Analysis of Eucalyptus Role in the Livelihoods of Ethiopian Rural Households
Beneficiaries revised
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7. Protection and sustainable management of forests in West Amhara through PFM approach!
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By Esubalew Dires
ORDA, the strategic partner of ANRS, is fruitful in filling developmental gaps in relation to
managing sustainable natural resources, delivering potable water supply, developing
irrigation schemes, supplying improved agricultural technologies and livestock resources.
The organization has conducted soil and water conservation and planting indigenous and
exotic species of trees which played a significant role in maintaining ecology of the
environment. Furthermore, ORDA has been carrying out protection and sustainable
management of natural forests.
The former Biodiversity Program has changed the attitude of farmers and put its
developmental achievements in lowland (Metema & Quara) and highland (Farta, Lay Gayint
& Estie) districts. However; organized cooperatives are getting weakened in those areas.
This needs serious attention of the government & sectors who took over from ORDA.
The natural forest cover of lowlands of West Amhara is catastrophically diminishing ever
more than before. Studies revealed that Ethiopia rapidly losses 200000 hectares of forest
cover annually and for this the Amhara Region is high in rank. The rapid loss, degradation
and fragmentation of forests in the region is due to unregulated grazing, illegal logging,
charcoal production, uncontrolled forest fires and the steadily increasing conversion of forest
to agricultural land mainly for sesame & sorghum production, a rising population pressure,
legal illegal settlement, improper incense and rubber (arabic) extraction, fire clearance for
the growing of sesame and cotton, improper management of communal forests are to be
mentioned forefront. The flora and fauna including varied species of birds of the area are
endangered. The dry forests of the semi-arid west Amhara lowlands along the Northern and
Southern Sudanese border form a "green belt" and build a buffer zone against the expanding
Sahara and Sahel. This "Green Belt", comparatively to other areas in the country, is a
relatively intact system that is home to species of trees, animals and birds which has a
8. significant meaning in restoring and conserving the ecosystem. Hence, protecting and
sustainably managing the remaining natural forests is a priority concern to the government,
various sectors and NGO’s.
Since 2014, ORDA launched a new project called Protection and sustainable management of
forests in West Amhara in Alefa woreda-Shahura town. The project delineated 16,172.8 and
9¸195.8 hectares of forest land in 4 and 2 kebeles of Quara and Alefa woredas respectively
in North Gondar Zone. Moreover, 9¸719.5 hectares of land are being closed in 4 kebeles of
Jawi woreda in Awi Special Administrative Zone. In general, the project planned to manage
123,000 hectares of land including the previous intervention. Currently 35088 ha of forest
land have been delineated newly and 45088ha of forest land were delineated from the
previous intervention of biodiversity conservation and totally 80176 ha of forest land have
been managed by the project through PFM approach in collaboration with the local
communities and other stakeholders. The primary objective of the project is Protection and
sustainable management of forests in West Amhara through PFM approach for ecological
restoration and biodiversity conservation and improvement of the livelihood of beneficiaries
through different income generation activities.
The four year project secured 17 million birr from German Agro-action, BMZ and the
regional government which benefits 17,600 households (8.8 % women).
Participatory Forest Management (PFM) is an approach of the project. The approach
considerably creates a sense of ownership which results in sustainable protection and
management of natural forests in West Amhara. By its very nature, the project needs active
involvement of various actors from agriculture, cooperatives, justice, security and
9. administrative bodies from top to bottom. In this case, training has been given to aware
farmers and concerned bodies. Ssustainable forest management provides a fundamental
foundation for climate change mitigation and adaptation and contributes to food security and
livelihood improvement through various means.
According to Ato Mequanint Dagnew, manager of the project, Protection and sustainable
management of forests in West Amhara project has two major concerns. These are protection
of forests for ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation and livelihood
improvements. Consequently, beneficiaries form a legal entity called natural resource,
tourism development and marketing cooperatives in order to protect degradation and
fragmentation of forests. The project established 9 legally registered cooperatives and 6 are on
process to be legalized.
Beneficiaries have started enjoying success of the project having engaged in non timber
(incense and gum) productions, construction of fuel saving stove, apiary, and production of
improved crop varieties and fruits. Landless youths and women are also energetic
developmental actors and beneficiaries. To reduce the predominance traditional biomass
energy use, the project has been undertaking trainings on the production and use of fuel
saving stoves to the producer group. Generally, a total of 12 producers groups of fuel saving
stove established and job are created.
The project trained 348 beneficiaries and assisted them to be engaged in apiary. Hence, 402
members (7% women) formed 22 apiary groups. 219 traditional beehives are transferred to
modern in order to maximize honey production both in amount and quality. Due to the impact
of El Niño, most apiary groups didn’t produce honey this year. Only an apiary group found
in Jawi woreda Dir Mariam kebele extracted a starter50 kg of honey.
A lowland area of West Amhara is a potential to Boswellia species for incense and Arabic gum
production. However, unscientific tapping destroyed species of trees in the area. The project trained
468 (9% women) beneficiaries who are organized in 52 groups and started production. Hence, 9
cooperatives produced 2,890 quintals of incense and earned 8.5 million birr in Metema and Quara
10. woredas last year. However, for longer years, Boswellia papyrifera trees have been poorly
harvested or misused and professionals recommended that it has to be paused for few years for giving
chance to recover.
The project also delivered a 40 quintal of improved sorghum varieties namely Girana & Gobeye and
a 5 quintal of sesame (Humera-1). Thus, farmers covered 426 hectares of land and earned 8,432
quintals of production.
More than 280 (16 women) beneficiaries have taken 971 mango and 481 avocado seedlings to
advance the production of horticulture in the area.
In general, it is really important to protect, maintain and support beneficiaries for proper use
of the remaining natural forests in western Amhara. Due to the intervention of ORDA, good
results have been achieving against forest clearance. But it still requires a series attention. It
requires the concerted efforts of sectoral offices from regional and district structures to
kebele level to make it more effective. Especially concerned bodies such as agriculture,
cooperatives promotion, environmental protection, justice, security and administrative higher
officials and experts must collaboratively work to wisely manage natural resources before it
is irreversibly altered to a barren land.
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14. Strong cooperatives needed to prevent forest destruction!
By EsubalewDires
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Dubaba kebele, which is located to the North of Quara, is ….miles away from the capital of
the woreda- Gelego. Dubaba kebele residents are migrants composed from 24 different
woredas due to settlement. A young farmer Tesfahun Sitot is a resident at the locality of Mirt
Gelego in Dubaba kebele. The farmer is married and has got a son. He moved from South
Wollo Zone, Meqdela Woreda at a village named Chingua to Quarra due to a legal
settlement in 1997. Farmer Tesfahun described Dubaba and its surrounding as it was covered by
dense forest and inhabited by a large variety of indigenous plant and animal species. Over the past
10 years, natural forests are greatly diminishing. As a result,, animals living in the forest like
monkey, antelope, boars, deer, lion, leopard etc migrated due to lack of shelter.
Natural forest destruction and animal migration are mainly caused by a significant
population growth, development of construction, timber and charcoal production, the
expansion of agricultural land.
Since 2014, ORDA studied and delineated forest cover of the area with active involvement of
the community. Currently, farmers are organized in participatory forest management system.
"Aferach Dokmit Natural Resources, Tourism and Marketing Cooperatives" containing a
15. total of 150 HHs (34 FHHs) are established in Quara woreda Mirt Gelego kebele. We found
some members protecting mountainous areas of Muday, Afar/Abashagna and Mirt Gelego.
This time, we paused him to tell us the contribution of ORDA. Farmer Tesfahun then, replied
“incense and gum has been produced by rich merchants from outside the region for longer
years. Thus, we didn’t benefit from the natural resource. Now, the intervention of ORDA in
the area assisted farmers to form cooperatives and get benefited from the resource. We are
well trained when and how to tap incense. We have already started to produce and use the
resources wisely. The project helped 133 bee hives with the necessary equipments. We are
also supported to transfer 18 beehives from traditional to modern in order to enhance
production.” ORDA also provides the cooperative corrugated iron, nails, balance and other
materials to a store building and office uses.
Besides, the project organized jobless youths and women and it helped them fully engage in
the construction of fuel saving stove. Hence, beneficiaries are generating income to improve
their livelihood.
Improved crop varieties of sorghum (Girana & Gobeye) and sesame (humera-1) has been
delivered to target beneficiaries.
Asech, Dir Mariam, Kebtelie are kebeles of Jawi woreda delineated under ORDA/ protection
and sustainable management of natural forest cover in West Amhara. Asech kebele is a home
of many species of trees, animals and birds. Unique and old species of trees are inhabited in
this area. This unique old tree locally named “Wardi Farda.” is a giant and multipurpose
tree which maintains ecology of the environment and can be used as a shelter from the sun.
In this case, ORDA’s intervention played indispensable role in saving a dramatically
deteriorating species. Attitude of the community towards protection and sustainable
management is progressing through time. They know that a person who cuts trees will be
16. charged. To strengthen “Yetigil Ferie Natural Resource, Tourism and Marketing
Cooperatives" was established by ORDA.
Farmer Tefera Beyene, an activist for protection of natural resources & member of the
cooperative originally came from the highlands of Dangila during his early childhood. He is
now a 60 year old adult. He noted “During the 1960’s, I used to come with my dad to feed
forage for animals. In that time, Jawi area was terrifying for its cover of thick trees, shrubs
and grasses. But, now history is changed that natural forest cover is highly reduced due to
human activity. We are missing our resources and nothing in hands to transfer for the next
generation. For this reason, ORDA prepared project proposal to protect and maintain
natural forest cover of West Amhara.” Now, ORDA in collaboration with ANRS and funding
partners delineated and are protecting and maintaining remains of forest cover in the region.
The members have started keeping the natural resources and engaged in income generating
activities. Women are engaged in manufacturing efficient fuel saving stoves. Beneficiary
farmers are also practicing beekeeping. The project delivered user groups apiary
equipments (48 modern hives, 17 transitional beehives, honey filter, clothing), seedlings of
fruits and improved crop varieties. Hence, the project has been achieving its double targets
in improving the life of farmers and sustainably maintaining & keeping the resources at the
same time.
17. A joint effort is really crucial among the concerned stakeholders basically agriculture,
environmental protection, cooperatives promotion, tourism and parks development, finance,
justice and administrative bodies. So, our message is short and clear: Let’s work together to
maintain the irreversible natural resources we have today!!
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21. Biogas a source of renewable energy and natural fertilizer!
Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA) announced farmers
continued to use renewable energy
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By Esubalew Dires
Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA) announced over 2,500
rural families have started to benefit from an alternative power supply (biogas). ORDA
funded a 2.3 million birr from Power Africa in collaboration with the regional biogas
coordination unit and the community installed more than 470 biogas that worth a total of 7.5
million birr in Alefa woreda, Ato Mequanint Dagnew, Protection and sustainable
management of forests in West Amhara project manager, said.
Ato Mequanint asserted alternative and renewable energy is vital to sustainably preserve the
declining natural forest cover of West Amhara. The project played a significant role
benefiting over 470 HHs in one of the intervention woredas. Biogas replaced the use of
firewood for cooking and lighting by reducing the cutting down of trees for fuel use.
Farmer Yismaw Zemene, a resident at Tara Kozen kebele Birgie village, is one of the project
beneficiaries in Alefa woreda. He used biogas energy for the last 6 consecutive months.
While comparing with his previous life, the farmer stated since the day they started using
biogas they no longer buy petroleum and it also highly reduced firewood for cooking. He
said, “We used to buy petroleum for light and collect much more firewood for cooking. But,
we always get light & cook some food items using the biogas.”
His wife, W/ro Yemikir Molla on her side stated her eyes health status is improved, the time
and energy which they waste for cooking is greatly reduced after biogas is planted around
her home.
ORDA gives due attention for conservation and development of natural resources. Hence,
alternative energy sources are extensively carried out to combat climate change impacts. The
attitude of beneficiaries is also being advanced through time.
The project has assisted 471smallholder agriculturalists by planting biogas around their
residents. Beneficiaries are using a renewable, clean and safe energy options mixing cow
22. dung with pure water and connecting it with toilets. Besides energy options, it is a source for
compost preparation to improve productivity of crops.
It is to be noted that beyond delineation and protection of natural forest covers, ORDA has
planted 4.3 million seedlings over 1,300 hectares of degraded areas.
