Assessing Nature’s Contributions to People by Jefoure Roads for Sustainable Management in the Gurage Socio-Ecological Production Landscape in Ethiopia

Sahle, Mesfin and Saito, Osamu, (2021). Assessing Nature’s Contributions to People by Jefoure Roads for Sustainable Management in the Gurage Socio-Ecological Production Landscape in Ethiopia. Sustainability, 13(3806), 1-15

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  • Sub-type Journal article
    Author Sahle, Mesfin
    Saito, Osamu
    Title Assessing Nature’s Contributions to People by Jefoure Roads for Sustainable Management in the Gurage Socio-Ecological Production Landscape in Ethiopia
    Appearing in Sustainability
    Volume 13
    Issue No. 3806
    Publication Date 2021-03-30
    Place of Publication Switzerland
    Publisher MDPI
    Start page 1
    End page 15
    Language eng
    Abstract “Jefoure” refers to a traditional grass-covered road with households settled on both sides in the Gurage socio-ecological production landscape in Ethiopia. We assess Nature’s Contributions to People (NCP) on Jefoure roads for sustainable management. Data were collected using survey tools and orthophoto images, and they were systematically analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods. The Jefoure roads are beyond transport networks and enhance the people’s quality of life. We identified 12 contributions of Jefoure roads from the reporting categories of material, nonmaterial, and regulating NCP. Over time, the contributions of the roads at different localities decreased due to socio-economic, cultural, and religious changes. Recent trends in infrastructural provisions cause the degradation of Jefoure roads and lead to a decrease in their value. Therefore, sustainable landscape planning and management are essential to preserve and enhance the positive NCP. This study indicates that roads do not solely generate negative ecological impacts, and planners need to work on designing versatile roads, particularly in landscapes where traffic flows are low. Indigenous knowledge has a significant role in bridging the past and future and needs to be integrated into landscape planning and management.
    Keyword cultural road
    Gurage people
    narrative methods
    Indigenous knowledge
    multipurpose roads
    landscape planning
    Copyright Holder The Authors
    Copyright Year 2021
    Copyright type Creative commons
    ISSN 20711050
    DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073806
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    Created: Thu, 15 Jul 2021, 16:09:25 JST by Rachel Nunn on behalf of UNU IAS