Involving communities to strengthen forest management

Why

The Development Fund Norway argues that lack of ownership and regulations of user- and tenure rights are the underlying drivers of deforestation in the South-West of Ethiopia, where the country’s second largest forest block is found.

The forest is owned by the State, and capacity and regulations are needed to protect the forest reserves and prevent illegal encroachment, such as conversion of forest to agriculture land (both small-scale and large scale), investments, and timber extraction.

The national, regional and local policy environments for REDD+ need to address and secure local communities rights, and fully recognize their contribution to forest protection. Forest-dependent communities also lack awareness and ownership of the forest, and do not engage in forest protection.

The project is implemented by the Development Fund, Norway and its local partner Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA).

The project will prepare the ground for an efficient and sustainable REDD+ implementation in Ethiopia, by expanding the area of forested landscape and natural forest that are managed by local communities in the South-West of Ethiopia.

The project will apply the participatory forest management approach, which implies that State transfers the right and responsibility to manage the forest to local communities.

The project will advocate for land certificate and influence the policy environment in order to secure rights and recognition of local communities contribution to reduced deforestation. The project will also diversify income sources with capacity building on marketing of forest products.

Results

• The overall outcome of the project is that sustainable REDD+ models that ensures forest dependent communities’ rights and interests are implemented in South-West Ethiopia. Expected outcomes are:
• Increased area of forested landscape under participatory forest management
• Local governments use community based institutions for REDD+ implementation
• The policy environment in Gambella regional state favours and recognize forest dependent communities’ rights and interests
• forest dependent communities have increased income from forest products
• Ethiopia’s REDD+ system recognize forest dependent communities’ contribution to reduced deforestation and forest degradation

Partners

Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resource Association (EWNRA)