Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity and Forests in Ethiopia

Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity and Forests in Ethiopia

Timeframe

January 1, 2019 - August 1, 2027

Duration

72 months / 344 PM

As of

November 2023

Sustainable
Development

Funded by:

KfW Development Bank

Introduction

A long history of steady and significant deforestation in Ethiopia has reduced it‘s forest cover to barely 11 % today. This decline constitutes not only a major threat to biodiversity, but also leads to increased erosion, water scarcity and reduced soil fertility. Most of the rural population is directly dependent on forests for their subsistence and income generation. While forests play an important economic role for the rural population, the contribution of the forest sector to Ethiopia‘s GDP remains marginal—mainly due to the absence of consistent forest policies and the lack of viable concepts for the long-term management and conservation of natural forests and the sustainable management of tree plantations.

The Project

A long history of steady and significant deforestation in Ethiopia has reduced it‘s forest cover to barely 11 % today. This decline constitutes not only a major threat to biodiversity, but also leads to increased erosion, water scarcity and reduced soil fertility. Most of the rural population is directly dependent on forests for their subsistence and income generation. While forests play an important economic role for the rural population, the contribution of the forest sector to Ethiopia‘s GDP remains marginal—mainly due to the absence of consistent forest policies and the lack of viable concepts for the long-term management and conservation of natural forests and the sustainable management of tree plantations.

Project Objectives

Afforested communal areas + forestry resources are effectively managed
by the local communities
in order to contribute to income, diversified livelihoods and biodiversity
in the selected rural areas/region

Our Contribution

Services of the consultant include, beside project management and activity monitoring the support the initiation, provision and implementation of:

Development of an Action Plan & of Project Operational Planning
Design and implementation of Information Campaigns
Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and Land Acquisition and Resettlement Policy Framework (LARPF) incl. application + M&E
Establishment of cooperatives supporting afforestation
Technical Information and Advisory Services to farmers
Implementation of Forest Management Activities
Capacity Building Measures, including organisational and technical trainings
for PMU Woreda and training for forest farmers
Facilitation of Forest Farmer Financial Support
Guidance and supervision of Afforestation Results Monitoring
Information concept for participation in Carbon Financing Scheme

Results & Successes

Close-to-nature afforestation concept in place, tested and successfully implemented on the first 2000-3000 hectares, supported by an intuitive project database, providing summarized result data and visualization as well as up to date data on all afforestation areas, including monitoring results.