Exploring the role of social capital on environment conservation in lay gayint-woreda, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia

The issue of social capital and its role in people's day to day lives has now wide currency throughout the world; especially on those matters that demand cooperation and collective action. The chief objective of this study was to explore the role of social capital on environment conservation in Lay Gayint Woreda, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. We opted for qualitative research methods such as Individual and group interview, focus group discussion, observation and document reviewas an alternative for quantitative methods that dominated researches on social capital since its embryonic stage. By applying Purposive sampling technique we have managed to include study subjects from all walks of life, local residents, religious leaders, community leaders, local development agents and woreda's officers. The results of this study unearthed that bonding and bridging types of social capital are eminently available but end up indicating gaps in linking social capital type in the community. The study has shown the available types of social capital are playing a significant role in environment conservation endeavors in the woreda since they made possible cooperation and collective action. As to this study, however, still many things remain untouched in honing and utilizing social capital on the aforementioned cause and other developmental agendas, too. Study also recommended that Policies and strategies of the nation should give due consideration for the role of social capital.