Steps toward sustainable forest management with the local communities

Project title: Steps toward sustainable forest management with the local communities in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

 This will be achieved through research on sustainable management of forests in northern Ethiopia in the context of climate change.

Background

In Ethiopia, the rural population is dependent on agriculture and natural resources. Both are vulnerable to climate change, which is expected to cause a general decline in most of the subsistence crops in the region.

Decision makers therefore need clear and reliable information on impending climate shocks, especially related to food security.

Such knowledge is needed in order to successfully implement Ethiopia’s ambitious Climate Resilient Green Economy strategy, which aims to increase economic growth while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing climate resilience using two components: a Green Economy Strategy, which mainly addresses climate change mitigation, and a Climate Resilience Strategy, which focuses on adaptation with a focus on agriculture, forestry and land use.

The aim is to boost economic growth, reduce environmental degradation, and enhance food security for vulnerable populations.

The sustainable management of the forests in the Tigray area of Ethiopia is important both for food security and climate change mitigation. However, there is a lack of research regarding these forest resources and their value in terms of carbon sinks and other ecosystem services.

Research is also needed on how to sustainably use the forests to benefit local communities in an equitable way. Such knowledge can help both local communities and local government structures to manage the resources in a participatory and sustainable manner.

Strengthening local universities for knowledge-based climate policies in Ethiopia 

Research capacity in Ethiopia is limited and highly concentrated in a few key universities, mainly at undergraduate level. Despite the fact that the Ethiopian economy is enjoying a period of economic growth, on a range of economic and social development indicators, including rural food security, Ethiopia ranks poorly.

This project focuses on capacity building and training of academics in order to educate and produce research findings of relevance to farmers and policy makers on the impacts of climate change on society and the environment. The project will produce climate-related knowledge of relevance to policy making and identify practical solutions for climate change adaptation and poverty reduction.

Project activities include:

• international collaboration in research and teaching on climate change adapted agriculture and natural resource management;
• Strengthening the capacity of academic staff members to better address climate change issues;
• Enabling Mekelle University to deliver high quality study programs on climate-related topics with a focus on sustainable forest management and rural food security, including via new MSc programmes
• Improving administrative and management skills, and teaching facilities and materials at Mekelle University to improve institutional delivery of education and research.

Strengthening local access to and management of natural resources

The final beneficiaries of the project will be the local communities surrounding the forests in the Tigray area of Ethiopia. Several studies and local level discussions undertaken have indicated that there is a strong desire to develop and manage local forests and land sustainably.

Options such as carbon trading for the national forest priority areas benefiting local communities will be analysed. This includes research regarding the “Reducing Emissions through Deforestation and Forest Degradation” (REDD+) initiative in terms of its potential benefits and challenges.

Local people will be actively included in the research project, and differentiated perspectives and vulnerabilities based on gender, social status, resource access and other dimensions will be accounted for. 

Key goals and achievements

Overall goal

Improved food security and income diversification for local communities in Ethiopia through sustainable, research based management of forest resources in the context of climate change.

The objectives of the project are:

1. Strengthen the capacity to deliver high quality education and research on sustainable forest management at Mekelle University in Ethiopia
2. Contribute to the sustainable and equitable access to and use of forest products by local communities
3. Improved and locally acceptable policies on the sustainable management of forest resources