Planting seedlings in Ethiopia

The Bale Mountains, Ethiopia, are a magnificent but threatened ecosystem. Approximately 1000 km2 of the Bale Mountains National Park is Afro-montane forest, which is disappearing at a rate of 15km2 a year. Most of this is due to fuel wood extraction, and clearing of forest for cropland. One strategy to mitigate against this threat to the forest is to develop small family-size plantations of fast growing exotic trees for fuel wood. Nurseries that can provide seedlings are lacking in Bale and thus the development of a nursery and the skills to manage a nursery are sorely needed. Rehabilitation, particularly of stream edges in and around village in Bale, by planting native trees has also been identified as an important step in reducing sedimentation and keeping waterways clean. The resultant reduction of erosion and better access to irrigation may also make agricultural production more efficient and reduce the rate of agricultural expansion.

ITF are supporting Bale Beauty Nature Club (BBNC) to fund the planting of 30,000 seedlings in a nursery. These seedlings will be distributed to the local communities in five villages, who will plant the seedlings in order to protect the environment and to create a habitat for both animals and plants. The seedlings will increase the number of native trees in the area and help to reforest areas in the Bale that have been deforested.

The seedlings are distributed in five villages through their schools, and in Goba the voluntary club members will participate in a house to house tree planting program and planting the club nature reserve site.