ETFF Ethiopia & The Acheber Idir Workshop

September 2007

Report prepared by ETFF Ethiopia

 

Acheber, Gurage Region (Ethiopia)- ETFF Ethiopia Chapter assisted Ato Hailu Ibssa plant 500 trees here last month. The Chapter also attended the Acheber Idir Project at the time, and here is the report.

The chairman of Acheber Idir who introduced the major events of the day started the meeting with a briefing. Then Ato Hailu introduced ETFF Board members and also expressed his appreciation for ETFF for the assistance that was given for him and the people of Acheber, which was crucial in achieving his objectives. He was particularly grateful for the willingness of the team for making the reconnaissance survey and arriving on workable approaches for the interventions within short period of time. He also explained that the Gurage highlands in the presentation referred to the geographic boundary because following administrative boundary will not be feasible in for conservation and sustainable utilization.

He also mentioned that if the seedlings planted and distributed for the farmers are cared and followed up, the trees would benefit the community not only in terms of conservation and increasing soil fertility but also a means of income generation. One of the tree species that was planted last August in Acheber, Prunus africana is being used for extraction of medicine for prostate cancer from its bark. Farmers in West Africa and elsewhere in the continent are producing the bark of this plant in a large scale. Ato Hailu hopes the farmers in the Gurage highlands have the potential to benefit from this tree.

He has also expressed his concern on the invasion of the Eucalyptus. He said, "He has witnessed the drying of streams and water dams that was developed along the river stream".

A power point presentation on the objectives and mission of ETFF was presented for the audiences, which were followed by description of the major activities of ETFF in collaboration with local communities and Ato Hailu. The recommendation of the reconnaissance team that include:

· Awareness raising
· Environmental impact assessment
· Experience sharing
· Indigenous tree planting
· Nursery bed establishment

After the power presentation the floor was opened for questions, comments and suggestions. Due to time constraint only three persons got the opportunity to forward their opinions. The three persons have extended their sincere appreciation for ETFF and to those individuals who initiated the idea. All of them agreed on the need establishing a stirring committee. The people of the area have the experience of mobilizing the people for road construction and other development activities. It is also possible to use the same approach to the current problem. This was also the consensus of other participants and finally ten persons were nominated out of which 5 were elected as a member of the stirring committee.

The five persons include:
1. Debru Bonssa
2. Seifu Geletu
3. Negash Yemane berhan
4. Tsegaye Umema
5. Semu Gulma

After the committee members were introduced W/ro Asnakech, MP in Woreda 6 made a closing speech where she thanked both the idea initiators and ETFF for bringing the issue public. She also mentioned that since the issue has both global and national importance, she promised to address the issues in various forums that she is involved. The meeting with ETFF BM was adjourned after the 5 persons introduced themselves for the audience.