Rehabilitation and sustainable use of degraded community forests in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia

The livelihoods of the people living in rural Ethiopia is closely linked to the utilisation of natural resources, particularly forests. However, the exclusion of local people from decisions relating to the use and management of the forests has resulted in a situation whereby they utilise the forest resources illegally and feel no responsibility for the condition of the forests. Consequently, the country's forest resources are diminishing while the demand for forest products and services is increasing. <br>One possible approach to reverse this trend is to involve forest-dependent communities in decisions made on how best to manage the forests in their locality. The forest user groups in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia are possibly the good example of this, now responsible for the successful management of the previously state-owned Adaba-Dodola forest. <br>However, the forests placed under the user groups' management are degraded and <br>unproductive. The rehabilitation and sustainable management of the forests require careful planning and the implementation of silvicultural improvement treatments. Therefore, the overall objective of this study is to contribute to the rehabilitation and sustainable management of degraded community forests in Ethiopia by providing locally adapted silvicultural tools and recommendations. <br> <br>The study conducted on crown development of the dominant timber species indicated that about 200 crop trees per hectare of different ages and species can be maintained in the investigated forests and at the same time accommodate the grazing needs of the user groups. To attain the optimum number of crop trees for the planning period of 100 years, a minimum recruitment rate of 10.5 % every decade is deemed sufficient. The results of forest inventories conducted in the three forest areas revealed that about 30-45 % of the total area of the investigated forests possess a sufficient number of potential crop trees (>= <br>20) while a considerable proportion of the area hosts a moderate number of potential crop trees (5-15). While tending the existing potential crop trees it is also possible to regenerate poor regrowth areas. To achieve this goal, a potential crop tree focused management system is suggested, within the framework of a single tree selection system. <br>Within the scope of the system, improvement treatments that can be implemented using locally available facilities are prescribed. <br>The improvement treatment and allowable cut levels are also determined for the <br>investigated forests. However, the successful implementation of the proposed treatments requires practical training, both for the members of the user groups and for the forest experts employed by the forest service. <br>To maintain and harmonise the manifold functions of the forest a multiple use forest management system is proposed. This also requires that grazing be regulated. The exemption of riparian zones from logging and the preservation of the aesthetic values of the forests are emphasised as well. <br>Finally, the need to monitor the silvicultural interventions, to re-adjust the proposed management practices where necessary, and the need for further research to fill the current knowledge gaps are highlighted.

Author dc:creator

• Amente, Girma

Contributors dc:contributor

• Huss, Jürgen

• rehabilitation
• community forests
• Bale Mountains
• Ethiopia

Repository record source_url

https://freidok.uni-freiburg.de/data/2302

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:freidok.uni-freiburg.de:2302