Environmental History of Gondar Zuria Woreda, Ethiopia (1941-2000)

Gondar Zuria woreda was a political centre of Christian Kingdom and endowed with dense forest as seen by travelers between 16th to 18th centuries. Though as indigenous people of the area, they are not possessed sophisticated knowledge treasure on manmade and natural forests. The practical knowledge of the natural environment is dynamically interlinked as a complex with special focus on the forest resource, of course, is explained by the society. All members of the society spoke in one language and understood the use of forests as: preventive soil erosion, protects their houses from destruction, uses as a home of wild life, generates rain on time, uses as a home for honey bees, for construction and firewood advantages, it helps also soil fertility, attract tourists etc. All members of the society extolled their impractical understanding of the multiple advantages of the forest resources. The clearly explanation of the society perceived the outcome of the clearance of manmade and natural forest resources as causes for depletion of loam soils and reduced yield production, causes minor and sever health problems, loses of shade trees in winter season, removes the habitat of wild life.