Strengthening reforestation in Ethiopia from the bottom up

In Ethiopia a massive reforestation initiative takes place. It’s the Green Legacy Initiative (GLI). This nationwide reforestation campaign is initiated at Prime Minister level and cascades down to local level. However, the process is highly top-down and local characteristics are insufficiently taken into consideration. Both the local geohydrological characteristics as well as community interests require more attention. At the same time the water system is under pressure by deforestation and unsustainable land use. This causes erosion of fertile land and sedimentation of the water system. The sedimentation reduces capacity of freshwater reservoirs and available amount of freshwater to allocate to users. This is especially true for the area around Lake Koka, in the Awash basin.

In a feasability study co-financed by the NWB Fund we cooperated with Woredas in this region, the Ministry of Water and Energy and the Awash Basin Development Office.

Dutch Water Authorities (DWA) and stichting Woord en Daad started this initiative aiming at strengthening the GLI at the local level in the Awash River Basin in Ethiopia. The study introduces an Intervention Methodology that complements the highly top‑down GLI structure with a more systematic bottom‑up approach. It identifies three critical intervention points: site selection, seedling selection & site design and post‑planting management. The Intervention Methodology describes how in these three points the local characteristics can be integrated in the GLI process.

To support the Intervention Methodology an extensive toolbox has been developed, including an Erosion Vulnerability Map, Critical Waterbody map, 3R‑Potential Map, the FarmTree Tool and a Participatory Integrated Planning method. These maps will provide an overview which areas are prone to erosion, what kind of measure suit with local geohydrological conditions and which waterbodies under threat of sedimentation. The Farm Tree Tool will be used as a decision support tool to discuss intervention options with decision-makers, planners, experts, communities, etc. to determine which (mix of) trees to plant where. Using the FarmTree Tool to visualize the potential impact of different options on plot and landscape level will enable stakeholders to make informed decisions.

Pilot areas were selected and a business case was developed for sustainable income generation (e.g. beekeeping, nurseries, agroforestry). We have conducted an Exclusion Risk Assessment to outline a strategy for social inclusion of vulnerable groups. Finally the study presents a communication and scaling approach and a monitoring & evaluation framework.

This feasibility study has enabled local partners to better steer reforestation from the interest of the water system and synchronize it more with the interests of the local communities and geohydrological characteristics.

DWA and stichting Woord en Daad also signed a Letter of Intent with Ethiopian partners to jointly search for funding opportunities for reforestation initiatives in which we can apply the above methodology and tools.