Tree nurseries and carbon marketing project help restore degraded land

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Climate change, the risks from natural disasters, food and water security, biodiversity loss, and human health—these are some of humanity’s biggest challenges. Enter Nature-based Solutions, a toolbox of strategies that harness the power of nature to tackle them head-on. From restoring forests to protecting water supplies to building green infrastructure to improving resilience to flooding, Nature-based Solutions benefit both people and the environment.

In today’s program, we will be talking to farmers who are making a difference in the environment, their communities, and their livelihoods by using tree nurseries to address deforestation and land degradation.

We first speak to Aster Gechire, who lives in the Bosa Wonche kebele of the Wolaita Zone in southern Ethiopia. She will share her personal experience with establishing forest nurseries and planting trees on degraded land. Thank you for taking time to speak to us, Aster.

Thank you for having me.

I understand that, in your area, you are using forest nurseries and a carbon project to address deforestation and improve local livelihoods. What exactly is the carbon project and how is it connected with forest nurseries?

The carbon project involves farmers protecting forests by preventing deforestation and by establishing forest nurseries and planting new saplings from the nurseries. These actions reduce carbon emissions. NGOs based in developed countries, for example, World Vision, support the implementation of the project, by making payments to farmers based on the amount of reduced carbon emissions, measured in tons. The payments are made through seven associations in the area, and the project has been ongoing for fifteen (15) years in the Humbo district. Through the project, the community has also been trained on how to fight climate change, received loans, and mills have been built in all kebeles, which cuts down travel time for crop milling services.

Tell us about the difference between the conditions of the forests in this area before and after these efforts.

Before the project, we were clueless about the importance of protecting the environment. Community members would cut down trees for fuelwood, charcoal production, and other uses. We had limited information on the serious impacts of deforestation on climate change and the environment. But since the forest restoration program started, we are happy to see the rejuvenation of the ecosystem, with wild animals returning to the forest area.

As a woman farmer, what were some of the difficulties you faced prior to the project? Were there specific challenges that women had to face related to education and health?

One of the challenges was women and girls’ safety concerns when traveling on foot. We faced the risk of sexual assault. So we recruited security rangers from within the community. These are people who are taking part in the carbon and forest nursery projects. We tasked them with patrolling the forest area and preventing any people or animals from trespassing into the forest and tree nursery.

Mothers and pregnant women always worried about sending their daughters to school, or to fetch water, or collect wood. But since the area has had continuous security protection, we feel safe moving around.

Listeners, we are also talking with farmer Beyene Agebo. Could you start by telling us what motivated you to take part in restoring degraded land?

Thank you for having me. I used to live in the mountainous area of Bela Zegere kebele of the Wolaita Zone in southern Ethiopia. Community members heavily depended on cutting trees for fuel and selling wood. There was no one to create awareness of the dire consequences that cutting trees would have on the area’s environment, which would have eventually become a desert. During heavy rains, the floods that would flow from the mountainous area into Hamassa and Zegrie villages caused serious damage to farms and properties.

So I proposed to the kebele administrative office that there be a forest nursery. The response I got was positive and they said land would be provided for the project, with the only condition being that community members rally behind the proposal. This was easy to do. So after the land was provided, the community and agricultural office created a nursery to grow seedlings and plant them in areas that were severely affected by deforestation.

That is an inspiring initiative. How did you ensure the project’s sustainability?

I created awareness about how communities could benefit from planting trees such as moringa that is edible, and wanza, whose scientific name is Cordia africana and that can be used as timber. Shortly after, the NGO World Vision visited the forest nursery and proposed that we establish an association to operate it, and expressed interest in supporting the project. I accepted this and the first request I made was to plant seedlings from the nursery in seven kebeles that are deep in the mountainous areas. The district administration, community members, and World Vision planted the trees around the seven kebeles, which helped protect them from floods coming down from the mountains.

In total, trees were planted on more than 2,700 hectares of land surrounding the kebeles Bosa Wonche, Bola Wonche, Abala Longelo, Abala Zegreil, Gafata, Bongota, and Shoya.

We ensure the sustainability of the project by training the people who took over leadership positions, and by boosting awareness of the project in the community.

What were the major problems faced by community members prior to the implementation of this project?

One of the major challenges faced was health issues. Malaria was rampant due to the fact that there were many standing bodies of water where mosquitoes lay their eggs. At other times, there was severe drought that caused the water bodies to dry up. It was difficult to find either drinking water or grazing areas for our cattle. After the project, there was significant improvement in the climate, which helped to mitigate drought.

What would you say is the major benefit you have gained since being a part of the forest nursery project?

I have two hectares of land up in the mountainous area and I have planted neem, moringa, and eucalyptus trees. I not only support my children to go to school and generate income for my family by selling these trees, but I also share my experience with the community so that they can follow suit. The trees have restored the environment. Soil erosion has declined tremendously, there are no longer threats of flooding in the village, and community members can benefit from growing healthy crops due to improved soil health.

Thank you again for sharing such informative experiences, Beyene.

You are welcome!

Daniel Dechassa is a head of the agriculture office in the Bosa Wonche kebele of Wolaita administrative zone. We had a brief discussion with him regarding forest nurseries, the carbon project, and how change was brought into the community. Thank you for joining us, Daniel.

Thank you for having me.

Tell us about how the environmental restoration and carbon project was first initiated.

The dire situation we were in led us to start the carbon project forest program. We had areas that were severely affected by drought and famine, and this was when World Vision stepped in to provide humanitarian support. The fact that there was deforestation in the area worsened the impacts of climate change. We understood that to counter the impact of climate change, we needed to focus on reforestation and forest conservation.

How did you go about doing that?

First, we participated in programs provided by experts from World Vision to raise awareness of the issues. We then raised awareness among communities, prioritizing areas that were severely hit by drought and famine. We then restricted access to some areas to prevent unauthorized human and animal entry, thereby safeguarding the sensitive ecosystem within. Our next move was to plant trees within those enclosed areas. To protect against deforestation and protect young trees, we recruited community members as guardians, patrolling the area to deter both human and animal trespassers. At first we had 20 people who took turns patrolling the area. But later on, the number grew to 813 members, who established an association.

What were the major benefits gained from the reforestation and forest conservation program?

After we started the reforestation and conservation programs, we started seeing improved rains and climate conditions. Following that, we started the carbon project. Previously, the community would enter the area to collect wood for fuel and other household uses, as well as to earn income by selling the wood they collected. But now the community members benefit from the carbon project, which generates sustainable income indirectly. Community members are involved in protecting the forest. Those assigned to the task of monitoring the forest ensure that it is not trespassed by people or animals, so that planted trees will grow without interference.

The income from the carbon project enabled the members of the association to establish a mill, where crops are stored and processed into various products and provided for sale at a fair price during the dry season. The members of the association divide the profits and benefit from the proceeds. And the community is determined to ensure that the project is a sustainable one because they know that, although the government may help for a time, only the people can make lasting changes.

The lives of humans and the forest are interlinked. For humans to survive, there needs to be forest. And for the forest to flourish, it needs protection and conservation work by humans.

Thank you for sharing the insights on how Nature-based Solutions brought about changes in the community.

You are welcome!

Another expert we spoke to is Mathewos Mamo. Mathewos is the Forest Development and Protection Team Leader at the Humbo District Environmental Protection Forestry Office. Thank you for taking time to talk to us. Can you tell us the situation the Humbo District was facing prior to the forest nursery project in the area?

As you are aware, the area is situated in the lowland. A few years ago, because there weren’t any seedlings being planted, the area was severely affected by drought. Due to poverty and lack of awareness, community members depended on the income from cutting trees for fuel and timber and did not plant trees.

But after the directive associated with the launching of the government’s Green Legacy initiative, there has been significant improvement in the area. The directive stipulates that farmers who cut one tree are obligated to plant two seedlings. According to our survey, 80 per cent of the planted seedlings have survived. This has brought about significant positive changes in the environment.

What is being done currently to keep this momentum going in the district?

We are now looking after eight forest nurseries across the district. We have planted about four million, three hundred-and-seventy-thousand (4,370,000) seeds and from these, there are many seedlings that are ready to be planted sometime from June to mid-August.

Thank you for recapping the activities in the district, Mathewos.

You are welcome!

I trust this dive into forest nurseries and land restoration has left you feeling a little wiser and more curious about Nature-based Solutions. Until our next segment, keep exploring, keep questioning, and keep tuning in. Good bye for now!

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