The role of social mechanisms in local ecological knowledge ( LEK ) for biodiversity conservation in the Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) in the Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia, has been pivotal in biodiversity conservation, with its effectiveness demonstrated by the park's removal from UNESCO's endangered sites list in 1996. This study reveals that local taboos and worldviews, embedded within LEK, facilitate sustainable conservation practices despite the imposition of Western-oriented strategies by international agencies. The research, conducted through qualitative methods including in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, highlights the need for integrating LEK-based approaches into park management to ensure long-term sustainability and avoid conflicts. By leveraging local social mechanisms, this study underscores a successful model for biodiversity conservation that harmonizes traditional practices with modern conservation ethics.

Endeshaw, M. G., Agidew, D. Y., & Meretu, T. A. (2025). The role of social mechanisms in local ecological knowledge ( LEK ) for biodiversity conservation in the Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. The Australian Journal of Anthropology, 36(2), 356–375. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/taja.70003