The Role of the Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Biodiversity Conservation: the case of some churches in Ìnderta, Tigray

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE, INTRODUCTION

1.1. Back ground of the study

1.2. Problem statement and justification

1.3. Research questions

1.4. Objectives of the research

1.4.1. General objective

1.4.2. Specific objectives

1.5. Significance of the study

CHAPTER TWO, LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1. Conceptual and Theoretical framework

2.1.1. Conceptual framework

2.1.1.1. Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

2.1.1.2. The Sacred and the Profane

2.1.1.3. Biodiversity and Culture

2.1.2. Theoretical Framework

2.1.2.1. Economic and Institutional theorists view

2.1.2.2. Cultural theorists view

2.1.2.3. Christian Anthropocentrism (human-centered ethics)

2.1.2.4. Christian Deep ecology (Creation-centered ethics)

2.2. Review of Related Literature

2.2.1. Biodiversity and Culture

2.2.2. Biodiversity and sacred areas in the World and Ethiopia

CHAPTER THREE, RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

3.1. Description of the Study area

3.2. The study site: Churches selected for the study

3.2.1. Mika‘el Tsellamo Church

3.2.2. Mika‘el Romanat Church

3.2.3. Khokholo Yowhannis

3.2.4. Mika‘el Dagia Church

3.3. Research Methodology and Methods of Data collection

CHAPTER FOUR, FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS

4.1. Biodiversity: Plants and Animals in Orthodox Tewahedo Churches

4.1.1. The Churches and their Plant composition

4.1.2. The Churches and their animal composition

4.2. Community’s view towards Plants and Animals in the Church

4.2.1. Community’s view on the Church Plants

4.2.2. Community’s view on Animals in the Church

4.3. Significance of Church Plants

4.4. The Sacred and Profane dichotomy in the Churches

CHAPTER FIVE, CONCLUDING REMARKS

Objectives and Research Themes

The main objective of this study is to investigate the role of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) in biodiversity conservation, specifically within the Inderta district, by analyzing religious values, traditional knowledge, and the dichotomy between sacred and profane spaces.

• The impact of EOTC religious ethics on the conservation of forest patches and wildlife.
• The role of "sacredness" in protecting flora and fauna compared to unprotected areas.
• The dichotomy between sacred space inside church compounds and the profane outside world.
• The practical application of traditional Ethiopian church norms in modern biodiversity management.

Extract from the Book

Summary of Chapters

CHAPTER ONE, INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides the background on deforestation in Ethiopia and outlines the research objectives, core questions, and the significance of studying the EOTC's role in conservation.

CHAPTER TWO, LITERATURE REVIEW: This chapter synthesizes conceptual frameworks regarding biodiversity, culture, and religious ethics, specifically contrasting Anthropocentrism and Deep Ecology.

CHAPTER THREE, RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: This section describes the geographical study area in Inderta woreda and details the ethnographic qualitative methods, including participant observation and interviews, used to collect data.

CHAPTER FOUR, FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS: This chapter presents the data gathered from the selected churches, focusing on the composition of flora and fauna and the community's perceptions of their sacredness.

CHAPTER FIVE, CONCLUDING REMARKS: The final chapter summarizes how the sanctity of church grounds serves as a successful mechanism for biodiversity conservation, effectively creating "islands" of natural habitat.

Keywords

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Biodiversity Conservation, Sacred and Profane, Inderta, Anthropocentrism, Deep Ecology, Indigenous Knowledge, Church Forests, Ethnography, Environmental Ethics, Conservation, Sacred Spaces, Biological Diversity, Sustainable Development, Wildlife.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this research?

The research examines the role of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) in conserving biodiversity and how religious values and the concept of "sacredness" contribute to environmental protection.

What are the core thematic fields of the work?

The work covers environmental anthropology, religious studies, conservation biology, and traditional ecological knowledge within the context of the Ethiopian Highlands.

What is the central research question?

The study asks how EOTC religious values and the dichotomy between sacred and profane spaces influence the conservation practices in and around church compounds.

Which methodology is employed in the study?

A qualitative, ethnographic research design is used, involving participant observation within church compounds, semi-structured interviews with 40 respondents, and in-depth interviews with key informants.

What does the main body of the text cover?

The main body covers the theoretical framework of environmental ethics, a description of the study sites in Inderta, and an analysis of how community attitudes protect plants and animals inside church grounds.

Which keywords best characterize this work?

Key terms include EOTC, Biodiversity, Sacred Areas, Indigenous Knowledge, Environmental Ethics, Conservation, and Church Forests.

How does the sacred/profane dichotomy affect biodiversity?

The research shows that defining a space as "sacred" restricts human encroachment and extraction, which creates a protective buffer that preserves indigenous plants and wild animals compared to the surrounding "profane" or unprotected land.

Why are church forests often referred to as "islands"?

They are described as islands because they represent the last remnants of natural, high-biodiversity forest preserved in a wider landscape that has been largely deforested due to agricultural expansion and human activity.

What role does the church play in "Deep Ecology"?

The study concludes that believers often adopt "Deep Ecologist" behaviors within the sacred church compound, respecting nature for its own sake and as God's creation, which contrasts with their "Anthropocentric" behavior in the secular landscape.