Issue #4 Jul-Aug 2017

Zena BFP is a free information bulletin about BFP activities

Microeconomic Inventory of Witnessing the Promising spice research on plantation death of Lake crop for small- beekeeping Chamo scale farmers

Apiculture groups in all intervention sites are AFE has performed a full inventory of Lake Chamo is suffering from a constantly Export of Turmeric can offer promising short- being supported with equipment and training plantation forests in July increasing siltation term benefits for local farmers Page 8 Page 7 Page 3 Page 10 Biodiversity and Forestry Programme

inside this issue Project description

Witnessing the death Title: Biodiversity and Forestry Programme of Lake Chamo Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Page 3 Development (BMZ) Lead executing agency: GIZ, KfW Development Bank Training on Wildlife and Ecological Monitoring Duration: 2015 to 2019 Tools in Nech Sar National Park Page 4 Patrolling system BFP works in four components or action fields: establishment in Nech • Strengthening the national parks strategy Sar National Park Page 5 • Integration of biosphere reserves and Forest Priority Areas into national system of protected areas Faces & Stories: The botanist scout • Forest management and setting-up of forest sector

Page 6 • Improving the coordination and knowledge management for the management of biodiversity Inventory of plantation forests Expected impacts under AFE concession completed Page 7 • Improvement of law enforcement in protected areas and forests, to prevent or control anthropogenic pressures on biodiversity. Microeconomic research on • Management plans in place to ensure protection and management of beekeeping protected areas and forests according to international standards. Page 8 • Forest coverage increase in the selected areas Turmeric: a promising • Local populations see positive economic effects from conservation through spice crop for small- sustainable resource management and local economic development. scale farmers in the • Institutional and human capacities of public authorities are strengthened. Yayu Biosphere Reserve Page 10 • A management structure is built at regional level to run the existing Supporting the adoption biosphere reserves. of water harvesting practices and production of forage and fruit trees Page 11 • Reforms to improve protected area management are implemented

Published by German Development Responsible: Ueli Mueller Biodiversity Cooperation Office Editing: Karin Allgoewer and Forestry Kirkos Subcity, Woreda 08 Design/layout: Muse Zerihun Programme – GIZ P.O. Box 100009, Photos: GIZ Addis Ababa, Jul-Aug 2017 www.giz.de/ethiopia

Zena BFP is a free information bulletin about BFP activities Zena BFP is a free information bulletin about BFP activities 3

Witnessing the death of Lake Chamo, in Nech Sar National Park ech Sar National Park is the second fishermen, but also the survival of the species. An assessment performed by two trainees at most visited national park in Ethiopia. GIZ-BFP to identify the land use dynamics in The GIZ-BFP is supporting the Arba Minch Tourists are attracted by its natural the Hare, Shae and Kulfo watersheds and the N University and the park managers to implement beauty, a combination of lakes and evergreen impact on the Abeya – Chamo sub-basin, has measures to protect this area in a sort of hills. Although wildlife is not abundant, as in shown that inappropriate farming practices, enclosure in order to avoid that illegal fishermen other African parks, it’s still possible to see over grazing and soil erosion in the upstream, get the small fishes. gazelles and zebras in the plains and hippos and and siltation in the downstream would put the crocodiles, as well of a great variety of birds, in But the most worrying situation for Lake potentials of fertile soil of the study area at risk. the Chamo Lake. Chamo is the constantly increasing siltation. The erosion level in the upstream watersheds is Neighbouring Lake Abeya is currently a dead considered as extreme, putting Lake Chamo in a Lake Chamo is rich in fish species and is the water body because of the sedimentation and very high danger and delicate situation, not only main source of fish for Arba Minch and Addis siltation caused by deforestation. The washing for the wildlife living in and around the lake, Ababa, providing income to many fishermen in of the agricultural fields, where a large amount but also for the thousands of people that rely the area. A portion of this lake belongs to the of agrochemicals are used, cause erosion that on the resources that the lake provide, such as park in order to protect the breeding area of dispose large quantities of soil into the lake. fish and tourism. the fishes. Securing the reproduction of fishes is Lake Chamo is suffering the same fate. fundamental to secure not only the livelihood of

Lake Chamo is suffering from a constantly increasing siltation

Contribution: Awraris Mamo 4 Zena BFP is a free information bulletin about BFP activities News

The tools introduced during the training will help improve the work of scouts and wildlife biologists

Training on Wildlife and Ecological Monitoring Tools in Nech Sar National Park

nowledge on the status and trends monitoring to take Ethiopian parks and reserves • Keeping track of their patrolling routes, trails, of ecosystems and the species to the next level. Some of the tools introduced roads, and more K they contain is fundamental to during the courses are Global Positioning • Assess the effects of land-use change on manage the resources in protected Systems (GPS), Geographic Information Systems protected areas (e.g. grazing, agriculture, areas. The ecological monitoring is a (GIS), Camera Traps, and Google Earth. A working deforestation) key tool to gather, organize and make GIS incorporates hardware (e.g. computers), • Determine the optimal suitable habitat for available all data and information on software (e.g. QGIS), people (e.g. ecologist or wildlife species using habitat association species, ecosystems and their associated GIS technician), data (e.g. wildlife observations), processes that will contribute to an methods (e.g. geoprocessing), and a system (the • Delineate watershed boundaries to estimate sedimentation effects on fish-bearing streams accurate park management. integration of all other components). • Predict vegetation types based on elevation, TThe use of wildlife and ecological monitoring The tools introduced during the training will slope, and aspect tools in Ethiopian parks and reserves has not help improve the work of scouts and wildlife been fully adopted so far by the institutions biologists in activities that involve spatial • Make communicative, colorful, and interesting maps responsible for park management. (locational) issues, like:

• Locating their camps while patrolling The training was provided to a total of 18 park staff (12 scouts and 6 experts) from Nech In order to build local capacities in the national • Calculating areas (e.g. invasive plant infestation Sar National Park during 7 days and it was sites, wetlands, and burned areas) parks under the administration of the Ethiopian focused on the basic features and functionalities Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA), BFP is • Keeping locational records of wildlife of a handheld GPS device, using a Garmin providing trainings in wildlife and ecological observations, important land marks, and habitat GPSMAP62s. GPS equipment was purchased and conditions Zena BFP is a free information bulletin about BFP activities 5

provided to the park by GIZ-BFP. Earth Pro. QGIS and Google Earth were installed Currently, the park is using these monitoring on park’s computers. tools to map and calculate areas of invasive After the general GPS training, 9 selected plants infestation and to record their patrolling trainees received an additional course on the In addition to the theoretical and desktop based and wildlife monitoring efforts principles, methods, and application of GIS exercises, there were three field excursions to using the basic features and functionalities of the park to demonstrate practical applications Quantum GIS (QGIS) software V.2.2.0 and Google of the tools.

Contribution: Eyerusalem Akalu, ICT officer, and Kassahun Abera, Field Conservation Advisor Patrolling system establishment in Nech Sar National Park

ollowing the finalization of The park has established five patrolling condition, human activities and wildlife law enforcement and GIS/GPS teams with seven scouts each. Each team status was conducted using GPS waypoint F training, and after the handover of was assigned a specific area, where they recording as well as registration of equipment to Nech Sar National Park, it perform their activities with the help of each issue on standard data collection was then time to start implementing the handheld GPS. After one month, teams formats. All collected information as acquired knowledges and skills. The park are rotated to a different area, using four well as the performance of the patrolling management has adjusted its patrolling campsites as base. system itself will be analyzed by the park system according to the recommendations management for decision making and During patrolling, teams register and of the law enforcement training (featured also to get proper data of the ecological record habitat conditions (wildfire, in our last Zena) in order to make it condition of the park. water points, invasive species), human more efficient and also in order to spread activities (grazing, poacher and fishermen the knowledge among its staff. The new camps, wood cutting, and settlement), patrolling teams are now composed by and wildlife activities and condition. The Nech Sar scouts are mixed groups of trained and untrained registration and recording of ecological scouts. implementing new skills and knowledge for patrolling

Contribution: Dereje Abera, Nech Sar field staff 6 Zena BFP is a free information bulletin about BFP activities

Faces & stories The botanist scout Asnake Zegeye is a self-tought botanist working as a scout in Nech Sar National Park

It is hard to define what characteristics but when he was assigned to accompany He has also observed over the years some make a good scout in Ethiopian national a group of researchers from the Czech tree species, like the indigenous Cordia parks. Some scouts take their job as just Republic for one month back in 2004, africana or wanza, in Amharic, which a job. Others are really motivated and his interest became a passion and a has been almost destroyed in the area. make the love for nature a part of their hobby. He has also supported Wendo He has become the botanic specialist in lives. Genet College of Forestry researchers to the park and he is usually assigned to collect data for over 5 years on 35 tree support researchers in identifying plant Asnake Zegeye is that kind of scout. He stands of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) or species. has become a self-tought botanist and Yebereha Lomi, in Amharic, 25 are for he knows almost every plant in his duty Asnake has made his own “botanical seed collection and 10 tree stands are station, Nech Sar National Park. guide” to Nech Sar Park, a notebook where meant to study their behavior throughout he registers all plants with a sample and His interest for plants begun very early, the years. scientific name. Contribution: Eyerusalem Akalu, ICT officer Zena BFP is a free information bulletin about BFP activities 7 News

Over 52 separate forests with a total size of 6450 ha (ranges from 2.5ha to 1800ha) in 16 woredas were delineated and inventoried.

Inventory of plantation forests under AFE concession completed

mhara Forest Enterprise (AFE) AFE has performed a full inventory of The completion of this inventory is a is a regional government in plantation forests in July. Therefore, corner stone for AFE and will allow to A charge of the development of all AFE has established 3 teams and trained have accurate information of the standing commercial forests in . them on data collection and reporting. capital and to fulfil the requirements However since the standing stock and from the International Finance Reporting The results of the inventory are currently stumpage value have not been completely System (IFRS). In the long term it will being compiled. The first raw data inventoried, it has become difficult to be used to prepare management plans, found that the majority of the forest is make decision on future investment and to develop strategic plans and to make mature and ready for harvesting. The actions. AFE was facing the challenge informed decision on future investment, main commercial species are Eucalyptus of counting on reliable data based on establishment of forest industries, among globulus, Cupresus lusitanica, Eucalyptus a complete inventory of the plantation others. globulus, Acacia decurrence and Pinus forests, including stumpage value. patula. There are also newly established With the support of BFP, in terms of plantations and naturally regenerated equipment and technical advisory, stands after harvest

Contribution: Dagnachew Alemayehu, forestry technical advisor at AFE 8 Zena BFP is a free information bulletin about BFP activities News Apiculture groups in all intervention sites are being supported with equipment and training

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Microeconomic research on beekeeping

eekeeping has a long standing detailed knowledge about their level of with other kinds of hives, like modern and e Ne tradition in Ethiopia and it is experience, motivation, preferred types transitional). Nevertheless, they would N N B practiced almost in the whole of hives, and current market linkage. rather use the transitional hives, because country. It is one of the alternative of their easier management compared For the survey, four selected sites were forest-based non-timber income to the modern ones, with simple hive visited: Menagesha Suba Priority Forest, opportunities and it is compatible with reproduction and adaptability to climate and Chebera Churchura, Nech Sar and eeee forest conservation, since bees feed on a conditions and honey production. Borena Saynt National Parks, where great variety of forest flowers. s a total of 57 farmers (39 men and 18 The production of other bee products, ee se GIZ-BFP is supporting bee keeping groups women) from different Kabeles located besides honey, like bee wax is still N ws N in all intervention sites with equipment in and around the forest areas were not common in the visited sites. Even and training. One element of the approach interviewed. in areas like Chebera Churchura, where is to introduce modern beehive types, there is a high demand for wax, most Every site is different in landscape, flora, such as transitional hives (like Kenyan beekeepers have little awareness of its ess climate and altitude, but there are still Top-Bar) and modern framed-hives, marketability. es e some similarities. since they are more productive than the As a general conclusion, further and traditional ones and this will increase Beekeeping means an additional, and specific training, diversification of bee the income of beekeepers. not a main, source of income for the products, and improvement of marketing most interviewed farmers, but the exact In order to get a deeper understanding linkages are necessary for the future income is not known to them. of the current apiculture sector, BFP has development of the beekeeping activity ee es e undertaken a survey to better understand Traditional hives are the most used ones in every site. the beekeepers’ side and to get more and farmers are, in general, not familiar Contribution: Henriette and Rita, beekeeping trainees e e e e e wes es see es e ee N Ne N

e N 10 Zena BFP is a free information bulletin about BFP activities News Export of Turmeric can offer promising short-term benefits for local farmers

Turmeric a promising spice crop for small-scale farmers in the Yayu Biosphere Reserve

urmeric (curcuma longa l.) is a harvested already after about 7-9 months This will be a contribution to the rhizomatous plant from the ginger with a hectare yield of 35 to 40 MT. development function of the Yayu family. The tubers are processed as Biosphere Reserve and the diversification T So far, however, the main obstacle for a spice that is very much used in the of agricultural production, so far local smallholders to expand turmeric Asian cuisine. dominated by coffee and honey. Increasing production has been the lack of access benefits from available farmland in As confirmed and recommended by a to overseas’ markets. While the spice is the transitional areas will also reduce recent study of options for local value of little interest domestically, there is pressure on buffer and core zones of chain support in Yayu Biosphere Reserve, a very high demand in Asian countries, the biosphere reserve where forest and the export of Turmeric can offer promising especially in India, where the curcumin, habitat conservation are critical. Growing short-term benefits for local farmers oleoresin and essential oil components turmeric as a dense ground cover and with as the spice crop finds ideal growing of the dried turmeric rhizomes are used proper site selection and management conditions in the transitional zones of the for industrial, medicinal and culinary will minimize soil erosion and sustain Yayu Biosphere Reserve in the Illubabor purposes. soil fertility. Zone, Region. Therefore, access to export markets is Through a local UNIQUE/NABU consultant, As part of the GIZ Biodiversity and being facilitated based on a tri-party the BFP program is providing funding and Forestry Program (BFP), the UNIQUE/ cooperation agreement between the technical support for the purchase and NABU Consortium is supporting the Zonal Coffee and Tea Development and distribution of planting material, farming establishment of an out-grower scheme Marketing Authority, 60 local small-scale tools, technical training and on-farm for the production of turmeric. The crop farmers and a private entrepreneur who coaching of farmers to meet the required is fairly easy to grow with low input is already exporting turmeric and seeks quality requirements. requirements in terms of fertilizer to increase export quantities through application and pest control and can be cooperation with local farmers.

Contribution: Alemayehu Nigussie, Yayu BR advisor Zena BFP is a free information bulletin about BFP activities 11

Supporting the adoption of water harvesting practices and production of forage and fruit trees at house hold level thiopian protected areas, like guava and banana), and production of same practice is also undergoing in the , with forage in their small private plots of compound of Farmer Training Center, E their ecologically fundamental land (ranges from 0.15 to 0.2 ha). The close with the villages. resources are under severe threat Deho kebele of Awash Fentale woreda The existence of a situation that can be from the increasing human population, was selected for the implementation of replicated and the support to champions which is associated to the need for the measure due to its high population who can change a land covered by Prosopis land and increasing livestock. Impacts of pastoralists, availability of water to a private forage and fruit production of climate change, especially drought, and the presence of technical extension center were some of the lessons and expansion of invasive species are offices. learned from the field. Cooperation only worsening the situation. Creating Preparations of the measure included among different stakeholders has also alternative sources of livelihood for the land clearing (removal of Prosopis been a key to success. Great effort has neighboring communities has become a species), land preparation, fencing of been put by the head of Agriculture & must for the park authorities. the plot and establishment of small Pastoral Development Office of Awash In a recent integrated effort, Awash ponds and diversion channels for each Fentale woreda, Ato Mussa, Natural National Park, Agriculture and Pastoral plot. Beneficiaries were encouraged to Resource Process owner, Ato Abera, Development Office of Fentale woreda share their knowledge and experience to natural resource expert Ato Ermiyas and and GIZ- Biodiversity and Forestry at least five neighbors. Each household Ato Shiferaw Mengiste, chief warden of Programme have mobilized the local will produce tree seedlings which will Awash National Park. community of Deho kebele with the be sold to the neighbors they share their objective of securing forage for the cattle experiences with, creating a multiplier and planting trees with an economic vaue. effect. To ensure the sustainability of New water About 10 household heads are currently this measure, the concerned technical harvesting engaged in water harvesting, fruit tree extension office is also responsible for structures enable plantation (avocado, mango, papaya, the knowledge transfer process. The plantations of forage Contribution: and fruit trees Teshale Atsebaha, GIZ-BFP, Awash National Park Advisor around Awash NP Zena BFP is a free information bulletin about BFP activities 12

German Development Cooperation Office Jul-Aug 2017 Kirkos Subcity, Woreda 08 P.O. Box 100009, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Zena BFP is a free information bulletin about BFP activities www.giz.de/ethiopia

Photo: Eyerusalem Akalu/giz