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Opportunities for forestry development

Severe shortage of wood for fuel, construction and industries calls for
huge forest development programs in the region, which in turn creates
an opportunity for investment in forestry. There is available communal
land in rural areas that can be converted into tree plantations. These are
lands with slope grade of greater than 35% and 50% which is 5.8 million ha
and 3.6 million ha, respectively. Forestry activities are also being integrated
into the farming system by using either of the following plantation
strategies;
Alley cropping
Boundary planting
Planting on gullies
Homestead plantations
Multi-storey agriculture
Woodlots
planting trees on grazing lands and hillsides
There is possibility of leasing commercial natural forests and
plantations under concession for various purposes. Rural land is granted
free of land rent for 25 years for those who develop more than 10 ha of
forest land. Investors can also rent land from farmers or kebeles for
investment in forestry.
There is a huge local and export market potential for forest products.
For instance neighboring countries like the Sudan, Yemen, Djibouti, etc, are
close markets that are in need of pole, lumber and other wood products.
Since 2002, more than 60% of tree seedlings in the region are produced and
planted by farmers. This shows the existence of out-growers who can supply
raw materials for industries. There is a relatively cheap and abundant labor
force with rich indigenous knowledge and experience. Furthermore,
although, highly trained professional foresters are not sufficiently available,
one development agent, who is trained in natural resources
development, is assigned in almost every Kebele. Forestry policies, action
programs, Proceedings of workshop: Policies to increase forest cover in
Ethiopia75strategies and proclamations that support and guide forestry
development have already been issued by the Federal and regional
governments. The following are the main ones at the Regional level:
Forest Resources Protection, Control and Utilization guideline (No.
002/2007)
Natural Incense and Gum Development, Protection and Utilization
Guideline (No 001/2006),
Rural Land Administration and Use proclamation (No- 133/2006)
Forestry Development and Protection Task Forces Implementation
guideline (July, 2006)
Woody Biomass Inventory and Strategic Planning Project January, 2002
Amharic Forestry Action Program (AFAP, 1999)
Regional Conservation Strategy (1999)
Rural Land Distribution Guideline for Forestry Investment (Amhara
Regional State Executive Committee January, 1997) and
Forest development, conservation and utilization proclamation final
draft is prepared. Major challenges for forestry development
The following are the major challenges facing the success of forestry
development ithe region:
Lack of sustainability in forest resource development and utilization,
Lack of appropriate technology for forestry development and utilization,
High deforestation rate due to illegal logging, encroachment, etc.
Insufficient allocation of budget for forestry development,
Weak institutional capacity (in skills, equipment and management
structures),
Poor infrastructure in most parts of the natural forest areas.
Future forestry development directions Currently, protection and sustainable
utilization of the existing forest is being carried out by either the government
(from region to kebele level) or the community (through direct stewardship
of the forest).But in the future, if we are to reverse problems of forest
resource degradation and increase the economic contribution of the sector,
the Proceedings of workshop: Policies to increase forest cover in
Ethiopia76following actors must directly participate in forestation and
reforestation programs: The community at different levels (either in group
or individually); The government; Investors; NGOs; Different civic
institutions. Furthermore there is a need to promote participatory forest
development and utilization in order to increase the income individuals
can raise from involving in natural resource protection activities. Priority
shall be given for industrial and/or fuel wood plantation forests. We
should also protect the indigenous species and study their silivicaltural
practices.

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