Forest resource management systems in Ethiopia: Historical perspective

The integration of economic development and environmental management has become a major concern for society, businesses and governments, especially during the past century. A desk review was carried out to examine the various forest resource management systems used in Ethiopia over the past half century. Forest resources in Ethiopia have been managed with different intentions and motivations at different times; these management systems can be broadly categorized by prominent resource management paradigms, like frontiers economics, deep ecology, environmental protection, resource management, and eco-development. Three main forest development periods are identified: pre-derge environmental protection, derge regime environmental protection and frontiers economics, and post-derge resource management and environmental protection. We suggest that for long-term sustainable forest management to succeed, a combination of resource management and eco-development paradigms should be promoted. Key words: Ethiopia, natural resource, natural resource management paradigm, forest, forest degradation.