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Natural
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Forest
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However, due to rapid population growth and the demand for more farm land and fuel wood, shifting cultivation, growing food insecurity, forest fires, urbanization etc…, the forest cover of the region has been dwindling at an average of about 75,000 hectares annually. As some studies indicate, the region will lose all its forest resources approximately in 32 years unless proper conservation and development measures are taken. Indeed, there are some ongoing reforestation and afforestation endeavors (11,395 ha being covered by forest each year) that attempt to offset this loss by approximately 14.67% of the annual deforestation, which is extremely small and worrisome in the face of encroaching desertification. As it is evident from what has been said above, there is very low rate of forest plantation effort to restore lost forest resource. Moreover, there was no enactment regarding forest conservation activities until very recently. Lack of land use policy, absence of effective forest and land management systems are among major factors contributing to the significant loss of forest resource and thereby resulting in poor conservation of soils, water resource and wildlife. Therefore, it is essential to take necessary measures to urgently implement the forest and land use acts. Moreover, there is an immediate need to develop and promote alternative energy sources for household consumption. Over the last seven years about 881.8 million seedlings were raised and planted on 91,162.04 ha of land at an annual average of 11,395 hectares which is only 14.67% of average annual deforestation rate. However, as per the available information the survival rate was only 20%, which may be attributed to poor management of nurseries and seedling quality as well as inefficient follow-up of the planted seedlings . If one takes a minimum production cost of 20 cents per seedling excluding costs incurred during plantation and follow-up the total cost of raising the 881.8 million seedlings is estimated to be birr 176.4 million. Considering the survival rate of 20%, apparently the region has lost birr 141 million of the investment made over the last seven years. The situation
convincingly dictates for the need to re-examine the strategy thus far
pursed in undertaking reforestation efforts. In this respect, the following
approaches are recommended in order to improve the current performance
of forestation and re-forestation efforts. Firstly, put in place mandatory
annual tree planting for all households in the region under the banner
of "one-man-one-tree''. Secondly, establish an incentive fund to
motivate community members who would achieve a survival rate of 50%
and above. Thirdly, ensure that sufficient nursery sites are established
to raise enough number and quality seedlings annually at strategic locations.
Fourthly, urgently foreclose highly degraded areas and undertake rehabilitation
of marginal lands.
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Oromia|General|State Structure|Caffee|Executive|Judiciary| |
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