Description

In the past 100 years forest property regimeschanged from the one to the other, each timealienating communities&generating conflicts. TheState s liberal distribution of natural forests(1940-60) created individual forest property regimesover large area. The State, however, failed toregulate utilization, ensuing widespreaddeforestation. The 1975 nationalization act&thesubsequent policies further alienated users. Atpresent conflicts over forest has become a definingfactor of the relations between and among forestusers. The creation&upholding of propertyinstitutions have always been the primary task ofthe State. Where the latter failed forest depletionoccurred, something that still happens today. InEthiopia the future of forestry&stable propertyrights regimes are closely interwoven. However, weneed to avoid imposing a national blue print ofproperty regimes for all forests. It is important tolook into each forest differently because of diverseeconomic needs, cultural variations&environmentalpriorities