A Review on Oromo Traditional Ecological Knowledge: A Beacon for Sustainable Conservation

Abstract

This review examines the scope and significance of Oromo Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and its relevance to contemporary biodiversity conservation. Grounded in the Indigenous Gadaa system and the ethical principle of Safuu, Oromo TEK offers a holistic framework that integrates ecological, spiritual, and governance dimensions. A qualitative synthesis was conducted using thematic content analysis of over 100 sources, including peer reviewed articles, ethnographies, institutional reports, and grey literature. The literature was retrieved through systematic searches in databases such as JSTOR, Scopus, and Google Scholar, focusing on TEK related practices and conservation values. The analysis revealed key practices such as seasonal grazing (Caffaa), agroforestry, sacred grove preservation (Caaysa), selective harvesting, traditional fire management, and beekeeping. Spiritual rituals like Irrecha and the Gadaa governance system were found to reinforce sustainable land use, biodiversity protection, and community resilience. Despite its effectiveness, Oromo TEK faces threats from epistemic marginalization, colonial legacies, climate change, and exclusion from formal policy frameworks. Looking forward, integrating Oromo TEK with scientific conservation offers a promising pathway for inclusive, adaptive, and culturally grounded environmental governance. Future efforts should prioritize community led documentation, gendered knowledge transfer, digital archiving, and incorporation of TEK into education and policy. Co-production of knowledge with Indigenous communities can strengthen ecosystem stewardship, enhance climate resilience, and ensure the long term survival of biocultural heritage. By recognizing Oromo TEK as a dynamic and living system, conservation can move beyond top-down models toward more equitable and sustainable outcomes.