University of Warwick institutional repository: http://go.warwick.ac.uk/wrap A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of Warwick http://go.warwick.ac.uk/wrap/67917 This thesis is made available online and is protected by original copyright. Please scroll down to view the document itself. Please refer to the repository record for this item for information to help you to cite it. Our policy information is available from the repository home page. LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY: PROBLEMS OF ITS LEGAL CONTROL IN ETHIOPIA By Mellese Damtie A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law University of Warwick School of Law March 2014 (Final Version: 03 March 2015) Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..........................................................................................................................................iv DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................................................... v ACRONYMS ...............................................................................................................................................................vi ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................................ix CHAPTER 1 ................................................................................................................................................................ 28 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................... 28 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................................................ 28 1.2 Research Questions ............................................................................................................................................ 31 1.3 Methodology and Methods ................................................................................................................................ 32 1.4 Content Organization ......................................................................................................................................... 33 CHAPTER 2 ................................................................................................................................................................ 28 BIODIVERSITY: MEANING, FUNCTIONS, LOSS AND STATUS ....................................................................... 28 IN ETHIOPIA ............................................................................................................................................................. 28 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 28 2.1 What is Biodiversity? ........................................................................................................................................ 30 2.1.1 Genetic Diversity ................................................................................................................................... 31 2.1.2 Population Diversity .............................................................................................................................. 32 2.1.3 Species Diversity ................................................................................................................................... 34 2.1.4 Ecosystem Diversity .............................................................................................................................. 35 2.1.5 Cultural Diversity .................................................................................................................................. 37 2.1.6 Evolutionary Processes .......................................................................................................................... 38 2.2 Functions of Biodiversity .................................................................................................................................. 39 2.2.1 Material Provision Functions ................................................................................................................. 40 2.2.2 Nonmaterial Functions ........................................................................................................................... 42 2.3 Loss of Biodiversity ........................................................................................................................................... 45 2.4 Status of Biodiversity in Ethiopia ...................................................................................................................... 46 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................... 51 THE CONCEPTION OF SEPARATION AND HUMAN DOMINION OVER THE NONHUMAN NATURE ...... 28 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 28 3.1 Anthropocentrism .............................................................................................................................................. 29 3.2 Religious Teachings........................................................................................................................................... 32 3.3 The Scientific Revolution and ‗Modern‘ Knowledge ........................................................................................ 38 3.4 The Legal Regime.............................................................................................................................................. 46 3.4.1 International Legal Regime.................................................................................................................... 47 i 3.4.2 National Legal and Policy Instruments .................................................................................................. 58 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................... 69 CHAPTER 4 ................................................................................................................................................................ 71 ANALYSIS OF CAUSES OF LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY IN ETHIOPIA ............................................................... 71 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 71 4.1 Socioeconomic and Cultural Aspects ................................................................................................................ 72 A) Expansion of Agriculture ....................................................................................................................... 72 B) Hunting .................................................................................................................................................. 80 C) Biomass Fuel Consumption ................................................................................................................... 82 D) Wild Fire ................................................................................................................................................ 84 E) Resorting to Exotic Species ................................................................................................................... 86 F) Migrations and Resettlements in New Areas ......................................................................................... 90 4.2 Developmental Mindset ..................................................................................................................................... 96 1) Government‘s exclusive land ownership ............................................................................................. 112 2) Relocation of Lowland People through Villagization Program ........................................................... 115 4.3 The Future Plans of the Government ....................................................................................................... 117 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................. 119 CHAPTER 5 .............................................................................................................................................................. 122 RETHINKING THE PHILOSOPHY OF BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION (I): Theoretical Dimensions ..... 122 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 122 5.1 Consideration of Intrinsic Values of Biodiversity ........................................................................................... 124 5.2 Shift from Dominion to Stewardship ............................................................................................................... 144 1) Stewardship and ‗Natural Selection‘...................................................................................................