From restoration to ruin: Wildlife conservation dilemmas and ecological resilience in war-affected Tigray, northern Ethiopia

Title : From restoration to ruin: Wildlife conservation dilemmas and ecological resilience in war-affected Tigray, northern Ethiopia

Abstract:

The armed conflict in Tigray (2020-2022), northern Ethiopia, reversed decades of conservation gains, yet its impacts on wildlife conservation remain largely undocumented. This study examined how the armed conflict and associated ecological crises impacted wildlife conservation in the Hugumburda and Grat-Kahsu dry Afromontane Forests. The study was conducted between November 2024 and September 2025 and we used a convergent mixed-methods research approach including structured surveys, interviews, field observations, and archival review. Results showed significant habitat destruction, wildlife mortality, and collapse of conservation governance. Habitat degradation was mainly caused by military occupation of forest, free grazing, and illegal logging. The mean composite scores indicated a significant decline in all conservation-capacity dimensions from the pre-conflict to during conflict, with partial recovery aftermath. The linear mixed-effects revealed that both the conflict period (F?,???? = 1967.57, p < 0.001) and conservation-capacity dimension (F?,???? = 10.78, p < 0.001) significantly influenced perceived conservation capacity. Insecurity and limited community participation were identified as the key barriers to post-conflict conservation, while re-establishing community-based conservation efforts was identified as the top recovery priority. The results showed that armed conflict can rapidly dismantle long-term conservation gains and create persistent socio-ecological feedbacks that imped recovery. Successful post-conflict wildlife conservation demands integrated, conflict-sensitive approaches that focus on rebuilding institutions, restoring habitats, and re-engaging local communities to strengthen ecological resilience and conservation outcomes in war-affected landscapes.
 

Biography:

Esayas Embaye Kidane is a Lecturer and Researcher in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Mekelle University, Ethiopia, and currently serves as Research and Postgraduate Program Coordinator in the Department of Biodiversity and Ecotourism Management. He holds a BSc in Biology from Haramaya University and an MSc in Ecological and Systematic Zoology from Jimma University. His research focuses on wildlife ecology and conservation, human–wildlife conflict, biodiversity conservation, ecological resilience, and the impacts of armed conflict and environmental change on ecosystems and wildlife. He has published research in peer-reviewed journals and contributes to postgraduate supervision, conservation research, and environmental sustainability initiatives in Ethiopia.