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Historically, Africa's forests have provided livelihoods for millions of people. Not only are they crucial sources of water and animal grazing, but they also supply local people with many important products: wild coffee, cardamom, bamboo and medicinal plants can all be found in the forest. And, of course, trees provide firewood for cooking and timber for construction.
Decades of decline
Africa's forests are rapidly disappearing. In Ethiopia in the early 1900s, for example, about 40 per cent of the country's land was covered in natural forest. By the 1950s, this figure had been reduced to 1 6 per cent.Today natural forest covers just three per cent of the country.
This is due to population growth and the increase in land clearance for timber and agriculture. And when poverty levels increase, so does the pressure on this vital resource
Protecting the people and the forest
To save the forests, they need to be managed carefully and not over-exploited. Many African governments have pursued a'protectionist' policy, believing that excluding people from the forest is the best way of conserving it. As these people often have no other way of making a living, they defy orders to stop felling trees.
The Ethiopian Government followed this policy under the communist Dergue regime and in the early days of the EPRDF Government. But FARM-Africa believed that forest users understood it better than anyone. If given the right to manage it responsibly, they could become its custodians.
FARM-Africa trained communities and government staff to make a joint assessment of the state of the forests. This included what timber could be cut, how many animals could graze and what non-timber products, such as medicines, wild coffee, spices and bamboo, could realistically be harvested without damaging it.This formed the basis of a Forest Management Agreement.
During this time, government staff were also taken on study visits to India, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, to see for themselves how Community Forest Management worked in practice.They were impressed and decided to try it out on a pilot basis in the Chilimo and Bonga forests in Ethiopia.
Success story: the Chilimo forest
The Chilimo Forest to the west of Addis Ababa is one of the most severely depleted areas in Ethiopia. But since communities began signing the Forest Management Agreements with the government and taking responsibility for the forest, things are starting to change. In a recent assessment, staff of Addis Ababa University found that regeneration has already increased and the condition of the forest is improving.
"The community's attitude to the forest has changed radically. People have other ways of earning a living. Although it is on a small scale at the moment, it will grow in time."
Tesema Jebora,
Chairman of the Chilimo Forest Users Group, Ethiopia
There is still work to be done, but a major part of FARM-Africa's Community Forestry Management Programme is to educate future generations in forest usage. In Ethiopia, our work supporting the training of students at the Wondo Genet Forestry College - and hosting field visits to Chilimo - ensures this approach can be spread across the country.
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Daghue's chickens
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Daghue, 35, struggled to support his family by labouring and collecting firewood to sell. But in 2002, FARM-Africa loaned him 25 Rhode Island Red chicks. Now, instead of adding to the destruction of forests, he has a better means of earning a living.
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"One of my neighbours came to have a look. He doubted I would be able to raise the chicks without the hen. But with advice from FARM-Africa, I made a hay box and stuffed it with old clothes to keep the chicks warm. Now, my family eat eggs and any left over, we sell.
"One hen can lay 24 eggs a month, and I'm even selling to people 15 miles away. Because they're so desirable, I can double the price of local produce. People take eggs and put them under hens to hatch, so there are now Rhode Island Reds all around Chilimo!"
Daghue, Chilimo,
Ethiopia
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Local livelihoods: looking beyond the forest
Today FARM-Africa is two years into a four-year contract to develop innovative ways of managing East African forests. Our goal is to work with local people and governments, along with SOS Sahel, to help conserve the Borana, Bonga and Chilimo forests in Ethiopia, and the Nou forest in Tanzania.
The project includes four keys areas:
- Developing and establishing ways of managing forests to include all parties
- Creating income opportunities from managing natural resources and diversifying existing livelihoods
- Helping partner organisations to manage natural resources effectively
- Including forest management within existing practices
Recognition of FARM-Africa's expertise
It's always a compliment when our staff are recognised for their achievements. In 2001, our Director of Finance won the prestigious Accountancy Age Public Services Achievement award for excellence in financial management.
"I spent three very challenging but happy years with FARM-Africa. It's a totally unique organisation; small and very friendly, without the level of bureaucracy you find in other places. Innovations and policy decisions don't just come from the top.They really do come from local people."
Amanda Caine,
Former Director of Finance (1999-2001)
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