Abstract

Deforestation in the northern part of Ethiopia has occurred for the past three millennia, while deforestation in the southern part is a relatively recent phenomenon. Hence, the rehabilitation of the vast denuded forestlands and woodlands, which are a source of ecosystem services and livelihoods to local communities, is crucial and timely. Two case studies are presented: the use of exclosures in the Alaba District and the rehabilitation of areas invaded by the alien Prosopis species in the Afar region. The establishment of exclosures has brought dramatic biophysical changes within few years, resulting in a substantial increase in diversity of flora and fauna, reduced soil erosion, and soil amelioration. The rehabilitation intervention has also had a positive impact on the livelihoods of local people; providing access to fodder, construction materials, and income from cattle fattening and sale of wood and grass. However, there are policy ambiguities and institutional gaps in the administration of rehabilitated lands in the country. To sustain the rehabilitation endeavour at Alaba, quintessential elements are the establishment of clearly defined land-tenure and user-right systems, the enforcement of by-laws, equitable benefit sharing, and transfer of management power to local communities. In the case of extensive areas invaded by Prosopis in the Afar region, adverse impacts on dryland ecosystems and on socio-economic conditions of the pastoral communities are serious concerns. The restoration intervention approach - management through utilisation - has not only hindered the spread of Prosopis but also provided possibilities to generate substantial income for local people by their use of the existing Prosopis stands. However, the lack of a clear policy direction and institutional mandate coupled with technical and financial difficulties have constrained successful management of the Prosopis invasion in the Afar region. Decentralisation of Prosopis invasion management could be a promising means of institutionalising and scaling up popular participation.

Published in

Title: Forest under pressure - Local responses to global issues
ISBN: 978-3-902762-30-6
Publisher: International Union of Forest Research Organization(IUFRO)

SLU Authors

• Tigabu, Mulualem

  • Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/66520