Farmers' indigenous knowledge of tree conservation and acidic soil amendments: The role of baabbo and Mona systems: Lessons from Gedeo community, Southern Ethiopia

The purpose of the study was mainly to document the farmer's indigenous knowledge (IK) systems on tree conservation and farming practices. The research further assesses the traditional way of soil acidity amendment in highland (dega) agroecological zone. This study combines broadly qualitative methods of anthropological approach to document farmers' IK in tree conservation, and acidic soil amendments. Data were collected by using the semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, participatory observation, and focused group discussion. The semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 60 respondents in different agroecological zones to assess the traditional farming practices and tree conservation. The study revealed that, farmers had entrenched and sound local knowledge of tree conservation and acidic soil amendment practices. The baabbo and Mona are traditional ways of tree conservation and soil acidity amendment practices in mid-land and highland agroecological zones, respectively. The baabbo is native and multipurpose tree conservation and retaining traditions on farms. The farmers are deliberately retained indigenous baabbo trees in and around the farms for various benefits (such as shading, soil fertility, flooding control, fuelwood, constructions, and fodder). The main and first benefit of baabbo conservation is shading for crop productivity ranked followed by uses for soil fertility, fuel-wood, and construction materials and cultural values. In addition, mono is an indigenous way of soil acidity amendment with indigenous fertilizer (organic) in highland agroclimate area (Dega). It is bedding places for animals (cattle and horses) which built near to farmer's houses or farm-fields for collection of indigenous fertilizer (animal manure). This traditional approach of acidic soil amendment is enabling the farmers to sustain their livelihoods under unfavorable condition without adversely affecting the environment. Therefore, 'mono' as well as 'baabbo' is an indigenous farming practice that had used by local people to improve their livelihoods and novel approaches to maintain environmental sustainability.