The effects of armed conflict on natural resources and conservation measures in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

A heavy armed conflict erupted in Tigray region of Ethiopia in 2020, and the crisis continued up to 2022. This study investigates the impacts of this crisis on the status of natural resources and soil and water conservation (SWC) efforts. We collected primary data through observations, measurements, interviews and group discussions during the wartime. We also reviewed published articles and official archives to complement the primary data, which were often challenging to obtain due to the war. We found that vegetated landscapes were damaged by artillery and bombs. As a result, the average depth of the surveyed bomb craters along the asphalts was 1.15 0.47 m (n=16), whereas the average surface diameter of the craters and their rim was 2.66 0.67 m. In addition, the construction of numerous military trenches along croplands and hillsides exposed the soil particles into erosion and water pollution. The conflict also halted SWC efforts on various land uses, which were carried out annually during peacetime. About 20,591 km/year of stone bunds were not constructed per year. Moreover, terraces and stone bunds were demolished to construct temporary ground fortifications. Indirectly, the critical energy crisis further increased pressure on forests. In this context, the poor farmers shift from long-term sustainability to immediate economic recovery. To conclude, these pathways of the warfare undermined status of natural resources, and the ongoing decades of re-greening programs. Therefore, our ground-based findings can be used to prioritize and rehabilitate the damaged landscape services.