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Governance Change and Institutional Adaptation: A Case Study from Harenna Forest, Ethiopia

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Abstract

Many common pool resources have traditionally been managed through intricate local governance arrangements. Over time, such arrangements are confronted with manifold political, social, economic and ecological changes. However, the ways in which local governance arrangements react to such changes are poorly understood. Using the theoretical concept of institutional adaptation, we analyse the history of Harenna forest, Ethiopia, to examine processes of institutional change over the last 150 years. We find that the traditional institutions that governed Harenna’s resources persisted, in essence, over time. However, these institutions were modified repeatedly to address changes caused by varying formal, supra-regional governance regimes, the development of markets for forest products, increasing population pressure and changes in formal property rights. A key mechanism for adaptation was combining elements from both informal and formal institutions, which allowed traditional rules to persist in the guise of more formal arrangements. Our findings also highlight several constraints of institutional adaptation. For example, by abolishing fora for collective decision-making, regime changes limited adaptive capacity. To conclude, we argue that such insights into traditional resource governance and its adaptability and dynamics over time are essential to develop sustainable approaches to participatory forest management for the future, both in Harenna and more generally.

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Notes

  1. In the Ethiopian system, ‘Kebele’ denotes the lowest governmental administrative unit, introduced in 1975, with defined geographical boundaries and an elected executive body.

  2. Abba Muudaa was a high priest who was the spiritual leader of the Oromo traditional religion. The residence of the Abba Muudaa was a spiritual centre, which people from all over the place visited every year to participate in prayers for peace, rain and plenty (Hassen 2005).

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported financially by the University of Aberdeen, the African Forest Research Network (AFORNET), Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Darwin Initiative. Fieldwork assistance by Beyan Hussen and Abdulkadir Ibrahim and the enthusiasm of local people in Harenna, in general, and Haji Dalhan Sheik Mohammed and Mahmud Adem (Abba Gada), in particular, are also gratefully acknowledged. Kerry Waylen, René van der Wal and three anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments on earlier versions of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, Scotland, UK

    Dereje T. Wakjira & Michelle A. Pinard

  2. Frankfurt Zoological Society, P.O. Box 100003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Dereje T. Wakjira

  3. The James Hutton Institute, Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Group, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, Scotland, UK

    Anke Fischer

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  1. Dereje T. Wakjira
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Correspondence to Dereje T. Wakjira.

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Wakjira, D.T., Fischer, A. & Pinard, M.A. Governance Change and Institutional Adaptation: A Case Study from Harenna Forest, Ethiopia. Environmental Management 51, 912–925 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0017-9

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