Effect of Tigray War (2020-2022) on Soil and Water Conservation activities in Dogua Tenbien and Enderta districts, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

The Tigray War (2020–2022) severely disrupted soil and water conservation (SWC) practices in Tigray (Northern Ethiopia). This study assessed the war's impact on SWC structures activities in Dogua Tenbien and Enderta weredas. Primary data were collected from two contrasting sites in both enclosure and farmland through field observations, physical measurement and unstructured interview. The augmented inverse probability weighting (AIPW) model was employed to compare areas with high-intensity conflict to those less affected. Results show that there was a clear damage in the conflict-intensive areas. In this context, the structural bunds were, on average, 91.37 meters longer, 11.78 meters higher, and 10.28 meters wider in their destruction compared to less-affected regions (p < 0.01). An average of 4.53 more trees were also cut down per 100-m² plot in high-conflict zones (p < 0.05). Field observations highlighted that many SWC structures were dismantled for military purposes, such as trench construction, which directly contributed to erosion and environmental degradation. Furthermore, charcoal harvesting sites averaged 3.6 per location in high-intensity conflict areas, compared to 0.08 per location in lessaffected zones, reflecting increased reliance on forest resources due to disrupted energy supplies. The findings highlights that the war brought devastating ecological impacts in the study area. With this in mind, restoring damaged SWC structures, incentivizing sustainable practices, and launching reforestation and renewable energy initiatives are required to mitigate environmental damages and support agricultural resilience.