Farming Typology and Socio-Economic Analysis in Sub-alpine Ecosystem, Simien Mountain National Park, Ethiopia

Abstract

Protected areas, particularly alpine ecosystems, are globally recognized. Despite the immense ecological values of protected areas, they are vulnerable to human pressures. The Simien Mountains National Park (SMNP) is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Ethiopian highlands, exemplifying the complex balance between biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods in the mountain areas. This study investigates local farming systems in the study area to assess their resilience and potential policy pathways for adaptation. A combination of principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering (HC) was used construct farm typology in the study areas using farm household survey data collected from 104 respondents. A focal group discussion (FGD) and key-informant interview (KII) were also conducted to obtain qualitative information on local perceptions of livelihood activities and farming. Three distinct farm typologies shaped by biophysical, socioeconomic, and cultural factors, Typology I, Typology II and Typology III. Typology I (57.7%) features mixed crop-livestock systems with off-farm income; Crop-production Typology II (36.53%), Typology III (6.2%) is dominated by livestock-based livelihoods. Persistent human–wildlife conflict, degraded grazing resources, and high production costs threaten livestock viability and genetic diversity, raising concerns about inbreeding and loss of locally adapted traits. Despite adaptive efforts, limited access to animal health services, forage, and improved genetics constrains resilience. The findings emphasize the need for globally informed, locally grounded conservation strategies that integrate sustainable resource use with genetic improvement and ecosystem-based management. Supporting smallholders through capacity-building, climate-resilient innovations, and participatory policy can safeguard both community livelihoods and the ecological integrity of World Heritage landscapes like SMNP.