Migration and Conservation in the Bale Mountains Ecosystem

The report examines how migration into the Harenna Forest in southeast Ethiopia accelerates deforestation and biodiversity loss. By comparing Harenna Buluk, which saw significant migration driven by local political elites, with Delo Mena, which had minimal migration, the study finds that migrants introduce intensive farming practices that are adopted by locals, leading to the conversion of forest glades into agricultural land. The report recommends regulating informal land markets, strengthening participatory forest management bylaws, and developing alternative livelihoods like tourism to protect the ecosystem's unique biodiversity and hydrological functions.

• Migration into Harenna Buluk was historically driven by local political elites who actively promoted the influx of settlers to increase the district's population to justify its re-establishment as a separate woreda in 2005.
• Migration accelerates land conversion and biodiversity loss, particularly in forest glades, which are traditionally used for seasonal grazing but have been rapidly converted to agriculture in Harenna Buluk.
• Between 1995 and 2011, agricultural land in Harenna Buluk increased from 5% to nearly 25% of the total land area, while forest cover decreased by nearly 11%.
• Migrants have introduced more intensive, profit-oriented farming methods, such as intercropping and the cultivation of khat, which have been rapidly adopted by local residents in Harenna Buluk.
• The traditional pastoralist transhumance system (godantu) is disappearing in Harenna Buluk due to migration, whereas it remains relevant in Delo Mena.
• Intensified management of forest coffee to maximize production is widespread in both woredas, causing forest degradation and biodiversity loss by removing shade trees and undergrowth.
• The Harenna Forest is a critical 'water tower' for the region, supporting 12 million downstream water users in southeast Ethiopia and Somalia, making water conservation a key message for promoting forest protection.
• Current participatory forest management (PFM) bylaws are ineffective as deterrents because the penalties for infractions consist of minor, symbolic fines.
• The Harenna Forest supports endangered and endemic species, including the African wild dog, the Bale monkey, and the critically endangered Harenna shrew, the latter of which is restricted to a 4 km² area.

APA

Wakjira, D. T., D’Udine, F., & Crawford, A. (2015). Migration and Conservation in the Bale Mountains Ecosystem. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/migration-conservation-bale-mountains-ecosystem-report.pdf

Chicago

Wakjira, Dereje Tadesse, Floris D’Udine, and Alec Crawford. Migration and Conservation in the Bale Mountains Ecosystem. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2015. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/migration-conservation-bale-mountains-ecosystem-report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Wakjira |first1=Dereje Tadesse |last2=D’Udine |first2=Floris |last3=Crawford |first3=Alec |title=Migration and Conservation in the Bale Mountains Ecosystem |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=August 2015 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/migration-conservation-bale-mountains-ecosystem-report.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wakjira2015migration, author = {Wakjira, Dereje Tadesse and D’Udine, Floris and Crawford, Alec}, title = {{Migration and Conservation in the Bale Mountains Ecosystem}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2015}, month = aug, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/migration-conservation-bale-mountains-ecosystem-report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }