Research Article
Sustainable Management and Socio-Ecological Impacts of Acacia decurrens Plantations in Northwestern Ethiopia: A Systematic Review
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 4, December 2025
Pages:
69-77
Received:
30 September 2025
Accepted:
13 October 2025
Published:
31 October 2025
Abstract: Acacia decurrens, commonly known as green wattle, has emerged as a rapidly expanding plantation species in the highlands of Northwestern Ethiopia. Originally introduced for soil conservation and fuelwood production, its adoption by smallholder farmers has intensified due to economic incentives, policy support, and suitability for degraded lands. Despite numerous studies addressing its socio-economic and environmental impacts, the research remains fragmented, with limited integration across disciplines, locations, and management contexts. This systematic review synthesizes empirical evidence from over 25 studies conducted between 2015 and 2025, examining the socio-economic, environmental, and governance dimensions of A. decurrens plantations in Northwestern Ethiopia. A systematic review was conducted by searching peer-reviewed articles, theses, and reports from 2015-2025 across multiple databases, followed by data extraction and narrative synthesis to integrate socio-economic, environmental, and governance. Findings indicate that the species contributes significantly to rural livelihoods by generating income, employment, and resilience against agricultural shocks, particularly through charcoal production. Environmentally, well-managed plantations enhance soil organic carbon, rehabilitate degraded landscapes, and provide opportunities for climate change mitigation, although intensive monoculture and unsustainable harvesting practices may threaten biodiversity, soil fertility, and land use sustainability. Governance, policy frameworks, and institutional support play critical roles in shaping adoption, management, and equitable benefit-sharing, with gendered disparities noted in access to resources and decision-making. Despite the growing body of literature, knowledge gaps remain regarding long-term ecosystem effects, integration into agroforestry systems, spatially explicit monitoring, and inclusive socio-economic outcomes. The review highlights best practices, including optimized planting density, agroforestry integration, and improved charcoal production, as pathways to balance ecological and socio-economic benefits. These insights inform sustainable management strategies and evidence-based policy interventions, aiming to maximize the long-term socio-ecological contributions of Acacia decurrens plantations in Northwestern Ethiopia.
Abstract: Acacia decurrens, commonly known as green wattle, has emerged as a rapidly expanding plantation species in the highlands of Northwestern Ethiopia. Originally introduced for soil conservation and fuelwood production, its adoption by smallholder farmers has intensified due to economic incentives, policy support, and suitability for degraded lands. De...
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Research Article
The Virtue of Saying, “I Don’t Know”: When Uncertainty Is a Reasonable Alternative to Belief
Mohammed Zeinu Hassen*
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 4, December 2025
Pages:
78-84
Received:
21 September 2025
Accepted:
29 September 2025
Published:
12 November 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.rd.20250604.12
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Abstract: To say “I don’t know” appears at first as absence, yet this phrase contains within it a disciplined stance that resists premature conviction. Human discourse often leans toward certainty, but certainty offered without ground can corrupt inquiry and spread error. The practice of hesitation deserves close study, for it is not silence but a particular form of speech that refuses to disguise ignorance. If belief is written as Bp and knowledge as Kp, then the admission “I don’t know” can be expressed as -Bp ˄-Kp, which reveals its logical form as suspension rather than negation of truth. This article examines the virtue of uncertainty in philosophy, logic, and science, showing how hesitation can serve as a method of clarity rather than as deficiency. Socratic dialogue begins with acknowledged ignorance, modern logic admits undecidability, and probability theory advises suspension when P(p) < t, with t as the threshold for rational acceptance. To embrace uncertainty under such conditions is not to abandon truth but to keep the space open for truth to arrive. This article draws from classical and modern sources, examines with logical symbols that clarify the structure of belief, and reflects on the ethical weight of honest hesitation in domains such as science, ethics, and public reasoning. The conclusion offered is that uncertainty is a reasonable alternative to belief, a posture that, far from weakness, affirms the responsibility of thought and shields inquiry from the hazards of unwarranted assertion.
Abstract: To say “I don’t know” appears at first as absence, yet this phrase contains within it a disciplined stance that resists premature conviction. Human discourse often leans toward certainty, but certainty offered without ground can corrupt inquiry and spread error. The practice of hesitation deserves close study, for it is not silence but a particular...
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