Land system resilience amidst the ravages of war: Insights from Tigray (Northern Ethiopia).

This article examines the environmental impacts of the 2020–2022 Tigray war in northern Ethiopia, focusing on land system resilience in the Dogu'a Tembien district, an area that did not experience large influxes of internally displaced people. Using a rare before-and-after approach based on 26 years of legacy data and post-war field observations at 56 sites, the study finds that long-term soil and water conservation measures—such as stone bunds, check dams, and forest exclosures—largely buffered the landscape against severe degradation despite conflict-related pressures. While significant geomorphic changes occurred in battlefield zones and along downstream riverbanks, many forests and soil conservation structures remained stable, supported by persistent communal land ethics, informal institutions, and local stewardship even amid state collapse. The research highlights land system resilience as a socio-ecological process shaped by both intrinsic environmental characteristics and enduring social governance, offering insights into how rural communities maintain ecological functions under extreme stress.