Politica forestale e cambiamenti ecologici nell'altopiano centrale dell'Eritrea durante il colonialismo italiano 1890-1941

A variety of archival, photographic and other historical information suggests that the central highlands of Eritrea were not, in fact, densely forested at the start of the Italian colonial period in 1890. Furthermore, while there is evidence that in a few specific areas, such as the eastern escarpment, extensive deforestation did occur during the Italian colonial period, tree cover does not appear to have deteriorated significantly in the rest of the central highlands. Although there were periods in which the Italians sanctioned intensive use of wood as fuel, the colonial administration was however careful in its conservation of trees, passing extensive legislation, importing most of its timber needs and conducting widespread tree planting campaigns. Where damage to woodlands did indeed occur, it appears not to have been the result of a conscious strategy to exploit the timber, but rather of a poor diagnosis of the main causes of deforestation in the early years of colonial administration, as well as ineptness in the enforcement of legislation during other periods.

Pauline Boerma, Politica forestale e cambiamenti ecologici nell'altopiano centrale dell'Eritrea durante il colonialismo italiano 1890-1941 in "STORIA URBANA " 95/2001, pp , DOI: