BY ADDISALEM MULAT
It is abundantly clear that the length and breadth of the country are inundated with flora and fauna that can take the country to new elevations. Along the same line, Ethiopia’s growth strongly relies on what Ethiopia does to defend our woodlands as well as afforest our dishonored areas found in a wide spectrum of the country.
As the country is bedecked with a considerable amount of vegetation and forests, the weather conditions is suitable for every Tom, Dick, and Harry.
As things stand at present, as Ethiopia’s forest cover is on the rise every once in a while, the intended target is being accomplished. While on the subject, there is no clear-cut definition for forests located in the left, right and center of the country.
In an interview, once Sebsebe Demissew, Professor of Plant Systematics & Biodiversity, Department of Plant Biology & Biodiversity Management, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University gave to The Ethiopian Herald said, “There are about 12 distinct vegetation types in Ethiopia.
What we considered as forests include moist montane forests mainly in Southwest Ethiopia and Harenna Forest in Bale and dry montane forests occurring in eastern, central, north-western, northern highlands.
“The forest was defined as “Land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover of more than 10 percent. As per this definition, the forest cover was to about 3-4 per cent and thereabout”
In 2015 the then Ethiopian Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MEFCC) endorsed the definition proposed by high level experts reflecting the country’s circumstances defined forest as ‘Land spanning at least 0.5 ha covered by trees (including bamboo) attaining a height of at least 2 m and a canopy cover of at least 20 per cent or trees with the potential to reach these thresholds in situ in due course”
The change in the definitions meant that both the previously designated forests and woodlands are now considered as forests and hence the area coverage of forests in Ethiopia increased to 11.9 per cent.
As the country is festooned with a considerable degree of natural resources that are advantageous for the growth of forests, Ethiopia can increase its forest cover in the shortest possible time.
In an interview Abebe Getahun, Professor of Aquatic Biology at the Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University gave to The Ethiopian Herald said, “Ethiopia’s peculiar topography is that its landscape is dome-shaped with high rising mountains and a high tableland at the center that descends in all directions into the surrounding lowlands, resulting in the outward flow of the rivers”
He stressed that the general slope of the Western Highlands is towards Sudan, whereas that of the Eastern highlands is towards the Indian Ocean. Along the eastern edge of the western highlands, a major watershed separates the drainage westwards to Sudan from the drainage eastwards into the Rift Valley.
Similarly, a major watershed following the crest of the Eastern Highlands separates the drainage southeastwards towards the Indian Ocean from the drainage into the Rift Valley.
On a side note, the various regional states of the country take account of a wide spectrum of tree species.
To begin with, according to the Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State (BGRS) document, the region is bedecked with an extensive range of dense forests, Riverine forests, Broad-leaved Deciduous Woodlands, Acacia Woodland, Acacia Woodland, Bushland, Shrubland, Boswellia Woodland, Boswellia Woodland, and things of that sort.
In more concrete terms, the fundamental part of Benishangul-Gumuz is enclosed by natural forest vegetation particularly in a bamboo thicket, broad-leaved deciduous forests as well as Acacia coppices.
In a similar manner, wider areas that have been cleared for crop production are merely brought into being around Assosa/Bambesi, Pawe, and in some parts of Belo Jegonfoy, and that kind of crap.
A dense forest is characterized by an adjacent stand of trees with a more or less unremitting cover is snowballing seven to thirty meters and thin protection of lawns. It happens in the moorlands of Wembera and Dangur Woredas.
Dominant species of the area take account of Hagenia abyssinica, Junipers procera, Podocarpus gracilior, Olea africana and Prunus africanus.
Correspondingly, riverine forests are heterogeneous woodlands along rivers characterized principally by large trees, but also may consist of greeneries and low-lying bamboo.
Broad-leaved Deciduous Woodlands are Combretum-Terminalia woodlands occurring at altitudes between 300 and 1700m and with a rainfall of 800 to 1400 mm per year. Dominating species are Terminalia brownii, Combretum molle, Celtis africana, Croton macrostachys, Milletia ferruginea, and other related aspects.
Acacia Woodland is covered by an open stand of trees taller than 5m and up to 20 meters. The canopy cover exceeds 20 per cent. This type is found on flatlands, typically with vertisols.
Boswellia Woodland is mainly confined to the western lowlands of Benishangul-Gumuz and is often found on poor, shallow soils, steep slopes, and mountainous areas. A wide range of species occurs including Acacia tortilis, Balanites aegyptiaca, and species of Acallypha ,Barleria, Aerva, and Capparis, and things of that sort.
According to Professor Masresha Fetene , an Emeritus Professor of Plant Ecophysiology at Addis Ababa University, there has been some effort in afforestation but the more significant increase in percent coverage of forest land has come as a matter of altered definition. Previously, forests were defined as areas with trees of 5-meter height or more with 20 per cent cover.
Currently, to include trees of lowland areas (the Combretum-Terminalia woodlands of Gambella and Benishangul Gumuz regions), trees of 2 or 3-meter height with 20 per cent cover and a minimum area of 0.5 ha, are also considered as forests.
Thus the nation’s forest cover has suddenly expanded and it is estimated to be about 15.5 per cent of the total country land area according to the 2014 national inventory.
The Ethiopian Herald January 21/2021
