Traditional beliefs, social institutions, and cultural practices are performed in traditional communities of Ethiopia to harmonize interaction between the community and their natural environment. However, the positive effect of the communities on biodiversity was undermined and modernization erodes these traditional norms and their role in biodiversity conservation is not well known and documented. This review aims to evaluate the role of traditional beliefs and institutions in the conservation of biodiversity in Ethiopia. Traditional communities of Ethiopia believed that certain places and species are the ideal places to meet with their God and give special attention to them. Plant species like Ficus sycomorus, Podocarpus falcatus, Olea capensis, and Ficus vasta are regarded as a source of different spirits and have developed positive attitudes towards the plant species, and cutting them is immoral. Gada system, Kobo system, Gudo system, Jang system, Maga, Songo, and Baallee are traditional institutions that play a significant role in animal and plant species conservation in Oromo, Kaficho, Sheka, Majang, Gamo, and Gedeo community respectively. Taboos, oral declarations, social banishment, customary law, and punishment practiced by indigenous communities prohibit actions and activities that harm the welfare of biodiversity and their natural environment. Preservation of traditional beliefs and institutions is a form of biodiversity conservation, including registration as an intangible heritage of the community by the United Nations, Science, Education, and Culture Organization, because biodiversity and traditional community are intertwined (UNESCO).
| Published in | International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 7, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20220701.11 |
| Page(s) | 1-5 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Ethiopia, Traditional Beliefs, Traditional Institutions
| [1] | Abayneh, U. G., Solomon, M. T., Fisha, M. N., 2017. Biodiversity conservation using the indigenous knowledge system: The priority agenda in the case of Zeyse, Zergula and Ganta communities in Gamo Gofa Zone (Southern Ethiopia). Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv. 9, 167–182. https://doi.org/10.5897/IJBC2015.0911 |
| [2] | Addis, G., Asfaw, Z., Woldu, Z., 2013. The Role of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants in Household Food Sovereignty in Hamer and Konso Communities, South Ethiopia 22. |
| [3] | Adem, T. H., 2019. Syncretism of Waaqeffannaa and Islam among the Arsi Oromoo of Ethiopia 2, 21. |
| [4] | Aga, B. G., 2016. Oromo Indigenous Religion: Waaqeffannaa 8. |
| [5] | Agbiji, O. M., Swart, I., 2015. RELIGION AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION IN AFRICA: A CRITICAL AND APPRECIATIVE PERSPECTIVE. Scriptura 114. https://doi.org/10.7833/114-0-1115 |
| [6] | Alexander, L., Agyekumhene, A., Allman, P., 2017. The Role of Taboos in the Protection and Recovery of Sea Turtles. Front. Mar. Sci. 4, 237. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2017.00237 |
| [7] | Asefa, A., Mengesha, G., Almaw, R., 2019. Indigenous institutions and wildlife conservation: The case of the Oromo Gada System protecting Swayne’s hartebeest in Ethiopia. Conserv. Sci. Pract. 1. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.113 |
| [8] | Awolalu, J. O., 1976. What is African Traditional Religion? 10. |
| [9] | Bassi, M., Tache, B., 2007. Borana-Oromo Community Conserved Landscapes, Ethiopia 70. |
| [10] | Bustorf, D., 2001. SOME NOTES ON THE TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS SYSTEM OF THE ENDAGAN GURAGE. |
| [11] | Clemence, M., Chimininge, D. V., 2015. Totem, Taboos and sacred places: An analysis of Karanga people’s environmental conservation and management practices. 6. |
| [12] | Debebe, S., 2017. Addis Ababa University College of social Sciences Department of Social Anthropology 106. |
| [13] | Demissie, T. E., 2019. FACHI’E AND DERARO: TRADITIONAL EPITOMIZES OF CONFESSION AND PROSPERITY AMONG THE GEDEO PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA. Int. J. Curr. Res. 11, 9. |
| [14] | Diawuo, F., Issifu, A. K., 2015. Exploring the African Traditional Belief Systems in Natural Resource Conservation and Management in Ghana 17. |
| [15] | Doda Doffana, Z., 2019. Sacred sites and ancestor veneration in Sidama, southwest Ethiopia: A socio-ecological perspective. Cogent Soc. Sci. 5, 1704600. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2019.1704600 |
| [16] | Doffana, Z. D., 2014. ‘Dagucho [Podocarpus falcatus] Is Abbo!’ Wonsho Sacred Sites, Sidama, Ethiopia: Origins, Maintenance Motives, Consequences and Conservation Threats 350. |
| [17] | Dorm-Adzobu, C., Ampadu-Agyei, O., Veit, P. G., 1991. Religious beliefs and environmental protection: the Malshegu Sacred Grove in Northern Ghana, From the ground up case study. ACTS Press; The Institute, Nairobi, Kenya: Washington, DC. |
| [18] | Eshete, M. A., 2011. Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants in Guji Agro-pastorilists, Blue Hora District of Borana Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia 156. |
| [19] | Fayo, G. D., 2011. Coping with scarcity in Northern Kenya: The Role of Pastoralist Borana Gada Indigenous Justice Institutions in Conflicts Prevention and Resolutions for Range Resources Managements 57. |
| [20] | Fufa, D., 2013. Indigenous Knowledge of Oromo on Conservation of Forests and its Implications to Curriculum Development: the Case of the Guji Oromo 314. |
| [21] | Gabayo, M., 2020. Oromo indigenous forest knowledge and Environmental sustainability among East Wollega Zone Oromo society; western Ethiopia 11. |
| [22] | Gebretsadik, T., 2016. Causes for Biodiversity Loss in Ethiopia: A Review from Conservation Perspective 9. |
| [23] | Getahun J, M., 2016. Oromo Indigenous Knowledge and Practices in Natural Resources Management: Land, Forest, and Water in Focus. J. Ecosyst. Ecography 6. https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7625.1000181 |
| [24] | Hamer, J. H., 2002. The Religious Conversion Process Among the Sidāma of North-East Africa. Africa 72, 598–627. https://doi.org/10.3366/afr.2002.72.4.598 |
| [25] | Hinew, D., 2013. Historical Significances of Odaa with Special Reference to Walaabuu. Sci. Technol. Arts Res. J. 1, 81. https://doi.org/10.4314/star.v1i2.98788 |
| [26] | Kanshie, T. K., 2002. Five thousand years of sustainability: a case study on Gedeo land use. [publisher not identified], Wageningen. |
| [27] | Lynch, L., Kokou, K., Todd, S., 2018. Comparison of the Ecological Value of Sacred and Nonsacred Community Forests in Kaboli, Togo. Trop. Conserv. Sci. 11, 194008291875827. https://doi.org/10.1177/1940082918758273 |
| [28] | Maru, Y., Gebrekirstos, A., Haile, G., 2020. Indigenous ways of environmental protection in Gedeo community, Southern Ethiopia: A socio-ecological perspective. Cogent Food Agric. 6, 1766732. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2020.1766732 |
| [29] | Maru, Y., Gebrekirstos, A., Haile, G., 2019. Farmers’ indigenous knowledge of tree conservation and acidic soil amendments: The role of “baabbo” and “Mona” systems: Lessons from Gedeo community, Southern Ethiopia. Cogent Food Agric. 5, 1645259. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2019.1645259 |
| [30] | Mesfin, S., 2015. Federalism at the Margins of the Ethiopian State: The Lived Experience of the Majang People. Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa Ethiopia. |
| [31] | Osei, J., n.d. The Value of African Taboos for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development 20. |
| [32] | Oviedo, G., Jeanrenaud, S., Otegui, M., 2005. Protecting Sacred Natural Sites of Indigenous and Traditional Peoples: an IUCN Perspective 21. |
| [33] | Palmisano, A. L., 2016. Politics, religion and space. About places of mediation and sacred space among the Gurage of Ethiopia 24. |
| [34] | Pavanello, S., Levine, S., 2011. Rules of the range: Natural resources management in Kenya–Ethiopia border areas. |
| [35] | Raven, P. H., Gereau, R. E., Phillipson, P. B., Chatelain, C., Jenkins, C. N., Ulloa Ulloa, C., 2020. The distribution of biodiversity richness in the tropics. Sci. Adv. 6, eabc6228. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abc6228 |
| [36] | Regassa Debelo, A., Legesse, A., Milstein, T., Orkaydo, O. O., 2017. “Tree Is Life”: The Rising of Dualism and the Declining of Mutualism among the Gedeo of Southern Ethiopia. Front. Commun. 2, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2017.00007 |
| [37] | Roba, G. O., 2021a. Trees symbolism, conservation and threat in Guji Oromo, Southern Ethiopia. Cogent Soc. Sci. 15. |
| [38] | Roba, G. O., 2021b. Anthropogenic menace on sacred natural sites: the case of Me’ee Bokko and Daraartu sacred shrines in Guji Oromo, Southern Ethiopia. Heliyon 7, e06460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06460 |
| [39] | Roba, G. O., 2019. Indigenous mechanisms of preserving sacred natural sites in Guji Oromo, Adoola Reedde and Anna Sorra districts, southern Ethiopia. Cogent Food Agric. 5. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2019.1609765 |
| [40] | Shoddo, G. H., 2020. The Contribution of GUDO Forest Conservation Culture is Key to Biodiversity Conservation. (preprint). In Review. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-88905/v1 |
| [41] | Sibani, D. C. M., 2018. IMPACT OF WESTERN CULTURE ON TRADITIONAL AFRICAN SOCIETY: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS. September 17. |
| [42] | Singh, S., Youssouf, M., Malik, Z. A., Bussmann, R. W., 2017. Sacred Groves: Myths, Beliefs, and Biodiversity Conservation—A Case Study from Western Himalaya, India. Int. J. Ecol. 2017, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3828609 |
| [43] | Sinha, A. K., Sharma, K., Mergo, L., 2011. CAATO SACRED FOREST: UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORTH OF NATURAL SPACE IN OROMO RELIGION, ETHIOPIA 30, 19. |
| [44] | Sobrevila, C., 2008. The Role of Indigenous Peoples in Biodiversity Conservation 102. |
| [45] | Ta’a, T., 2012. Religious Beliefs among the Oromo: Waaqeffannaa, Christianity and Islam in the Context of Ethnic Identity, Citizenship and Integration 25. |
| [46] | Teressa, D. K., 2015. BEYOND THE COMMONALITY AND EXPRESSION OF OROMO CIVILIZATION: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF GADA SYSTEM FOR COMMONS MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. Int. J. Curr. Res. 7, 7. |
| [47] | Tizita, E. E., 2016. The role of indigenous people in the biodiversity conservation in Gamo area of Gamo Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia. Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv. 8, 244–250. https://doi.org/10.5897/IJBC2015.0893 |
| [48] | Tosam, M. J., 2019. African Environmental Ethics and Sustainable Development. Open J. Philos. 09, 172–192. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojpp.2019.92012 |
| [49] | Worku, M., 2014. J. Agric. Environ. Sci. Volume 1 (1): 2015; ISSN: 2636-3721 (Online); 2636-3713 (Print) 1, 21. |
APA Style
Shemsu Ahmed. (2022). Traditional Beliefs and Institutions for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Ethiopia: A Review from a Conservation Perspective. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 7(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20220701.11
ACS Style
Shemsu Ahmed. Traditional Beliefs and Institutions for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Ethiopia: A Review from a Conservation Perspective. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2022, 7(1), 1-5. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20220701.11
AMA Style
Shemsu Ahmed. Traditional Beliefs and Institutions for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Ethiopia: A Review from a Conservation Perspective. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2022;7(1):1-5. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20220701.11
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20220701.11,
author = {Shemsu Ahmed},
title = {Traditional Beliefs and Institutions for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Ethiopia: A Review from a Conservation Perspective},
journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
pages = {1-5},
doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20220701.11},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20220701.11},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20220701.11},
abstract = {Traditional beliefs, social institutions, and cultural practices are performed in traditional communities of Ethiopia to harmonize interaction between the community and their natural environment. However, the positive effect of the communities on biodiversity was undermined and modernization erodes these traditional norms and their role in biodiversity conservation is not well known and documented. This review aims to evaluate the role of traditional beliefs and institutions in the conservation of biodiversity in Ethiopia. Traditional communities of Ethiopia believed that certain places and species are the ideal places to meet with their God and give special attention to them. Plant species like Ficus sycomorus, Podocarpus falcatus, Olea capensis, and Ficus vasta are regarded as a source of different spirits and have developed positive attitudes towards the plant species, and cutting them is immoral. Gada system, Kobo system, Gudo system, Jang system, Maga, Songo, and Baallee are traditional institutions that play a significant role in animal and plant species conservation in Oromo, Kaficho, Sheka, Majang, Gamo, and Gedeo community respectively. Taboos, oral declarations, social banishment, customary law, and punishment practiced by indigenous communities prohibit actions and activities that harm the welfare of biodiversity and their natural environment. Preservation of traditional beliefs and institutions is a form of biodiversity conservation, including registration as an intangible heritage of the community by the United Nations, Science, Education, and Culture Organization, because biodiversity and traditional community are intertwined (UNESCO).},
year = {2022}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Traditional Beliefs and Institutions for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Ethiopia: A Review from a Conservation Perspective AU - Shemsu Ahmed Y1 - 2022/01/21 PY - 2022 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20220701.11 DO - 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20220701.11 T2 - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management JF - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management JO - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management SP - 1 EP - 5 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2575-3061 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20220701.11 AB - Traditional beliefs, social institutions, and cultural practices are performed in traditional communities of Ethiopia to harmonize interaction between the community and their natural environment. However, the positive effect of the communities on biodiversity was undermined and modernization erodes these traditional norms and their role in biodiversity conservation is not well known and documented. This review aims to evaluate the role of traditional beliefs and institutions in the conservation of biodiversity in Ethiopia. Traditional communities of Ethiopia believed that certain places and species are the ideal places to meet with their God and give special attention to them. Plant species like Ficus sycomorus, Podocarpus falcatus, Olea capensis, and Ficus vasta are regarded as a source of different spirits and have developed positive attitudes towards the plant species, and cutting them is immoral. Gada system, Kobo system, Gudo system, Jang system, Maga, Songo, and Baallee are traditional institutions that play a significant role in animal and plant species conservation in Oromo, Kaficho, Sheka, Majang, Gamo, and Gedeo community respectively. Taboos, oral declarations, social banishment, customary law, and punishment practiced by indigenous communities prohibit actions and activities that harm the welfare of biodiversity and their natural environment. Preservation of traditional beliefs and institutions is a form of biodiversity conservation, including registration as an intangible heritage of the community by the United Nations, Science, Education, and Culture Organization, because biodiversity and traditional community are intertwined (UNESCO). VL - 7 IS - 1 ER -
Information
Email: