On the 5th of June, the World Environment Day was marked under the theme, Ecosystem Restoration with the view of recreating, reimagining and restoring the ecosystem across the world. In Ethiopia, the day was marked by a public gathering conducted at Hawassa town in south Ethiopia.
The country possesses immense ecological diversity and its long history of agriculture, it is known as one of the twelve primary centers of origin and diversity of crops in the world. It is a primary and a secondary gene pool center for several crops. In Ethiopia, land degradation is a serious problem affecting agricultural productivity. Overgrazing and the expansion of farming into marginal lands caused by an increasing population pressure without increasing economic productivity have been leaving the land bare.
Present key problems in land degradation include loss of vegetation cover and biodiversity followed by escalating soil erosion, declining soil fertility, expanding salinization as well as aridity through hydrological cycle disruption caused by unsustainable anthropogenic practices exacerbated by climate change (BSAP, 2005). Typical pressure factors leading to land degradation include nutrient depletion from agricultural lands, overgrazing and deforestation.
A number of researches conducted on forest degradation in Ethiopia indicate that Fuel wood accounts for more than 80per cent of households’ energy supply today – particularly in rural areas. Furthermore, forests contribute an estimated 4per cent to GDP through the production of honey, forest coffee and timber.
Quite a few of health problems in Ethiopia are interrelated with issues of the environment. Climate change induced illnesses like vector borne diseases and several other types of diseases. However, as the result of efforts made by the peoples of Ethiopia and the government marked positive changes are coming up.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission reported that the national forest coverage of the country has grown from 15.5per cent over the last several years to 17.5per cent. This success was reportedly registered over the last 5 years due to massive public participation on watershed management, tree planting and government commitment to the rehabilitation of the degraded ecosystem in the country. Every year, more than 30 million citizens are
mobilized in massive public campaign in the rural and urban settings of the country in rehabilitating the ecosystem in this country. Given the recurrent drought and flooding induced by El-Nino and La-Nina syndrome and heavy dependence of the rural population on bio-fuel, the achievements so far registered would cruise the country to achieving the original 40per cent of the national forest coverage in a relatively shorter period of time.
Investing on the environment in Ethiopia, a country with a variety of ecosystems is of greater importance given the fact that the development policy and strategy that the country is pursuing is based on climate resilient green economy since 2011.
Forestry is one of the main pillars of the economy to develop an environmentally sustainable and climate resilient economy through protecting and re-establishing forests for their economic and ecosystem services, including as carbon stocks, which brings the country at middle income status with NetZero emission by 2030. Forestry has an abatement potential of 130MtCO2e and contributing significantly towards achieving a carbon neutral economy.
As Ethiopia’s vulnerability to climate change has become obvious, planting seedlings every year has become a regular national practice. However, lack of coordination and strategy on how to retain and develop the planted forest seedlings has become a shortfall that needs to be addressed on time. This is obvious because the rate of deforestation has always outpaced the intensity and level of afforestation programs.
One important factor is interrelated with what benefits community members can get from the forest development programs. Community ownership of forest areas, ensuring that the rural youth can benefit from such programs, creating continuous awareness creation programs based on practical and closer examples of the adverse nature of climate change, development of permanent forest enclosures is of critical importance.
This year, according to the Office of the Prime Minister, Ethiopia’s third round Green Legacy is officially launched today by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed together with high level Federal and Regional government officials.
This year’s planting takes place under the motto “Let’s Adorn Ethiopia”. Following the planting of 5 billion seedlings last year, Ethiopia will plant 6 billion seedlings in this round. An additional 1 billion seedlings will be sent to neighboring countries to start a regional effort towards a green Africa. Planting will begin today in rain-fed areas while areas that do not get rain regularly will start taking preparatory measures.
The discussions held during the launch focused on restoring the country’s greenery, eliminating erosion and pollution, reducing conflicts that arise due to environmental degradation and reduction of natural resources, supporting the agricultural sector, and the economy. Prime Minister Abiy called on all Ethiopians to come in unison in covering the nation Green, seeing each other beyond lines of division.
Such grandeur national greening program is certainly not only about greening the country. It is expected to provide a spirit of unity in diversity by brushing out counterproductive and disruptive views that could affect the unity and territorial integrity of the country.
Ethiopia is using these campaigns not only for promoting forest coverage but also to get positive outcomes in the areas of food security, soil and water conservation and massive reduction of carbon accumulated in the earth’s atmosphere.
The occasion also provides ample opportunities to enhance the spirit of understanding, tolerance, friendship and democratic nationalism to ensure the unity of this country. As the trees that the peoples of Ethiopia plant would help to clean the atmosphere from carbon dioxide, those who plant the trees need to clear their minds from hared, bigotry and dissemination of rumors and fabricated information.
If properly utilized, afforestation programs could be major sources for income generation for unemployed youth both in the urban and rural settings in Ethiopia. Besides, forestry programs in Ethiopia have proved that conservation of medicinal herbs and indigenous plants and trees as well as wild animals could be conducted with less cost and shorter period of time.
The current mega projects on the development of eco-tourism in Koisha, Wonchi and Gorgora are good example on how parks could be used as nodal points for forest and soil conservation, income generation, promotion of ecological balance and tourism.
I stress again that such projects need to be people centered because the communities need to own, protect and benefit from such projects that have multiple benefits for the development of the national economy and the protection of the environment.
Apart from what is underway, forestry and environmental beautification projects need to be owned by sector ministries, civil society organizations and professional associations across the country. The knowledge on forests and soil conservation, in my opinion also need to be incorporated widely in the entire curriculums right from the nursery up to universities and related institutes of higher learning in the country.
The third round of greening the country is expected to further boost the level of forest coverage in the county to much higher levels. Forests are the natural habitats for our flora and fauna. The landscape of Ethiopia needs to be changed turning semi-arid and even desert areas into oasis for more happier, peaceful and productive life of citizens.
BY SOLOMON DIBABA
The Ethiopian Herald June 11/2021
