A 23-year study in Ethiopia’s southern highlands assessed the effectiveness of various forest conservation strategies by examining four types of protected areas: a national park, a state-run forest enterprise, occupied hunting concessions, and unoccupied concessions. The Bale Mountains National Park experienced a 7.8% forest cover loss, raising concerns about the limitations of traditional park management. In contrast, the state-run forest enterprise showed a 12.9% gain, demonstrating that sustainable timber production can support conservation. Occupied hunting concessions had minimal forest loss, while unoccupied ones faced significant degradation, with losses up to 14%. These findings suggest that active management—whether for timber or regulated hunting—is more effective than passive protection. The study highlights the need for integrated conservation models that combine federal and non-federal efforts, especially in regions with limited government resources. It also emphasizes the importance of balancing environmental goals with the economic and social needs of local communities.
