ALEMNEW ALELIGN 1 , YONAS YEMSHAW 2 , DEMEL TEKETAY 3* & SUE EDWARDS 4 1 West Gojjam Department of Agriculture, Bahar Dar, Ethiopia 2 African Forestry Research Network (AFORNET), P. O. Box 24916, Nairobi, Kenya 3 University of Botswana, Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Centre (HOORC), Private Bag 285, Maun, Botswana 4 The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 3434, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Abstract: Zegie Peninsula contains a remnant dry Afromontane forest, where about 90 % was previously classified as dense forest. Recently, the forest cover is significantly reduced. Zegie has a high density of 643 persons km –2 , predominantly inhabited by religious people, priests and monks. The aim of the study was to understand the dynamics of socioeconomic and resource management factors affecting the sustainable use of woody species in the peninsula and gain a window into the world of isolated religious communities and their complex and evolving relationships with forests. A formal survey of 60 households (4 % of population) was conducted where cross-section data were gathered through a pre-coded (structured) question- naire. The results revealed that household characteristics, household endowment (farm resources ownership), choice of livelihood strategy and farming constraints affect attitudes and behaviours towards sustainable use of tree resources. Poorer households had smaller resource ownership, were female-headed and illiterate. They also had younger and smaller family sizes and a desire to have more children. Hence, they are not likely to practice family planning contributing to increasing overpopulation. They experienced acute shortage of land and also felt tenure insecurity. Perhaps because they cannot afford fertilizers and pesticides, soil fertility as well as pests and diseases are serious constraints for them. Owing to shortage of land and tenure insecurity, among other things, they have not planted trees in the past and are not likely to plant trees in the future. Much of their income comes from wood selling, therefore, are likely to engage in deforestation. They have diversified their livelihood into artisanship, cloth weaving, and fishing but are limited by low skill, capital, and access to market. The strategy to save the remaining forests in the peninsula, therefore, should include reducing the proportion of poorer households. In order to achieve this objective, a three pronged approach is required: (1) improving access to resource ownership; (2) removing or minimizing farming constraints; and (3) creating enabling environment for families to engage in diversified livelihood strategies. Resumen: La Península Zegie alberga un remanente de bosque seco afromontano, del que cerca de 90 % fue clasificado previamente como bosque denso. En fechas recientes la cubierta forestal se ha reducido notablemente. Zegie tiene una densidad alta de 643 personas km –2 y está habitada sobre todo por gente religiosa, sacerdotes y monjes. La meta del estudio fue entender la dinámica de factores socioeconómicos y de manejo de los recursos que afectan el uso sostenible de especies leñosas en la península, así como asomarse al mundo de las comunidades religiosas aisladas y sus relaciones complejas y dinámicas con los bosques. Se hizo un sondeo formal de 60 hogares (4 % de la población) en el que se obtuvieron datos transversales por medio de un cuestionario precodificado (estructurado). Los resultados revelaron que las características de los hogares, el patrimonio familiar (propiedad de los recursos agrícolas), la selección de N * Corresponding Author; e-mail: demelteketay.fanta@orc.ub.bw