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

Alemayehu Wasie

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

2002

Alemayehu Wasie (Wendo Genet College of Forestry, Awasa (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 constraints, and prospects of the church in conserving woody diversity in particular and forests resources in general. 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. They also have grate prospects in implementing forestry conservation, development, research and education programs with some avoidable threats and constraints for which recommendations were presented.

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