Tefera Kemachew, Sidama resident, SNNP Regional State and protecting trees has the means of happiness for him that was obtained from his family. In his residential area, the attitude of the community towards trees is differing from one to other. Now, Tefera involves in selling the seed plants for farmers and other bodies who open an enterprise following the reform during the past two years.
According to Tefera, conserving forests was given serious attention by the government during the past 28 years as people also have given similar attention towards trees. However, the conservation system has reduced due to various reasons especially in the recent past.
As to him, increasing the number of population and lack of due attention by the government is a serious problem which hinders protection and conservation of forests during the past more than two decades. It means that, when the number of people increases the consumption of trees for various reasons also increases. Likewise, when the government has not given adequate attention to forests then people resort to destroying forests.
‘’Due to the attitude of the people towards forests, communities differ from communities, which means on the one hand, community has given due attention for trees and on the other hand they are not protected rather they are deforested.’’ He added.
He further added that tree is a life and medicine that gives oxygen and the input of making traditional and modern medicine. Therefore, it needs serious attention. In this regard, Ethiopia has given due attention for planting and preserving trees during the past two years.
Head of UNDP Project at Ethiopian Wild Life Conservation Authority, Arega Mekonen told The Ethiopian Herald that wild life and forest are never separable as it is animals’ shelter. The main task of the project is conserving natural resources across the nation, which means that protecting trees or forests is one of the obligation of the authority. However, depending on the level of understanding and their cultures, conserving trees differs from community to community. In this aspect, community has special attention towards forests, they engage full time on conservation by motivating themselves. For example, Menz Gouassa Reserved forest is the current best practice in North Shewa Zone of Amhara Regional State as it has been under protection of the local community.
According to Arega, conserving forest is protecting wild life, which means that without forest conservation, it is impossible to the country that secures the benefits from wild life. In addition to this, forest conservation has numerous advantages beyond protecting wild life like expanding irrigation, balancing the climate, medication, reducing desertification, and so on. However, the forest coverage is decreasing from time to time along with the growth of population during the past more than two decades. In this regard, trees are cut for the purpose of building houses, firewood and expanding farmlands including the mountain areas so far.
He remembered that Ethiopia has special forest coverage during the Derg regime that compared with the current time.
On the other hand, eight percent of the wild life sanctuary has special forest conservation at this period.
‘’The current ambitious motivation, inspired by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ph.D.) is playing pivotal role to reclaim the former status of the country through forest coverage in the coming few years across the country. However, it needs awareness creation on the societies for a full success,’’ Arega stated.
Meanwhile, the country has 40 percent of forest coverage about three decades ago while this number decreases to 0.03 percent afterwards. However, after taking some actions on environment conservation, the country has 15 percent forest coverage at this period and reaches 20 percent of total land in the end of this fiscal year.
Forest Research Director and Forest Researcher at Amhara Agricultural Research Institute, Menale Wondie (Ph.D.) on his part said that increment of population, problems in structural arrangement, peoples involvement in panting seedling only with the intention of making daily income rather than conserving sustainably has serious impact on recent forest conservation.
Particularly, more than 85 percent of source of energy is fire wood. However, the community gives special attention towards planting and conserving trees since the past two years. In this regard, people in highlands and temperate zones are planting
eucalyptus and acacia in acidic soils. Since such soils are not usable for crops the community can earn income by producing charcoal. Although, it needs additional information, the forest has shares 12 percent of the national GDP.
According to the Director, if the motivation of the afforestation were continue at this moment, then the nation will succeed the target plan. However, it should be separated the seedling plant species that were planting the comfortable zones. In this regard, most of the time, particularly on the campaign movement, participants do not have full information as to which species is compatible to a certain type of soil. Therefore, concerned bodies should take responsibility, which conducting research that how to planting the tree on the comfortable zones or soils thereby conserving it.
He recalled that the government always adheres to a top down approach from top to bottom during the past more than two decades, which the other side of the affecting forest across the country. Therefore, the current government will better to utilize bottom to top steps which has playing crucial role for conserving forest sustainably thereby ensure societies benefit.
The Ethiopain Herlad Jun 20, 2020
BY MESERET BEHAILU
