Restoration approaches:
- conservation
- enrichment planting
- Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR)
Goals:
- Approx. 7000 ha of the natural dry evergreen afromontane forest conserved and protected through Participatory Forest Management (PFM) approaches, conservation, enrichment planting and Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR).
- Approx 1600ha of degraded and abandoned communal lands restored with economically and ecologically important trees
- Endemic trees and wildlife protected, soil erosion and landslides reduced.
- Forest management stewardship and governance improved. The project support local bylaws development in line with national and regional policies and regulations to strengthen natural resources conservation, sustainable use and development.
- About 8436 (50% of the total households) engaged in sustainable forest management programmes.
- Approximately 50% of households benefit from income improvement and improved livelihoods.
Why is intervention needed?
With weak policy enforcement, lack of resources and an absence of land management in collaboration with local communities, nearly 2000 hectares (14%) of the natural forest has been lost over the last 20 years. The districts surrounding Wof-Washa forest are one of the most intensively cultivated areas with a long history of high population settlement coupled with deforestation and cattle grazing that have led to intense land use change and biodiversity loss.
What will the project do?
In the forest, Assisted Natural Regeneration is a priority depending on the natural regeneration status. Tree planting may not be required, and if it is, enrichment planting at varying densities will be carried out depending on whether the area is dense, open or degraded forest. At the boundary of Wof Washa forest, planting will meet the fuelwood and timber demands of the communities.
Who benefits?
Around 69,280 people in 15 villages are dependent on the Wof Washa forest and its resources for their livelihoods. Over the first phase of the project – to 2027 - the project will engage communities in the 15 villages to create a grassroots-level engagement programme and governance approach to protect and restore the forest and create new income and resilience strategies. Income-generating activities will include seed collection, agroforestry and beekeeping. The project will also support clean energy and water provision, savings and credit programmes and trees for schools.