Forests have multifaceted values. Among others, they balances ecosystem, keep biodiversity, parry soil erosion, retain underground water, shield animals and sequestrate carbon dioxide that poses global warming. But due to various reasons the forest coverage is shrinking from time to time. Sources indicate that, about 80 thousand hectares of forestland is cleared annually.
Hence, making discussion and holding dialogue among stakeholders and intellectuals on this burning issue is exigent.
Adefris Worku (PhD) works at the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change. He is forest sector high ranking expert.
As to him, Ethiopia has the oldest forest park in the world. It was established in the 15th century during the Emperor Zerayakob reign. That is 500 years ago.
During that time Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana that currently boast better status in forest development had never been even as states.
Sadly, Ethiopia today has no manmade forests. It is only natural forests it has.
Eucalyptus was brought from abroad 150 years ago and introduced here. Today, it is used for various industrial purposes. Though that is the case, the nation is not benefiting from the forest sector to the required level. Sign of development is nowhere in sight. This is a bitter truth that citizens must stomach.
Why other countries that began forest development late left Ethiopia behind them and advanced the sector need to get an answer.
The sector has a potential to create job opportunities to the unemployed youths, support other sectors and balance the ecosystem.
“When we talk about forests we are talking about human life, biodiversity, rain etc.-Educationalists, planners and researchers know the ‘critical stage of the challenges , how we administer it, that is why we must show our concern to the forest resources that nosedive,” said Adefris.
Once, the country’s forest natural resource was classified in to 9 categories. Later, it was classified in 7 categories. Now, it is divided into four and named as accasia, cominerya, dry montali and moist forest. It is also defined based on its carbon account and conservation capacity. Even though it is categorized in such a way, it is sub divided up to 18 agro ecological zones.
Ethiopia assumes the 25th rank row globally and the 5th row in continent in its forest resource richness. But Ethiopia is not buttressing its economy making use of this potential because the sector is underplayed.
Forests are vastly spread from the plateau of the Ras Dshen Mountain to the nadir of the desert. They are found in climatic areas traditionally known as Dega, Woinadega, Kola and Bereha. In the desert areas, there are forest species with the capacity of adopting the hotness of the climate.
Nevertheless, there are various constraints which hamper the sector’s development. Population growth can be cited as the formidable one. In other well-advanced countries such phenomenon is not taken as a threat, rather it is taken as an asset. What makes the case different in the Ethiopian context is that the majority of the population eke out a living from their tasks dependent on natural resources. This poses deforestation.
The other constraint factor is that the absence of land usage policy at national level. This in turn exacerbates unsustainable land usage at the expense of forests.
The failure of academicians and researchers to produce and emulate technology suitable for forest development are also cited as impediments.
Farmers engaged in forest plantation still utilize traditional technology. The local forest specious grows slowly and such situation discourages farmers to involve in forest cultivation. Therefore, researchers should breed new species which grow fast with short return so that farmers could be attracted to tree planting.
The already existing knowledge is not made as a best practice package and provided to farmers engaged in plantation. Rather they are shelved. Either not provided to decision makers. These are the major problems prevalent in the forest sector.
In the recent history of Ethiopia no institution is repeatedly reshuffled like the forestry sector. This action left the institutions instable. The high staff turnover leads to the loss of skilled and accumulated knowledge resulting in weak institutional memory and information management system. As a result, the sector has been emasculated and remained in an obscure position.
According to the official report, the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change was established in May 2013 with the mandate to develop and implement programs in environmental management and forestry. Prior to this, forestry was departmentalized under the small section in the Ministry of Agriculture.The establishment of the new Ministry demonstrates the growing attention placed on forests and natural resources is gaining in the country’s economic development.
The education system with regard to forestry should be reevaluated. Questions such as how the curriculum is designed, how knowledge is transferred to learners and how they support farmers must be addressed.
The public attitude towards forests leaned on preserving the resource rather than changing it into economic value. This must be improved.
Agriculture is still the mainstay of the nation’s economy but it must not be the sole economic base. Other sectors must not be ignored and forestry can be taken as supportive sector.
In Ethiopia poverty is the formidable hurdle to implementing sustainable natural resource management. Food security is not yet attained. Hence to feed the growing population more food must be produced. Though there are some improvements farmers still plow their farm in outmoded manner similar to the days of yore. It is divorced from technology.
In fact, food production has shown increment but it is not by raising land or labor productivity, it is rather by expanding farm lands at the expense of clearing vegetation coverage and forests. Satellite photographs indicate that farms are being expanded towards reserved forest areas of the south western parts of the country.
Scarcity of land triggered by population pressure make farmers to plow mountainous areas meant for forest. It would have balanced the ecosystem helpful to agriculture. It was possible to supply forest products to the market with in three or four years.
The clearance of forest not only affect wood products but also has a devastating impact on agriculture, water and energy. The soil eroded by running water finds its way to dam resulting in the reduction of the power generation capacity.
Currently, the in ability to satisfy the demand of forest products has forced the nation to spend its meager hard currency for importation.
In sum, to transform the forest management system of the nation, strengthening institutions through budgetary support, skilled labor force and ultimately adopting new thinking is vital.
The Ethiopian Herald March 29/2020BY ABEBE WOLDE GIORGIS
