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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The historical development of local forest governance in Ethiopia: from imperial times to the military regime of the Derg
Author:Stellmacher, Till
Year:2007
Periodical:Afrika Spectrum
Volume:42
Issue:3
Pages:519-530
Language:English
Geographic term:Ethiopia
Subjects:forest management
traditional society
Abstract:This article analyses forest governance in traditional societies in rural Ethiopia, in which the occurrence, differentiation, and connection of formal and informal institutions are unlike those in urban, 'modern', Western societies. Generally speaking, informal institutions play a much larger role in rural traditional societies. However, there is not a strict dichotomy between 'formal' and 'informal' institutions. Focusing on the case of Kaffa Zone in southwestern Ethiopia, the article examines forest management in two periods: from prehistoric times to the end of the Ethiopian Empire, and since the Derg revolution of 1974. The Derg revolution entailed a rapid and fundamental transformation from feudal land-lease agreements to socialist-inspired nationalization of all land holdings, including forests. This gave rise to an overexpansion of State control combined with incoherent and uncoordinated implementation of existing forest tenure policies. Forest governance patterns that were formalized before the revolution continued to exist de facto with an informal status afterwards. As a result, the Ethiopian forests are still declining rapidly. Bibliogr., notes. [ASC Leiden abstract]
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