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2 Mizan L. Rev. 255 (2008)
Dwindling Ethiopian Forests: The Carrot and Stick Dilemma

handle is hein.journals/mizanlr2 and id is 263 raw text is: DWINDLING ETHIOPIAN FORESTS: THE 'CARROT' AND 'STICK' DILEMMA Elias N. Stebek * Introduction 'Clearing' forests for agriculture, cattle grazing or establishment of villages was regarded as 'maknat' in Ethiopia until awareness towards the adverse effects of deforestation gradually developed during recent decades. 'Maknat' is an Amharic term which literally means 'straightening up'; and in the con- text of forest clearing, it means 'preparing land for use'. Such a mindset is contrary to the belief of many communities which give reverence to nature including trees. Traditional beliefs such as 'adbar in many parts of Ethio- pia, the practice of 'Irecha'2 in Oromo tradition and guido3 (i.e. cultural forests which serve as places of worship in Sheka, Kafa) are typical concepts of reverence to nature. The 2005 Report of the UN Commission for Africa states that More that 70 percent of sub-Saharan Africa's population depends in large measure upon forests and woodlands for livelihoods and 60 percent of Africa's energy de- mand is met by forests.,4 In light of such dependence of sub-Saharan Africa on forests, the impact of deforestation is indeed severe. Deforestation re- moves key sources of food, fuel and medicines for rural poor people as well as degrading biodiversity and wildlife - part of Africa's comparative advan- tage for tourism and pharmaceuticals.,5 Although about 35 % of the land cover of Ethiopia was covered with high forests (during the early 1900's), it was reduced to 16% and 3.6 % of the total land area of the country in early 1950s and early 1980s respectively.6 At pre- • LL.B, LL.M (Dean, Faculty of Law, St. Cultural Forests, wetlands, riverine for- Mary's University College) est and waterfalls are traditional religious Large tree under which ceremonies and sites and hence protected by imposing community assemblies are made. In resource and habitat taboos through Shaka Zone (Kafa) , Deddo has a simi- guido. (Tadesse Woldemariam and lar concept. See infra, Tadesse & Masre- Masresha Fetene, Forests ofSheka, Infra, shanote 9, pp. 12, 13 note 9 p. 12) 2 Celebration in October which has ele- 4 Our Common Interest, Supra note 42 ments of reverence to nature 'Ibid

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