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.