Indigenous Forest Management and Subsistence Practices Among the Guji Girja of Shakiso Woreda in Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

This research explores the indigenous forest management, conservation system, institutions, in Guji Girja of Oromia Regional state, South Ethiopia since time immemorial. The study looks at the beliefs, values, ethics and taboos of indigenous knowledge in forest management and conservation practices. Additionally, traditional religion, ecological knowledge, social organization, different institutions at different level from gada institution to local household level for forest management and conservation, different trees utilization for different ceremonies and rituals and benefits from forest are identified as units for analysis. The research is qualitative in its approach. Relevant information to the research was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Many informants including women, men, forest agents and experts were interviewed. Moreover, observations, focus group discussions and case studies as well as both published and unpublished documents were examined. Results of this research show that Guji believe in Waqaa supernatural power / the creator/ who created heaven and earth, trees, grasses, mountains and rivers. They have deep ecological knowledge and strong relationship with their environment and got detail knowledge about the ecological benefits of trees or forests. They know forests attract rain, source of food for their livestock, place for agricultural activities, and sources of streams, rivers that can be used for drinking water by animals, birds and human beings. Guji culture has small and major indigenous institutions functioning for forest management and conservation. Smaller are individual house hold (Worra or Ardaa) and village (Olla). While major indigenous institutions are phratries categorized as Uraga, Hoku and Mati and Gada institution that having supreme power in Guji culture. Child bearing, collection of fuel wood, house construction, fetching water and most of household activities are practiced by women. On the other hand men are highly engaged in hunting, herding, honey collection and agricultural activities agricultural activities. Rural economies within the woreda do not comprise a monolithic model of subsistence and commodity economics. Several types of traditional economies are practiced. The basic ones are farming and livestock rearing. There are also other subsistence economic activities such as hunting, gathering, honey production and mining. But nowadays, the indigenous forest management and conservation strategies are threatened by government policy and scientific forest management practices. As a result, there is a need for the revision and practical implementation of forest policies and proclamations in the context it can incorporate the livelihoods, interests and customary rules of the local community in order to ensure sustainable conservation of forest.

Keywords: Indigenous Knowledge, Management, Forest, Guji Girja