Reusing, Matthias 
  
As already mentioned above, the forest cover was classified into three different density classes. In order to estimate the 
human impact on the natural high forests, the following classification scheme was being applied. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
High forest 1973 to 1976 — |High forest 1986 to 1990 Impact class 
closed closed no change 
closed slightly degraded low impact 
closed heavily degraded high impact 
closed deforested very high impact 
slightly degraded slightly degraded no change 
slightly degraded heavily degraded low impact 
slightly degraded deforested high impact 
heavily degraded heavily degraded no change 
heavily degraded deforested low impact 
  
  
  
Table 1. Classification scheme of impact classes 
In general, in Ethiopia it cannot be expected that forest areas recovered and regenerated within the last decades. The 
figures rather indicate that due to human impact almost 70 % of the natural high forests, which were still existing in the 
seventieth got degraded. This historical process affected more or less all-remaining forest areas in S and SW Ethiopia. 
3.2 Forest degradation in SW Ethiopia between 1971 to 1997 
At the beginning of this century, the south-western part of the Ethiopian Highlands had still been completely covered by 
montane rainforests. Shifting cultivation, which had been practiced since centuries within the area had not been really a 
threat for the forest resources. The situation changed with new settlers migrating from the central and northern parts of 
the country to SW Ethiopia. With the new settlers, a new farming system was introduced that was not adapted to the 
environmental conditions in the area. 
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
    
   
Human Impact on 
Forests in SW Ethiopia 
from 1971 to 1997 
  
  
No Change 
Low Impact 
Moderate Impact 
ENS] High Impact 
No Data 
  
[7] National Forest Priority Area 
17 River 
A Road 
À Regional Border 
© Town 
Matthias Reusing (1999) 
  
  
gíz) German Technical Cooperation 
  
  
  
  
Figure 4. Forest degradation in SW Ethiopia between 1971 and 1997 
  
1256 International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXIII, Part B7. Amsterdam 2000.