Opportunities, constraints and prospects of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Churches in conserving forest resources : the case of churches in South Gonder, Northern Ethiopia

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church is one of the oldest Christian churches in Africa and is a founder member of the World Council of Churches. In addition to its religious activities, it also has long history of planting, protecting and preserving trees. If a traveler can see a patch of indigenous old aged trees in the northern highlands of Ethiopia, most probably he/she can be sure that there is an Orthodox Church in the middle. The main objectives of this paper were to study the diversity and regeneration status of woody species in the church forest, to carry out a socio-economic survey that would enable us to understand the philosophy, guiding principles and attitudes of the community. In addition, it was also to assess the opportunity, constraints, and prospects of the church in conserving woody diversity in particular and forests resources in general.Accordingly, eight churches were selected at different altitudes purposively. Once the study churches were identified, 10m X 10m quadrats were laid systematically along parallel transects in the forests for vegetation sampling. For the socioeconomic survey, 122 household heads were selected randomly amongst the followers and at least three church scholars from each church. Moreover, focus group discussion and key informant interviews were employed. From vegetation sampling it was found that forests enveloped the church with an area ranging from 1.6 ha to 100 ha. The total number of species and families in each of the eight churches ranged from 22 and 18 to 42 and 22 respectively. The minimum plant density was 731/ha and the maximum was 2250/ha while the minimum basal area, calculated from woody plants with dbh ³ 10 cm was 24.9 m2/ha and maximum 109.7 m2/ha. Different regeneration status was revealed from the height and diameter class distribution for some of the woody species. The height and diameter class distributions for all individuals in each studied church showed that the forests are at different secondary stages of development. The classification of the species group by ordination techniques showed the differentiation in species group types has a strong relationship with altitude.These church forests didn't come to exist just by mere chance. Results indicated that it is by the commitment of the church based on strong theological thoughts and a biblical basis. It was found that the local community respects and protects church forests, and considers the church as a central institution and platform. On the other hand, important stakeholders had diverging and converging views on some issues regarding church forests. In general, from the results, it was concluded that forests conserved by EOTC and its tradition provide an opportunity to establish insitu and exsitu conservation sites for forest resources. They also have greater prospects in implementing forestry conservation, development, research and education programs with some avoidable threats and constraints for which recommendations were presented.