Main Menu
Source : Country Information Brief
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Ethiopia, Draft June 1995



FOREST CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

Forestry Resources and Programmes

Ethiopia's forest resources have been disappearing at an alarming rate. A century ago, forests covered about 40 percent of the total land area. This proportion has been reduced to 16 percent in the early 1950s and to less than 3 percent today (MNRDEP, 1992).

The Primary cause of deforestation is cutting trees with the aim of opening up new agriculture land to feed the ever growing population. Deforestation is estimated to take place at the rate of 200,000 ha/year. The Widespread use of fuel wood as energy has also contributed to the deforestation process. About 95 per cent of the total energy consumption in Ethiopia is composed of traditional biomass fuels, with only 5 per cent coming from modern energy sources (Ethiopia-UNCED, 1992). Most of the remaining forests are being confined to remnant patches in inaccessible areas. Of the remaining forests, 54 per cent are in the western regions of Illubabor (48%), Keffa, Wellega and Gojam and 38 per cent are in the southern regions of Bale (19%), Sidamo and Gamo Gofa. Shoa region is estimated to account for 3.1 per cent, Hararghe only 0.6 per cent and the rest (Tigray, Wello, Gonder as well as the now independent Eritrea) for only 4.1 per cent. The woodland/Savannah region originally covered 371,900 sq.km (30 % of the country) in the semi-arid and sub- humid regions surrounding the highlands. Only 7.6 per cent of the total area is currently covered by this vegetation type (Ethiopia-UNCED, 1992).

There are eight National parks and three wildlife sanctuaries which the Ethiopian Wildlife conservation Organization (under the MOA) is currently administering.* The Afro- Alpine habitats are represented by the Semien and Bale National Parks. These parks provide sanctuary for the threatened Walia Ibex, Semien Jackal and Mountain Nyala. The Semien National Park is recognised by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Bale National Park is part of a large designated area covering the Bale and Arsi Mountains.

It is striking to note that the most threatened vegetation zones of the country are not found in the wildlife designated areas. These are the moist evergreen forests and the dry evergreen forests, the most extensive and most widely used forest resources. Except the Bale National Park which contains only small patches of both types of forests, and the small Menagesha state forest near Addis Ababa, there are no protected forest areas in the country.

Another problem related to forest protection is the failure to stop encroachment by land-hungry farmers and unregulated commercial exploitation. The Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Organization is poorly staffed to provide full protection. Poverty and lack of awareness have adversely affected rural communities' contribution to natural resource conservation.

The ADP aims at using specific projects involving community participation to address problems of deforestation and soil degradation and make more biomass available. The major

- promote conservation practices which have noticeable impact on food security
- Build or promote conservation programmes on useful indigenous practices
- Encourage organic matter management
- Promote good ground cover
- Promote agro-forestry, and
- Promote conservation activities, with emphasis on biological conservation.

The conservation activities are carried out within the framework of the National Conservation Strategy (NCS) issued in March 1993. The strategy encompasses the Forestry Action Plan which aims at increasing production of forestry products and action plan to conserve and rehabilitate land and water resources using forest resources.

UNDP will support government initiatives through Progamme 2 (Improvement of the Resource-Population Sustainability Balance) which seeks to curb the inefficient use and depletion of the natural resource base while promoting their sustainable development. Assistance will focus on the implementation of the national conservation strategy and the Forestry Action Plan, as well as improvement of policies and legislative instruments for the rational exploration and development of mineral, energy, water and other natural resources.


* 14 The 8 national parks refer to:
1. Abiyaita-Shalla Lakes  5.Gambella
2. Awash  6. Magu
3. Bale Mountains 7. Nechisar
4. Dahlak Marine 8. Omo
 

The 3 sanctuaries are:
1. Hamer Elephant Sanctuary
2. Sankelle Sweyne's Hartebeest Sanctuary
3. Yabello Sanctuary

TOP