Tree planting is an integrated part of the Ethiopian government’s policies. Already in 2011, Ethiopia launched an ambitious plan to become a “green economy front-runner” by 2030 in its Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy (FDRE 2011). The afforestation and reforestation also aim to meet targets set in the National Determined Contribution, Long Term Low Emissions Development Strategy/ LT_LEDS, the sustainable development goals, Africa Agenda 2063, and multilateral environmental agreements (EFD three-year plan, unpublished).
Tag: conservation
Note on training plan for PATSPO II (2023-2025)
The purpose of this consultancy is to update the training plan from PATSPO to match the needs for training during PATSPO II. This was done by assessing the courses and training activities included in the first training plan and suggesting possible additional topics to be included in the training plan for PATSPO II. The training plan for PATSPO II (2023-2025) follows the same format as the training plan for PATSPO (2018-2022) and includes syllabi for ‘new courses’ included in the plan. A comprehensive training needs assessment of the major partners of PATSPO was made in 2018-2019 and a related training plan was prepared and implemented by PATSPO (2018- 2022). The continued training and capacity development of the key persons of the PATSPO II partner institutions is one of the key outputs of PATSPO II supporting the sustainability of the technical activities done during PATSPO.
Development of conservation plans for priority indigenous tree species in Ethiopia
This consultancy is a follow-up of an earlier report ‘Development of conservation plans of priority indigenous tree species in Ethiopia (Kalinganire et al. 2023) where a selection of tree species for conservation was (done) and preliminary conservation plans both in-situ and ex-situ for 3 priority tree species was developed/described. The information collected from this report helps with detailed conservation plans and the establishment of conservation stands and seed banks for at least 2 priority tree species. Further references to the above report would be recommended during the implementation of the conservation plans. Moreover, the report describes steps/plans for the establishment of a hedgerow and clonal plantation that would serve as a demonstration and preliminary evaluation ground/field for the development of eucalyptus clonal forestry in Ethiopia.
Tree seed sources, seed production and supply, seedling production in Somali Region
Dry forests and woodlands in Africa represent an important resource base for livelihoods and economic development (Suderland and Ndoye, 2004; Paumgarten and Shackleton, 2009). They are fragile ecosystems and have a variety of ecological and economic advantages to humanity because of the region’s abundant biodiversity (Abtew et al., 2014). The Somali Region is predominantly characterized by dryland agroecology, and dry forests and woodlands are the main features of the landscapes of the region (Muhyadin and Badal, 2021).
People’s perceptions of crocodiles in Nigeria
Throughout Africa, feelings towards crocodiles vary according to the danger or fear experienced by communities living alongside them. Crocodile conservation programmes must therefore be based on reliable assessments of cultural attitudes towards these reptiles. In this study, we interviewed a random sample of 300 persons in six states in southern Nigeria to determine their perception of crocodiles. Our results revealed that most respondents were very familiar with crocodiles, with animals being regularly sighted but only in small numbers. Most interviewees were aware of just two crocodile types, consistently describing the dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) and the West African Nile crocodile (Crocodylus [niloticus] suchus); only a minority of respondents reporting they were aware of the West African slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus).
Designing for engagement: A Realist Synthesis Review of how context affects the outcomes of multi-stakeholder forums on land use and/or land-use change
This Realist Synthesis Review (RSR) examines the scholarly literature on multi-stakeholder forums (MSFs) set up to support efforts towards more sustainable land use. In this review, we focus on subnational MSFs that include at least one grassroots and one government actor. MSFs have been presented, especially by practitioners, as a panacea to address land-use change and support climate mitigation, such as through “landscape” or jurisdictional approaches. However, it is not clear that these initiatives are learning from past experience, particularly from research analyzing the effect of context on the ability of such approaches to reach their objectives. To address this gap, the academic literature was assessed using the RSR method to elucidate the key contextual variables affecting outcomes. In addition to analyzing context, this review identifies four common lessons learned for MSFs: the importance of commitment (to the people, the process and its goals); engaging the implementers (key middle level brokers and government officials who determine what happens on the ground); openness to learn from and listen to stakeholders; and having a design that is adaptive to this context, with time and resources to do so. Findings suggest that the most successful MSFs are those that are recognized as part of a wider process that seeks to transform practices at multiple levels; entail a period of research and meetings at upper levels to identify potential roadblocks and existing capacities with those who would implement the project locally; build consensus and commitment from higher levels, and thus political will; and are designed as adaptive learning processes. The central lesson, then, is not one of how to design initiatives, given such different and distinct contexts. Rather, it is about how to design for engagement to address context, whatever its distinct features, in order to develop and implement initiatives with greater chance of success.
Conservation agriculture with trees: a training manual
Through text and technical illustrations, this manual discussed the following topics: 1.soil health and its importance, 2.conservation farming and its principles, 3.conservation agriculture with trees and its related principles, 4.equipment used in conservation farming
Forest Conservation, Rights, and Diets: Untangling the Issues
Recent research has highlighted the contributions of forests and tree-based systems to both dietary diversity and nutrition as well as agricultural production in the form of tree-based ecosystem services. Wild foods provide a significant nutritional contribution to the diets of rural dwellers, the majority of whom would be classified as some of the world’s poorest. Yet, despite the important human-forest interactions and relative degrees of forest dependency, access to much of the global forest estate is increasingly regulated under the guise of biodiversity conservation. How this restricted access plays out when the “right to food” is a deeply enshrined human right has been deeply contested, particularly with regard to land annexation. This paper outlines the critical issues related to dietary diversity and nutrition in the context of the availability of wild foods juxtaposed with the growing call for the annexation of land for conservation. We suggest that a more integrated and equitable approach to land management that embraces both biodiversity conservation and broader food security and nutrition goals can provide multiple benefits, while mitigating local conflicts. As such, a rights-based approach to conservation and an embracing of broader landscape perspectives are possible strategies to achieve these seemingly conflicting agendas.
The investment priorities of stakeholders in forest protection and development in Vietnam from 2011-2019
Key messages
- This policy brief shows the investment priorities of stakeholders in the field of forests protection and development from 2011-2019, focusing on 16 key areas: 1. forest conservation; 2. enhancement of forest carbon stocks (forest restoration/regeneration); 3. sustainable logging practices (RlL; forest certification); 4. afforestation and reforestation; 5. agricultural land use emission reductions (low emission agriculture/greening business practices, e.g. zero deforestation supply chains); 6. design of national level REDD+ strategies policies and programs; 7. design of sub-national level REDD+ strategies, policies and programs; 8. national level implementation of REDD+ strategy, policies and programs (e.g. MRV or safeguards institutions); 9. implementation of REDD+ site activities (including demonstration sites); 10. tenure rights (land, trees); 11. biodiversity conservation; 12. poverty alleviation; 13. forest governance (illegal logging, rule of law, corruption); 14. community-based or joint forest management (as co-benefit of REDD); 15. adaptation to climate change; and 16. REDD+ related carbon finance/trading. Stakeholder investment priorities for these 16 areas mostly expanded throughout these years to keep up with worldwide forestry sector development trends. Favorable support from stakeholders can create advantageous conditions for Vietnam to experiment with and pioneer many policy areas and new technologies.
- Areas such as poverty alleviation, forest governance, biodiversity conservation, agricultural land use emission reductions, and sustainable logging practices, as well as REDD+ design and implementation have attracted the greatest attention from stakeholders. Issues of tenure rights and sustainable logging practices, despite limited increases in priority, remain key investment priorities of the organizations surveyed. Stakeholder prioritization of and investment in afforestation and reforestation have decreased over time.
- Although the prioritization of financial and technological support during the period from 2011-2019 has created favorable conditions for developing the forestry sector, stakeholders’ current priorities also show that many areas (e.g. community-based forest management, carbon finance/trading, forest product processing) remain underdeveloped and their investment potential and roles have not been met.
- The aims of the Forest Law are to develop a comprehensive forestry sector, a chain of management, protection, development, forest use, and forest product trade. However, stakeholders’ areas of interest and priorities have so far focused mainly on forest management and protection. Comprehensive and sustainable forestry sector development requires investment prioritization for all stages.
- As each stakeholder requires different investment priorities, understanding these can not only help the Government to use resources more efficiently and avoid duplication, but also create more effective strategies for mobilizing capital for the forestry sector.
Dynamic conservation and utilization of forest tree genetic resources: indicators for in situ and ex situ genetic conservation and forest reproductive material
This report offers a way to measure the conservation and use of the genetic diversity of forest trees across Europe in a standardized way. This indicator is based on an agreed revision of a commonly adopted framework allowing to measure this diversity and monitor its conservation and utilization over time. The Forest Europe process had adopted a general set of Criteria and Indicators for sustainable forest management as a tool to aid forest policy formulation and decision making, forest monitoring, and communication. Six criteria reflect complementary aspects of sustainable forest management in the pan-European region. These are currently being assessed by a set of 34 quantitative and 11 qualitative indicators. Indicator 4.6 is a quantitative indicator which contributes to Criterion 4 (Maintenance, conservation and appropriate enhancement of biological diversity in forest ecosystems) by focusing on the conservation and use of genetic resources. It is this indicator that has been revised, because it was not very informative on the conservation of genetic diversity nor fully standardised across countries.