At the end of the nineteenth century,Germany gradually expanded its colonial ruling in East Africa.In order to implement the so-called scientific forestry policies and gain economic benefits,the German colonists were the first to formulate a series of forestry policies in East Africa based on their own experience,which destroyed the original harmonious relationship between local people and nature.It had a devastating im-pact on the local ecology and society,consequently,triggered the resistance of Africans.Germany's failure in forestry management in colonial East Africa shows that ecological management must respect the local human-land relationship,local history and culture.