Though the nation is beset by land degradation and deforestation, it is struggling to achieve its plan of ensuring economic development and eradicating poverty.
However, attaining the goal is not an easy task unless the degraded land is rehabilitated. Even if the goal could be attained is to be achieved, it will not be sustainable said Dr Yitebtu Mogess, who is a Director of REDD+ Project.
In the
commission of Environment Forest and Change. Forest cultivation should go in
line with other development endeavors to ensure a change for the better.
Countries whose landscape is characterized by mountains are not remiss in
forestation and conservation works because they know the consequences of floods
in the rainy seasons.
The absence and depletion of forests in mountainous countries make them vulnerable to erosion and the attendant ills of flood. The mountainous nature of the landscape aggravates the situation.
Soil from steep slope areas is washed away rapidly by heavy floods.
Since recent times, in our country, the issue of forest was given very little attention. The clearance of vegetation coverage and deforestation-induced by the pressing need to cater to household energy are still common practices.
Forests have numerous values. In addition to balancing the ecosystem and sequestrating carbon, they ensure economic benefits to the local communities. They are sources of firewood, honey, tourism, coffee production and herbal medicines.
As mountains serve as water towers, when they are covered by forests, both in winter and summer seasons’ water will be available without interruption. Rivers can help generate hydropower which in turn helps meeting the energy demand. Underground water, which could be a source of irrigation, also will be replenished.
According to Yitebtu, recent studies show that the scarcity of rain and a vicious cycle of drought are directly related to deforestation. He further said that the Ethiopian civilization which could be traced back to Axum civilization, through centuries, shifted to the zaguea, Shewa and Gonder as a result of deforestation. The scarcity of firewood and timber due to deforestation forced Kings to shift their residential capital.
Even Emperor Menelik II attempted to shift his capital from Addis to Alemgena town due to the scarcity of fire wood. But the introduction of the plantation of an exo-genic eucalyptus tree, imported from Australia, made the emperor to change his mind.
Forests can be taken as a safe haven for agriculture because they help avoid flooding and they allow the sinking of water making underground reservoirs. They spare the top soil, useful for agriculture, from erosion. This in turn increases productivity.
Therefore, it should be understood that on top of planting auditing forest stalks is essential.
While emphasizing the value of forest alluding to scientific evidences, Yitebitu said that Ethiopia would never have managed agriculture without the availability of forests in the Congo basin; equatorial region of West Africa and the scattered forests in the south west part of the country. The wind that blows from West Africa in summer and autumn heavily determines the availability of rain in Ethiopia.
Such protected forests in the vicinity of the country ensure sufficient rain. The wind blowing both from Indian and Atlantic oceans contributes to the country less than half of the needed rain water.
Fifty percent of the rain water is forest recycled. Which means the evaporated water from the forests is turned into a rain again.
The wind emanating from the equatorial rain forest would clash with the Ethiopian highlands and turn into rain and makes possible the summer season. Hence, to continue as a nation, forests, which are indirectly the backbones of the economy in the Ethiopian context, have to be well protected.
However, still there is improper usage of water during rainy seasons. It inundates rivers resulting in property damages and loss of animals and human beings. And in times of dry seasons altogether water dries up. Hence, to balance the gap and to utilize the water source sustainably conserving forests is essential.
Currently, only 15 percent of the landscape is covered by forests. This task should be scale upped. Population pressure and investment activities must be supported by well managed land planning policy. Here, participatory forest cultivation at community level should be employed.
Engaging the youth in forest development creates immense job opportunities. Farming plots must not eat up forests. To stabilize the ecosystem and for enduring solutions from chronic drought forty percent of the land surface must be covered by forests.
Out of the labor force engaged in farming, 30 percent of it should engage in conservation and water shade management. Even if it tasks the nation financially, in a short period of time, in the long run, it brings a multifaceted benefit to the population and to the nation at large.
As to Yitebitu, in Ethiopia, annually more than 90 thousand hectare land is deforested. Sadly, on the contrary, only 20 thousand hectare land is afforested. This indicates how the chasm is wide .And for the last 15 years, things were going in such a way. Hence, reversing the sad episode should be the nation’s preoccupation.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition August 4 / 2019
BY ABEBE WOLDE GIORGIS
