The roots of the ecological crisis in Ethiopia
1990
Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher (Asmara University, Asmara (Ethiopia))
Ethiopia's ecological crisis has acquired notoriety owing to the magnitude of the famines that have occurred in the last two decades in this agricultural country which has played a very important role in the history of agriculture and is now one of the 12 Vavilov centers of genetic diversity. The physical and vegetational setting of the country is summarized. Its history of changes of social organization and land tenure are reviewed. It is seen that starting in the 17th century the landed gentry class of shimaglle, their serfs and the soldier class of chewas coalesced as a consequence of legislation aimed at improving the fighting force so as to withstand the disruptive effects of the internal movement into the agricultural highland of nomads from the south, and of foreign aggression from other coutries. Whilst the shimaglle had absolute control over their individual pieces of land, the peasants can now control their cultivated fields during the growing season alone; all other lands (forests, grazing areas, etc.) and fallows as well as harvested areas have fallen to communal use. The peasantry has not been allowed to organize itself to bring about communal responsibility commensurate with communal ownership. As a result, virtually all environmental management has lapsed, and land has come to be used as a mine for food, feed and wood. No environment can withstand such treatment
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