Update – Forest Conservation – Ethiopia

Wof Washa natural Resources and land use management Project update, Addis Ababa – Ethiopia 

SUNARMA has been implementing Wof-Washa Forest and Land Use Management Project in North Shewa Zone of Amhara Regional State. With support of fund obtained from ITF two demonstration nurseries and group nurseries established, tree seeds and planting materials procured to produce seedlings to be planted by the community in and around the Wof Washa natural forest.   

During the reporting period farmers were encouraged to establish their own private and group nursery sites. Very much encouraging results have been observed. Organized groups particularly landless youth groups prepared their own nurseries. Planting materials were provided.  As a result, different groups are raising tree seedlings. For this year tree planting, seedling raising in two demonstration nursery sites are underway. 

Achievements:  Establish and run nurseries, two demonstration nurseries at Mescha and Wof wash Genete established and are operating at full capacity to produce indigenous, multipurpose  trees and shrubs seedlings to be out planted in the field on degraded land and for enrichment plantation in and around Wof Wash Forest. 

Different nursery management activities were undertaken. Fencing the nursery compound to protect from roaming animals, cultivation and loosening of soil, seedbed preparation, sowing of different tree species seeds and watering seedlings are major activities undertaken in both demonstration nurseries.

Group/individual and school Nursery – The purpose of establishing a community managed nursery is to ensure the availability of seedlings at the locality to produce seedlings as required through giving them an opportunity to gain knowledge to increase their technical capacity. Accordingly, the project has initiated interested farmers of targeted kebeles to raise seedling of their choice.  2 group nurseries having 32 ( 5 female & 27 male) members establish their own nursery site at Mescha & Wof washa Genete kebeles.  On the other hand one school nursery is established at wof wash. So far seed bed preparation, sowing of different seeds and other nursery operation activities are undertaken by the participants. 

The project has delivered technical and material support to strengthen this activity. In addition to these 12kg of Eucalyptus seed provided to Woreda Agriculture and rural development office as support.  

 

 

Project details : The Forest Conservation Project seeks to reverse the degradation of the Wof Washa Forest by working with local communities, linking their interests with the protection of natural resources, so that they will become custodians of the forest. The programme is managed by SUNARMA.

Wof-Washa is Ethiopia’s oldest state forest. It is in North Shoa Zone of Amhara Regional State, and is currently at 8,200 ha, having shrunk from 9,200 ha since 1994. The forest is under pressure from locals expanding their agricultural area and felling old trees for local and even commercial use. The communities have established forest user groups/institutions in 12 kebeles (wards), and members have entered into dialogue with the project, development agents and one another. They have established draft by-laws and are debating the rights and obligations of user groups. Tree nurseries, both individual and group-managed, are thriving throughout the project area. These measures are necessary precursors to building the understanding and capacity of the communities to plan and manage the forest resource effectively.

Three environmental youth clubs have been established in the project area and are managing tree and vegetable nurseries. A further 18 central nursery sites and 45 individually-managed nurseries have been established involving some 202 farmers, and more than 155,000 seedlings of different tree species have been raised.

This is an on-going project with the long-term objective of helping farming families move from subsistence farming, to a market economy where income can be earned outside the forest area.