Ethiopia has set a new world record in tree planting realized by huge mass mobilization. The activity has far-reaching advantages for the Simien Mountains National Park and the likes as they face wildfire threats caused by climate changes.
Known for its being sanctuary of the precious and yet the nowhere else to be found Gelada baboon, Simien fox, and the Walia ibex, the UNESCO registered Park has lost approximately 1,040 hectares of grassland by a raging fire.
It was an uphill battle that countries came into rescue with Israel sending a team of experts and Kenya sending firefighting helicopter. Joint efforts did bring the fire into an end. In addition to the rescue efforts, recently there has been massive mass mobilization in planting seedlings to recover the lost habitats in the park. The mobilization has been part of the nationwide tree planting championed by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
The incident also sends a chilling message to the world grappled with the gruesome reality of climate change.
A grand program has been held in presence of federal and Amhara states officials and surrounding communities of the park. Since then people from different localities have been flocking to the park filled with optimism to compensate the lost resources. Over the last two months, around 38,000 indigenous tree seedlings have been planted.
During the blaze, it was also the same people who helped put off the fire. It was no surprise that the community had been the first responders to the looming threat though their initial efforts tough made little headway, provoking public outcry and invoking government attention.
Because the fires potentially threatened the lives and economic well-being of the communities, they had a significant interest in suppressing the fires as quickly as possible. Despite the lack of resources, the community used whatever means were available: shovels, sticks and wet tree branches. The firefighting efforts were innovative because they were unable to rely on a steady supply of tools and resources.
Volunteers, residents of nearby towns, university students and members of tourist associations, have battled to get it under control despite proofing challenging to be brought under control. Again, the same courage has been displayed in the recent mass even in planting seedlings in the park. Due to the delays in the government’s response and the minimal resources available to counter the fire, the most effective firefighting tools were the community members themselves.
In nearly all areas that experienced serious fires in 2000, the communities either mobilized themselves or were mobilized by the local government to use whatever tools and resources were available to them.
The park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its summit, Ras Dashen (4,550 m), is the highest peak in Ethiopia. The 220 sq-km (84 sq-miles) park sometimes referred to as the “Roof of Africa” given that it forms the largest continuous area of elevation on the continent.
Removed from the list of world heritage in danger in 2017, in recognition to signs of improvement, its management reduced overgrazing; the park’s situation came under intense scrutiny because of the recent blaze.
Perhaps more importantly, local suppression strategy often depended upon indigenous local knowledge, not external input, according to research by Dechassa Lemessa.
While the “high-tech” method of aerial firefighting was proving ineffective in Bale, communities on the ground were using such simple techniques as wet tree branches or cutting the leaves of trees at the periphery of the fire as containment tools.
Community knowledge proved to be relatively successful in controlling the fires, an indication that such knowledge should be afforded a greater degree of respect in the future. The forest management knowledge developed over thousands of years of living on the land should be respected as a valuable resource.
Wildfire is a common phenomenon in the country. The same problem rolls in even other parks.
Besides, Bale National Park in South Ethiopia experienced a similar situation.
This sends a chilling message to the country and beyond on the impact of climate change. These incidents are in this regard behind Ethiopia’s nationwide greening initiatives. And its importance to preserving the ecological wellbeing of parks is enormous. Indeed, the problem reaching breaking point has awakened the entire people and sensitized conservationists.
On the other hand, building the counter efforts of the nation must receive adequate attention in addition to prevention mechanism. True as it may sound, had there been adequate fire awareness and basic firefighting equipment, the fires could have been controlled much sooner, reducing the impact of the disaster. Lack of far-sightedness seems to have contributed to the less capable of fighting with own capacity, instead to depend on external assistance to provide financial resources, manpower, and expertise.
The national government is unable to play a relatively small role in the fire response, for certain reasons such as negligible resource and experience in forest fire management. Besides, there was no focal point institution in Ethiopia to address forest fire disasters.
However, immediately after the fire was put out, the issue fads away completely, even at the government level. Ethiopia’s preparedness and firefighting capacity are almost the same as it was before; however, the threat of fire remains high, said experts under a condition of anonymity.
Semien Mountain National Park is also one of the best naturally choreographed beauties being at the center of nature enthusiasts and tourism goers. Surrounded by chains of mountains, beautified by the rarely seen endemic wild animals, the park, is the uncensored natural scene.
The geographic scene with breathtaking hills and refreshing wind could make a better adventure for trekking but it also made the wildfire to track.
Considered as the Roof of Africa, harboring the highest mountain peaks, the Park offers one of the wonders of wildlife. Hence, the recent planting of seedlings at the site is crucial to restore the lost trees and balance the eco-system.
Amhara states plants around 38,000 tree seedlings on 21 hectares of land over the last two months at Simien Mountains National Park
The Ethiopian Herald August 9, 2019
BY DESTA GEBREHIWOT
