SC Connecticut News

The Council on African Studies at the Yale MacMillan Center recently hosted an event titled "‘Nature’s Sanctuary’: Ethiopian Church Forests and the Interplay of Religion and Ecology" to celebrate Earth Day 2024. The event featured an exhibition of photographs by Scottish non-fiction photographer Kieran Dodds, showcasing the story of ecological crisis and hope in preserving ancient forests in Ethiopia.

During the event, council member Kyama Mugambi moderated a conversation between Dodds and Ethiopian conservationist Dr. Alemayehu Wassie Eshete. Cantors from the Ethiopian Orthodox church performed poetry and prayers, highlighting the spiritual significance of nature and trees in Ethiopian tradition.

Dodds described the significance of the church forests in Ethiopia, saying, "At the heart of each verdant circle, nestled beneath ancient canopies and wrapped in lush vegetation, lie saucer-shaped churches—other-worldly structures that seem to emit a life force of their own."

Alemayehu Wassie shared the challenges faced by the church forests, including encroachment from farmers and accidental grazing by livestock. He emphasized the importance of protecting these forests, stating, "We need to act before it is too late."

ORDA Ethiopia, a nonprofit organization, plays a crucial role in preserving the church forests by organizing local volunteers to build stone walls around the forests and plant native trees as buffers. Alemayehu Wassie hopes to expand the project to create green corridors connecting the church forest "islands" to restore more of the natural landscape and support biodiversity.

Dodds explained the connection between spiritual beliefs and conservation practices, stating, "Spiritual beliefs retain the capacity to conserve and heal, a testament to their enduring influence." He emphasized the role of faith in shaping both daily lives and landscapes around the world.

The event was organized by Michael Glerup, Director of the Council on African Studies’ Project on Religion and Society in Africa. The exhibition of Dodds' photographs is open to the public at Luce Hall’s second floor common room and online, inviting visitors to learn more about the importance of preserving the Ethiopian church forests.