Institutions, Incentives and Conflict in Coffee Forest Use and Conservation : the Case of Yayo Forest in Iluu Abba Bora Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Ethiopia is home to many endemic plants and animals including the coffee growing ‘wild’ in the montane rainforests of the South and Southwest. The coffee forest is, however, threatened by fast rate of deforestation. The extraction of the resource by the local community for livilihood as well as the use by different stakes of coffee forest for different purposes and the absence of viable institutional arrangement for use and conservation are among factors aggravating deforestation. This research explores institutions from federal to local level, rules that act either as incentives or disincentives for local users and rules leading to conflicts in coffee forest use and conservation. Institutions at different level, policies and proclamations, property rights and formal rules and regulations imposing disincentives as exogenous variables influence the action arena and leads to interactions and different outcomes. The research deals with institutions both as “the rules of the game” and “players of the game”. Relevant information to the research has been collected in 2007 and 2008 at different times using qualitative and quantitative methods. Results of this research show that institutions working on coffee forest from federal to local level, mainly the rules governing the coffee forest protected area (PA) cannot sustainably manage the coffee forest and ensure farmer’s subsistence. Instead, they contribute to creating disincentives among the local community and fueling conflicts. The rules are imposed by force through government institutions and cannot sustainably halt loss of biodiversity. In this work, analysis of formal and informal institutions shows that there is a need either to modify existing instititions or establish new ones. This can be done through integration of institutions, both vertically and horizontally, with the objective towards coffee forest biodiversity conservation. There is also a need for revision and practical implementation of forest policies and proclamations in keeping with the interests and customary resource uses of the community. The research also identifies different rules of the protected area (PA) that act as disincentives and that need to be changed including guidelines that can serve as yardistik in future use and conservation process. The study also shows that there is conflict among government institutions and the local community. The main causes of conflicts in the coffee forest demarcated area are driven by the need to expand coffee farm areas, disagreement over property rights, local community’s dependence on products from the coffee forest for livelihoods and prohibition of harvesting the forest for NTFPs. There is a big gap in the distribution of rights, responsibilities and returns among stakeholders which indicates the marginalization of local communities and their institutions from coffee forest use and conservation process. Analysis of the protected area (PA) rules and the conflicts created in general show the incompatibility of the current zoning approach with the previous forest use and the peasant’s livelihood. Co-management is suggested as a way forward in resolving conflicts and institutional problems. In efforts to realize this, it is essential to make smooth transition from management of coffee forest by force under the auspices of guards to management by well-designed CFM or co-management system

Enabling equitable collective action and policy change for poverty reduction and improved natural resource management in the Eastern African highlands:

"The role of local and external institutions in natural resource management (NRM) is gaining attention in the literature, fostering greater understanding of the relationship between collective action and poverty, collective action and equity, and the conditions under which collective action institutions take root. It has also led to increased understanding of how uncritical practices by external development institutions can propagate social inequities in NRM. Yet little research has been conducted to understand how to foster local collective action institutions where they are absent, or to improve institutional practice. This research integrates empirical and action research in an effort to generate ‘working solutions' to problems facing rural communities in their efforts to manage their natural resources in the highlands of Ethiopia and Uganda. Following a brief introduction to the literature and the research, findings are presented according to two distinct phases of research. Data are first presented on existing forms of collective action, the influence of local and external institutions on economic development, and NRM problems that persist despite their negative livelihood consequences. Action research themes selected from a list of identified problems are then presented in greater detail, with lessons learnt thus far in attempting to overcome institutional barriers to improved NRM. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of findings for research, institutional practice, and policy." authors' abstractNatural resource management, Collective action, Equity, Livelihoods, East African highlands, Gender, Environmental management,

7. Customary Dispute Resolution in the Somali State of Ethiopia: An Overview

Profile of the Region Somali Regional State is the second largest regional state, next to Oromia, occupying a large geographical area in the Eastern and South Eastern parts of the country. It is situated between 4° – 110° Ν latitude and 40°-48° Ε Longitude (Investment Office, 1992:21). It shares the largest boundary (over 2500 km) with the Republic of Somalia in the East and South East. It also is bounded by Oromia in the West; Afar Regional State; the Dijibouti Republic in the North and Keny..

Enabling equitable collective action and policy change for poverty reduction and improved natural resource management in the Eastern African Highlands

The role of local and external institutions in natural resource management (NRM) is gaining attention in the literature, fostering greater understanding of the relationship between collective action and poverty, collective action and equity, and the conditions under which collective action institutions take root. It has also led to increased understanding of how uncritical practices by external development institutions can propagate social inequities in NRM. Yet little research has been conducted to understand how to foster local collective action institutions where they are absent, or to improve institutional practice. This research integrates empirical and action research in an effort to generate ‘working solutions’ to problems facing rural communities in their efforts to manage their natural resources in the highlands of Ethiopia and Uganda. Following a brief introduction to the literature and the research, findings are presented according to two distinct phases of research. Data are first presented on existing forms of collective action, the influence of local and external institutions on economic development, and NRM problems that persist despite their negative livelihood consequences. Action research themes selected from a list of identified problems are then presented in greater detail, with lessons learnt thus far in attempting to overcome institutional barriers to improved NRM. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of findings for research, institutional practice, and policy

Grass-roots Justice in Ethiopia

This book presents a timely review of the relations between the formal and customary justice systems in Ethiopia, and offers recommendations for legal reform. The book provides cases studies from all the Region of Ethiopia based on field research on the working of customary dispute resolution (CDR) institutions, their mandates, compositions, procedures and processes. The cases studies also document considerable unofficial linkages with the state judicial system, and consider the advantages as well as the limitations of customary institutions with respect to national and international law. The editor's introduction reviews the history of state law and its relations with customary law, summarises the main findings by region as well as as on inter-ethnic issues, and draws conclusions about social and legal structures, principles of organization, cultural concepts and areas, and judicial processes. The introduction also addresses the questions of inclusion and exclusion on the basis of gerontocratic power, gender, age and marginalised status, and the gradual as well as remarkable recent transformations of CDR institutions. The editor's conclusion reviews the characteristics, advantages and limitations of CDR institutions. A strong case is made for greater recognition of customary systems and better alliance with state justice, while safeguarding individual and minority rights. The editors suggest that the current context of greater decentralization opens up opportunities for pratical collaboration between the systems by promoting legal pluralism and reform, thereby enhancing local level justice delivery. The editors conclude by proposing a range of options for more meaningful partnership for consideration by policy makers, the legal profession and other stakeholders. In memory of Aberra Jembere and Dinsa Lepisa. Cover: Elders at peace ceremony in Arbore, 1993