Publications
Enset Landraces: Conservation, Distribution, and Use in an Enset‐Based Agricultural System
Enset, a vital food security crop for over 25% of Ethiopia's population, supports diverse landraces adapted to varied ecological conditions, serving as food, animal feed, medicine, and fiber. A study across Hadiya, Gedeo, Gurage, Kembata Tembaro zones, and Basketo Special Woreda revealed moderate to high enset landrace diversity, with 274 vernacular names recorded but only 106 actively cultivated. Despite this, no significant differences in diversity were observed among sites. Food value was identified as the primary driver of landrace selection and abundance. The research employed in-depth interviews, surveys, group discussions, and field observations to analyze distribution and richness using Simpson’s diversity, Shannon–Wiener, and Margalef’s indices. The findings underscore the importance of maintaining landrace diversity and traditional knowledge for sustainable enset agriculture, resilience, and food security.
Ethiopia: Enhancing Landscape Connectivity Through Agroforests
Agroforests in the Gedeo Cultural Landscape of Ethiopia serve as critical biodiversity havens and landscape connectors, mimicking natural forests to support sustainable agroforestry practices. These systems enhance on-farm conservation, environmental resilience, and livelihoods while acting as buffers against deforestation and fragmentation. They provide habitats for disturbance-sensitive species, conserve native tree gene pools, and facilitate ecological connectivity through corridors and stepping stones. Additionally, the diverse species composition in Gedeo agroforests significantly contributes to biomass and carbon storage, aiding climate change mitigation. Despite their ecological and socio-economic benefits, these agroforests face threats from land degradation, monoculture cash crops, climate change, market limitations, financial constraints, and insufficient technical knowledge.
Challenges and opportunities for ecotourism development: A case study in dilla university botanical and ecotourism garden, South Ethiopia
A study on the Dilla University Botanical and Ecotourism Garden, established in 2017 for biodiversity conservation and ecotourism in South Ethiopia's Gedeo Zone, reveals significant potential for sustainable ecotourism development. The garden's diverse flora, fauna, attractive landscapes, cultural resources, and rivers serve as key attractions. Opportunities include the unique natural and agro-forestry ecosystems, proximity to Saron Lodge, and a variety of cultural attractions. However, challenges such as low community benefits, inadequate participation, lack of an ecotourism plan, unsustainable resource use, insufficient accommodation, and absence of local guides hinder progress. The study recommends integrating communities into ecotourism development to address these issues effectively.
Indigenous ways of environmental protection in Gedeo community, Southern Ethiopia: A socio-ecological perspective
Indigenous beliefs, sacred sites, and cultural practices in the Gedeo community of southern Ethiopia play a crucial role in environmental conservation. Sacred forests, protected by social taboos and traditional rules (seera), exhibit higher tree biodiversity and better preservation compared to adjacent non-sacred farming habitats. These mechanisms limit human interference, such as tree cutting or harming wildlife, except for ritual purposes with cultural elders' consent. The study highlights that indigenous knowledge (IK) is an effective tool for conserving degraded tropical ecosystems and mitigating climate change impacts. However, factors like religious monotheism, changing social norms, and the erosion of ancestral beliefs threaten these traditional practices, necessitating formal legal enforcement to safeguard sacred forests.
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