Re-Greening Ethiopia: History, Challenges and Lessons

Mulugeta Lemenih,Habtemariam Kassa

doi:10.3390/f5081896

Mulugeta Lemenih, Habtemariam Kassa

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/f5081896

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Journal: Forests	Publication Date: Jul 31, 2014
Citations: 157	License type: CC BY 3.0

Affiliation: Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute

Abstract

In Ethiopia, deforestation rates remain high and the gap between demand and domestic supply of forest products is expanding, even though government-initiated re-greening efforts began over a century ago. Today, over 3 million hectares (ha) of degraded forest land are under area exclosure; smallholder plantations cover 0.8 million ha; and state-owned industrial plantations stagnate at under 0.25 million ha. This review captures experiences related to re-greening practices in Ethiopia, specifically with regards to area exclosure and afforestation and reforestation, and distills lessons regarding processes, achievements and challenges. The findings show that farmers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are the main players, and that the private sector has so far played only a small role. The role of the government was mixed: supportive in some cases and hindering in others. The challenges of state- and NGO-led re-greening practices are: inadequate involvement of communities; poorly defined rehabilitation objectives; lack of management plans; unclear responsibilities and benefit-sharing arrangements; and poor silvicultural practices. The lessons include: a more active role for non-state actors in re-greening initiatives; more attention to market signals; devolution of management responsibility; clear definition of responsibilities and benefit-sharing arrangements; and better tenure security, which are all major factors to success.

Highlights

Large areas of the world’s forests have been lost or degraded, and the problem continues unabated.According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), around 13 million hectares of forest were converted to other uses or lost through natural causes each year between2000 and 2010 compared to 16 million ha per year in the 1990s [1] though marked variations are observed across regions
Major land-cover changes resulting from improper practices are taking place on the rugged topography that characterizes most of the Ethiopian highlands, which have accelerated land degradation and soil erosion
Area exclosure is the dominant type of re-greening practice promoted by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as by multilateral and bilateral donors, on degraded lands whereas afforestation/reforestation includes small-scale and industrial plantations

Summary

Introduction

Large areas of the world’s forests have been lost or degraded, and the problem continues unabated. Through proper management of 5 million ha of forests and woodlands, Ethiopia hopes to achieve 50% of its total domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions abatement potential by 2030 [7] To this end, the country is engaged in various re-greening undertakings, and plans to scale-up good practices. Major land-cover changes resulting from improper practices are taking place on the rugged topography that characterizes most of the Ethiopian highlands, which have accelerated land degradation and soil erosion This has left vast areas severely degraded, while the loss of fertile topsoil, estimated at 1 billion cubic meters (m3) per year, significantly reduces agricultural productivity and continues to threaten food security at household and national levels [10]. This set the stage for a national Sustainable Land Management Program led by the Ministry of Agriculture and supported by a coalition of donors

Major Types of Re-Greening Practices

Area Exclosures

Governance of Area Exclosures

Afforestation and Reforestation

Conclusions

Findings

Implications for Policy and Practice