Envisioning ‘Jefore’ and Its Attributes: Evidence from Gurage Rural Landscape

Abstract

Indigenous landscapes remain a reflection of sustainable humanenvironment interactions and diverse attributes. Among the Gurage, Jefore is a reflection of intensive nature-culture interactions for diverse needs. This article explores the socio-ecological attributes of Jefore's rural landscape. Ethnographic research design and data collection tools such as key informant interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and a transect walk were used to generate data from three districts of West Gurageland. Scoring from diverse data sources, Jefore is the long-existing local landscape tradition. It has diverse attributes that embeds aspects of Gurage's life such as identity, social interactions, socio-cultural and economic productions, livelihoods, and well-being. For socio-cultural attributes, it remains the core of cultural productions, social interactions, social alliances, and identity for the group. Jefore aesthetic and therapeutic attributes magnify the wider well-being associations including scenic values, ecological and health-enhancing qualities and embodiment effects. Envisioning the Jefore landscape has ensured sustainable landscape values and attributes that serve long generations. Therefore, stakeholders must take into account Jefore's landscape values, attributes, and the effects of rural landscape planning when making decisions and implementing interventions.