Communal Grazing Land Distribution and Land Use Conflict in East Gojjam Zone: Insight From Baso Liben District, North-Western Ethiopia.

This article examines how the distribution of communal grazing lands to rural youths in Baso Liben District, northwestern Ethiopia, contributes to escalating conflicts among local communities. It finds that communal lands, traditionally used collectively for grazing and social purposes, are increasingly treated as ownerless and subject to illegal encroachments, expropriations, and politically driven redistribution without adequate legal backing or community consent. The weak legal and institutional frameworks assign management authority to local government bodies rather than the communities themselves, undermining customary rights and fueling disputes across Gotts (sub-villages), Kebeles (local administrative units), and districts. The study highlights the importance of strengthening legal protections, promoting community-based governance, raising awareness of communal land rights, and supporting indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms to sustainably manage these common pool resources and reduce conflict.