Assessment of Environmentally Induced Conflict: The Case of North-West and Western Zones of Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Environmental conflict is a community struggle over natural resources due to the scarcity of the resource. This study has undertaken to assess environmentally induced conflict in the Northwest and Western Zones of the Tigray Region, Ethiopia. To collect the relevant data from 379 sample household heads, a multistage stratified sampling technique was used. The data collection instruments employed are questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field visits. The quantitative data were analyzed using frequency, percent, and Chi-square. Similarly, to analyze the qualitative data content analysis was used. The result of this study showed that the local environment was changing in the last three decades; forest depletion and land degradation are the most common problems. These changes are caused by irresponsible human activities. It is also found that resource scarcity induced by rapid environmental change is the cause of conflict combined with other socio-economic and political circumstances. The conflict was also aggravated by discrimination, marginalization, maladministration, and poor resources management. However, the local community resolved the majority of the resource-scarcity-conflicts using mediation and rehabilitation. Therefore, effort should be done to resolve the environmental problems using an integrated approach, and effective implementation of environmental institutions and frameworks in addressing the complex environmental problems.