International Journal of Innovative Research and Development

Abstract

The age old sacred groves are one of the first instances of indigenous environmental management in general or trees in particular in many communities of the world. Ethiopia is not exceptional having many ethnic groups have diverse cultural and heritage management practices. The case of Qemant community is not exceptional.

This study is about the role of cultural practices in tree management among the Qemant community Chilga Woreda (district),Ethiopia. In the Woreda (district), the community practices indigenous cultural trees management practices since time immemorial.

The research deals with cultural beliefs, values, and taboos of indigenous cultures in trees management practices at Chilga woreda. Accordingly, local religion, ecological knowledge, medicinal value and benefits of the trees considered as units of analysis for the study.

The main objective of the research is to investigate and reveal the indigenous knowledge of Qemant community trees management and to purpose ways for maintaining useful forest knowledge for sustainable development.

Both primary and secondary methods of data collection tools employed to gather information in the study area. Data collection tools such as focus group discussions, observations; interviews documents both published and unpublished used and reviewed.

The major findings of the research indicated that indigenous cultural practices of the community have important roles in forest management practices in general and trees in particular. It is believed forests preserved for this purpose is strictly forbidden to use it. Yet, the majority of the community knowledges have limitations on their effectiveness, functions and implementations because of the change of religion to new once, thus, decline importance showed. This called for a new strategy to transform indigenous cultural practices by creating synthesis with scientific knowledge and their application on forest management and trees in particular. As recommended, this will be done by the collaborative effort of the local communities and the government. This needs actually urgent solution. Therefore, it will open up the possibilities integrated knowledge between the government and the community for forest management practices and trees in the study sites

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Abstract

Ethiopian Orthodox Church practices environmental management since time immemorial. The view of the church is highly associated with religious justifications.

This study is about the role of Ethiopian Orthodox Church and monasteries in forest management practices in Chilga and Mettema Woredas ,North Gondar Zone. In this Woredas, the church practices environmental management due to religion.

The study dealt with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church role in forest management practices. The forest management practice of the church is highly attached with values and beliefs of its doctrine. This is particularly true with the church thought of its mass followers on the issue of environment management. Believers also in many case abided by the church rule and regulations.  Accordingly, this considered as units of analysis for the study.

The main objective of the study is to examine and disclose the forest management practices of the E.O.C on some selected churches and monasteries of Chilga and Mettema Woredas, North Gondar Zone ,and  maintaining useful forest management knowledge for sustainable development.

Both primary and secondary methods of data collection tools employed to gather information in the study area.  Data collection tools such as focus group discussions, interviews, observations, documents both published and unpublished employed and reviewed respectively.

The major findings of the research indicated that Ethiopian Orthodox Church practices have important roles in forest management. The churches and monasteries have deeper values, practices and perceptions under different psalms of bible quotations. Bible citations of the church has highly internalized by the believers. This was further strengthened by the community responsibility managing the forest through the justification of everything inside the church is considered as sacred. Infact some of the community and the government practices have adverse affect on the forest management practices of the church . This is highly attached with the call of vilgazation program of the government and the community response of settlement under different regimes. This called for a new strategy of transforming and called for massive based movement of the community using this knowledge as important insights for the development program imposed from top to bottom. Thus, this called for also a new strategy where by indigenous knowledge can be transformed for best use.

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