Mapping helps conserve Ethiopia's forests

14 July 2012

Farm Africa has worked with forest communities in Ethiopia to establish 84 forestry management groups, with more planned.

Community members work together to learn how to recognize their local forestry resources - and how best to protect them while making a living for themselves and their families. The groups have learned how to carry out boundary demarcation exercises to both map the forest and locate important resources from the forest.

The 84 forestry management groups have drawn up and agreed plans that cover and map a forest area covering approximately 270,000 hectares, helping ensure the local communities now protect the area.

Local communities have also been working hard to establish tree nurseries to reinvigorate the forest cover. To date, the project has set up eight tree nurseries across four regions, with half a million seedlings produced. 
 
Farm Africa’s expert staff have trained group members and local government staff how to carry out important assessments to identify appropriate forest products which have good market potential and which are suitable for production by group members.

After the group's have assessed and chosen a suitable enterprise, including beekeeping, growing grass to sell for roofing and fodder, and cultivating mushrooms, we work with them to help them draw up business plans. Helping local people to develop their own enterprises ensures they can build incomes and provide household security without damaging the fragile environment or unsustainably depleting its resources.

Read more about our forest management work in Ethiopia.