Various documents indicate that at the beginning of the 20th century around 420 000 km² or some 35 percent of Ethiopia’s land was covered by forest.
According to a census conducted by former Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2004, under a project Wood Biomass, the figure has dropped devastatingly to 3.6 percent. Regretfully, massive deforestation and over-exploitation of the highland areas among others inflict greater harm to the environment making the nation vulnerable to drought and natural disasters.
Due to this, the country is paying in immense. The recent power total blackout could be one example here.
In addition, the trend of Ethiopia’s imports of industrial wood is peaking from time to time. For instance, it has hit 182 million USD in 2015 from 82.8 million USD in 2007.
The question is how does the recent initiative of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed helps to overcome the challenge, and benefit from the forestry sector.
Dr. Wubalem Tadesse is a senior researcher in Central Ethiopia Environment and Forest Research Center of the Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute (EEFRI).
To him, the current initiative of the premier is monumental in raising the awareness of the public on the benefits of reforestation. “It is commendable that leaders come at the forefront of such programs. It shows the degree of their understanding of the problem. And it enlightens the citizenry and other stakeholders.”
Forestry development is a sector that gets little emphasis so far. But, it is no less than building highways. It is no less than building industrial parks, he argues.
“It is a guarantee for our dams. It as well helps us secure foreign currency, ensure food security, not to mention the huge positive environmental impacts.”
As Ethiopia is in the middle of countries that are less favorable to forestry development, this could create an opportunity for the country to export wood and wood products.
To him, such campaigns ought to be compounded with other schemes. One is engaging in a planned and sustained program. “Plantation of seedlings should have a clear objective—is it to animal fodder? Is it to protect the environment? Or is it to commercial purpose?”
In addition, private investors need to tap the opportunity available in the area. There are incentives to businessmen that opt for engaging in the sector. He said: “Loan could be accessed from banks and investors are exempted from paying taxes from first wood harvest.”
He also mentioned that some African countries are benefiting out of the sector. “I met a Rwandan physician who resigned his job and started to invest in the forestry area. He told me that the incentive package attracted him to resort to this sector.”
But he has still worries. “Forestry sector lacked proper guidance over the years. The public body that is in charge of this huge sector has been in a series of changes, it has not still been full-fledged. You will find it at ministerial portfolio at one time and being a commission or whatever at another time,” said Wubalem.
To him, there is no also an entity that coordinates the forestry area at a regional level. “Be it a commission or a ministry, they operate at federal levels only.”
The government has onus in attaching utmost attention to the sector putting in place the right benefits packages to researchers of the area, he adds.
Hailemichael Teshome who is a BSc holder in Sports Sciences from Kotebe University. But he resorted to carpentry organizing himself in Small and Medium Enterprises in Addis Ababa.
He said he cannot receive orders on a fixed price. The price of wood fluctuates from time to time. Hence, he should check the market first prior to receiving orders.
“We have woods that we identify them as Australian Wood, Wanza and Shashamene. The first one is imported while the latter two are local woods.”
The imported wood is twice or trices as costly as the local one. For instance, if we buy an Australian wood for 1,300 Birr, the local might be 500 Birr or 400 Birr. “Due to the quality of the wood, we prefer the imported one to various works.”
Yet there are times that both sorts become unavailable in the market.
The price also goes up sharply. “A year ago, I bought Australian wood for 500 Birr and later 700 Birr.”
He questions: what is the reason a country like Ethiopia imports wood from a country as far as Australia? To my understanding, we have suitable climate, fertile soil and regular annual rainfall. Thus, it is possible to substitute the imports, he said.
To conclude, the premier’s initiative of a four-billion seedling plantation program can inspire many citizens to put their imprints. It should also be supplemented with works that have far-reaching impacts.
Promoting commercial forest plantation ought to get increasing attention in this regard, for instance. Plantation programs also need to be preplanned. Professionals of the area have greater role and responsibility of ushering the country in the right path to achieve the overall aspiration of greening the country as well.
The Ethiopian Herald June 21/2019
BY STAFF REPORTER
