Abstract
The Gamo indigenous people and their knowledge on the biodiversity conservation represent one of the oldest traditionally intensified systems in Ethiopia. Indigenous peoples and their socio cultural relationship with biological systems have largely been contributing to sustainable conservation of biodiversity. The main objective of this study is to analyze the role of indigenous peoples and their knowledge on biodiversity conservation. For this research key informant interview were carried out to generate primary data. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentage. Accordingly, the indigenous biodiversity conservation method dominantly owned by Gamo peoples was home garden/traditional agro forestry practice. These age-old systems are receiving increasing attention owing to their perceived potential to mitigate environmental problems such as loss of biodiversity and high concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Lack of prioritization for indigenous people due to neglect, decay, as well as destruction of socio-cultural values and their knowledge on the biodiversity conservation were the reasons for the degradation of biodiversity. Therefore, this article came up with the evidence of culture, spiritual, social and ethical norms possessed by indigenous peoples have often been determining factors for sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity. Key words: Indigenous people, indigenous knowledge, Biodiversity conservation, Gamo area.
Highlights
Ethiopia has known indigenous people and developed indigenous knowledge in a wide range of fields like soil and water conservation, seed selection and preservation, advancement of traditional farm implements, development of appropriate farming systems, and adaptation of effective coping mechanisms withstanding food insecurities through time
According to the 45% of key informant interview responds, indigenous knowledge owned by the Gamo people to conserve biodiversity are shifting cultivation, sacred groves, local method of soil and water conservation practice were as according to 55% of key informant interview responds, home garden/traditional agro forestry practice, locally known as Daniiogade in the Gamo language are dominantly used to biodiversity conservations
Some researchers are carried out on home-gardens in detail in certain localities of the Gamo area by Belachew et al (2003), Southern Ethiopia (Tesfaye, 2005) in Ochollo, Channo and Lantee kebeles in low land part of Gamo area are stated as traditional home-gardening is a sustainable agricultural practice; it is environmentally friend and allows the harvesting of diverse products to the satisfaction of farming families as well as urban dwellers
Summary
Ethiopia has known indigenous people and developed indigenous knowledge in a wide range of fields like soil and water conservation, seed selection and preservation, advancement of traditional farm implements, development of appropriate farming systems, and adaptation of effective coping mechanisms withstanding food insecurities through time. It has well appreciated indigenous technologies that have been devised by the community, using their own indigenous knowledge to cope up harsh time and be able to sustain the livelihoods. Soil conservation practices of farmers in Maybar, south Wello (Beshah, 2003) and indigenous irrigation system in Amaro Special Woreda, southern Ethiopia; where farmers constructed waterways over gullies using grooved big logs and the diversion structure is constructed of thrash and tree branches (personal communication) are some of the indigenous technologies that can be cited
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
