Social-Ecological Systems in Transition: Understanding the Dynamics of the Konso Cultural Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ethiopia

A rapid and profound transformation of the Konso Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ethiopia, has been observed over the past five decades (1976–2023). This shift, driven by factors such as population growth, state ideology, governance challenges, and evolving community aspirations, has led to significant declines in forest and bush/shrub land, alongside substantial increases in settlement and agricultural areas. Additionally, traditional compact and defensively oriented settlements have transitioned to more dispersed, linear structures. The study, employing an integrated framework combining human geography, remote sensing, GIS, and landscape ecology, highlights existential challenges for the Konso community, emphasizing the need for a balanced pathway that preserves cultural identity while accommodating development.

Kura, A. L., Stellmacher, T., Regassa, A., Mensuro, G. K., & Assen, Y. M. (2026). Social-Ecological Systems in Transition: Understanding the Dynamics of the Konso Cultural Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ethiopia. Heritage & Society, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159032x.2026.2712729