This year’s implementation of the Green Legacy Initiative has already been made public through a pre-launch ceremony conducted here in Addis Ababa in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The purpose of this contribution is to shed light on the systemic linkage of value chains that the National Green Legacy has introduced in the socio-economic development of Ethiopia.
The author of this article has already stressed in a previous article that the National Green Legacy Initiative is not just about planting trees. In this contribution, an attempt will be made to outline the interconnection between value chains ushered by the initiative.
The Green Legacy Initiative in Ethiopia, launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2019, aims to combat climate change, restore biodiversity, and ensure sustainable development. The initiative involves the mass planting of billions of trees across the country. Below, the author attempts to provide a breakdown of the value chain in the introduction of the Green Legacy Initiative:
– Collecting a variety of seeds from indigenous and drought-resistant trees to ensure ecological compatibility and sustainability is the first step in the process of value chain linkage of the NGLI.
– Establishing nurseries for germinating and nurturing seedlings before they are ready for planting is the next step. This involves both governmental and community-led nurseries.
– Growing seedlings in nurseries under controlled conditions to ensure healthy plants is followed by preparing the land for planting, which includes soil testing and ensuring the soil is conducive for the selected tree species. Efficiently transporting seedlings from nurseries to planting sites across different regions in Ethiopia is another important element of the value chain.
– Coordinating the distribution process to ensure timely delivery and minimize seedling loss during transportation. Engaging local communities, schools, public ministries, institutions, and organizations to participate in the planting activities fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility. Implementing best practices for planting to ensure high survival rates of the seedlings, including spacing, depth, and protection from grazing animals. Regular watering, weeding, and protection of young trees to ensure their growth and survival is part of the operational value chain. Conducting periodic assessments to track the growth, health, and impact of the planted trees is important.
– Promoting agroforestry and the use of tree products (e.g., fruits, nuts, timber) to generate income for local communities needs to be encouraged. Enhancing biodiversity, improving soil fertility, mitigating climate change through increased carbon sequestration is one of the components of the entire process of the value chain. Linking tree farmers with markets for selling tree products and accessing financial services. Utilizing green spaces and forests to boost eco-tourism and create additional revenue streams.
– Establishing policies that support reforestation, afforestation, and sustainable land management practices is a pertinent approach in the process of promoting value chain in the sector. Collaborating with international organizations for technical and financial support, as practiced in previous years, could be conducted in a sustained manner.
The environmental rehabilitation and protection conducted every year by an average of 20 million citizens in Ethiopia set the ground for massive tree planting. The campaign that is conducted every year has helped to retain the topsoil in various regions of the country and also contributed to the reduction of soil erosion and landslides during the rainy season.
Trees planted across the country over the last five years also included fruit trees that contributed to the formation of food forests in various ecological zones of the country. Food forests also provided shelters for indigenous plants that were mostly used as inputs for the preparation of traditional herbal medicines in Ethiopia.
Food forests are a sustainable agricultural practice that integrates a variety of plants in a way that mimics natural forest ecosystems, providing diverse and perennial food sources. In Ethiopia, the concept of food forests has gained attention as a strategy to combat food insecurity, enhance biodiversity, and promote sustainable land use.
Food forests typically consist of multiple layers of vegetation, including canopy trees, understory trees, shrubs, herbs, ground cover plants, vines, and root crops. This diversity helps create a resilient ecosystem. Unlike annual crops, perennials do not need to be replanted every year, which reduces soil disturbance and conserves resources. Plants are chosen and arranged to support each other, enhancing nutrient cycling, pest control, and water management.
By providing a continuous and varied food supply, food forests can improve food security for local communities. Food forests enhance biodiversity by creating habitats for various plant and animal species. The diverse root systems and organic matter from food forests improve soil structure and fertility. Food forests can help mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon and reducing the need for chemical inputs. In addition, outputs from food forests promote nutrition for children, lactating mothers, and the elderly by preventing micronutrient malnutrition. People who suffer from high blood pressure, persons with diabetes, and those who live with the HIV virus can use various fruits and vegetables that they can produce in their backyards or community plots.
Successful food forest projects often involve local communities in the planning and implementation stages to ensure that the forests meet local needs and are sustainably managed. Providing training for farmers and communities on permaculture principles and food forest management is crucial for the success of these projects. Integrating food forests with traditional Ethiopian agricultural practices can enhance acceptance and sustainability.
Trees have deep root systems that help improve the infiltration of rainwater into the soil, increasing groundwater recharge. This helps replenish aquifers, crucial for maintaining water supply during dry periods. Additionally, the roots of trees and other vegetation improve soil structure, reducing soil compaction and increasing the soil’s ability to absorb and retain water.
Trees and vegetation cover help stabilize the soil, preventing erosion, and reducing runoff. This not only preserves fertile land but also ensures that more rainwater seeps into the ground rather than running off the surface. By reducing erosion, trees help prevent the siltation of rivers and reservoirs, maintaining their capacity and water quality.
Forests and trees release water vapor into the atmosphere through transpiration, which can increase local humidity levels. This can potentially lead to more precipitation and contribute to a more stable local climate. Trees can moderate temperatures, which can have a favorable effect on local weather patterns, including rainfall.
Forested areas act as natural water catchments, helping regulate the flow of water into rivers and lakes. This ensures a more consistent supply of water downstream, even during dry seasons.
Furthermore, forests help slow down the flow of water during heavy rains, reducing the risk of floods, which can damage water infrastructure and reduce water availability. Healthy forests support diverse ecosystems crucial for maintaining the natural water cycle. This includes the support of species that play roles in water purification and regulation. By creating habitats for various plant and animal species, reforestation efforts contribute to overall ecosystem resilience, critical for sustaining water resources.
The National Green Legacy Initiative was also instrumental in generating job opportunities for thousands of Ethiopians to earn their livelihood by working in thousands of tree nurseries established across the country. Youth across the country are engaged in rehabilitating degraded hillsides and ridges, planting fruit trees, and developing nurseries for tree planting.
The Green Legacy Initiative in Ethiopia, which aims to plant billions of trees, is not only significant for combating deforestation and climate change but also plays a crucial role in protecting wild animals. Here are some ways in which the initiative supports wildlife conservation:
The large-scale tree planting efforts help restore and expand habitats for various wildlife species. Forests provide essential shelter, food, and breeding grounds for animals, many of which are endangered or threatened. By connecting fragmented forests, the initiative helps create biodiversity corridors that allow animals to move freely between different habitats, critical for species that need large territories to survive.
Healthy forests support a diverse range of flora and fauna, maintaining the ecological balance necessary for many species’ survival. Forests act as a haven for numerous insects, birds, mammals, and other organisms. Trees and plants within restored forests provide food sources for herbivores and indirectly for predators, sustaining the food chain and supporting overall biodiversity.
Forests help regulate local climates, creating favorable conditions for wildlife. Cooler temperatures, increased humidity, and more stable weather patterns benefit both plant and animal life. By absorbing carbon dioxide, forests help mitigate climate change, a significant threat to many species. Stable climates reduce the stress on wildlife populations and their habitats.
Forests play a critical role in conserving water by enhancing groundwater recharge and maintaining river flows. Many wildlife species depend on these water sources for survival. Trees planted near wetlands help protect these ecosystems, vital habitats for many species, including amphibians, birds, and mammals.
Planting trees in line with the Green Legacy Initiative fosters communication and correspondence between the masses of people annually engaged in the tree planting campaign. By developing a new and modern culture of protecting the natural environment in Ethiopia, NGLI has helped promote a common narrative of working together for the benefit of all Ethiopians. As noted earlier, the spirit of understanding and consensus-building has now become a common socio-psychological heritage, crucial for ensuring peace, unity, and territorial integrity in the country.
BY SOLOMON DIBABA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 2 JULY 2024
