WHY WE SHOULD GET INVOLVED AND DONATE
By Demissew Gedamu, ETFF CO-FOUNDER

 

Ethiopia’s tropical forests are being lost at an alarming rate, largely due to tree cutting for fuel and commercial use; also some agricultural expansion as a result of population growth. This loss is resulting in the extinction of native plant and animal species, a net increase in greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, increased soil erosion, drought and flooding. This environmental degradation forces farmers to clear even more land to grow food for their families.

The Solution: Ethiopian Tree Fund Foundation (ETFF) has ambitious and aggressive plans that addresses national deforestation crisis by providing farmers with sustainable alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture. ETFF plans to work as a facilitator in a long-term collaboration among trained local staff, farmers and communities to implement sustainable land-use practices that alleviate poverty by restoring ecological stability. Ethiopian Tree Fund Foundation plans to work with Ethiopian Agricultural institutions and Forestry Colleges, by providing grants for tree plant nursery projects, collaborate with farmers by providing alternative fuel such as kerosene stoves as an incentive to cut down deforestation for fuel, provides struggling families with the technical assistance and materials they need to plant a variety of trees in an integrated system that provides food and income while protecting the environment. ETFF plans to work with local farmers, cooperatives, environmental organizations and indigenous groups that invite us into their communities. We’ll provide these groups with long-term assistance adopting sustainable land-use practices such as reforestation, agro-forestry and organic farming. These practices allow rural people to raise their standard of living while planting trees, rather than clearing forest.

Reforestation can be used to reverse the trend of degraded land in fire damaged BALE and other natural forest areas and restore it to a functional ecosystem while providing new habitats for biodiversity. Reforestation can become a standard part of conservation activities because it can speed the recovery of degraded lands before substantial losses of biodiversity have occurred. It also provides an important means of allowing a significant number of species to recover. Indigenous high value threatened tree species can be selected for the reforestation program. Seedlings of the selected trees can be nursery raised and planted in the allocated deforested area in collaboration with local communities.

What makes ETFF unique among the many Ethiopian forestry organizations is led by world renowned forestry experts. At the helm of the team is Dr. Badege Bishaw who is also co-Founder of ETFF. Our staff in Addis is headed by a forester and PHD candidate Ato Yoseph Assefa and a group of highly qualified professionals.

I’m not a forester nor do I claim to be an expert in the field of any of the environmental sciences. Over the years I’ve educated myself on the issue of global and particularly the case of Ethiopia’s deforestation I understood early on, we human beings, we are part and parcel of the planet earth and its ecosystem and that any ecological imbalance in the system has a direct effect in our well being and ultimately our own survival. So, by virtue of our interconnectivity with our environment we are all natural and born environmentalists.

AS STAKE HOLDERS AND IT’S ENCUMBANT ON US TO GET INVOLVED IN EVERY CAPACITY AT OUR DISPOSAL. BE IT CASH DONATION, LENDING OUR EXPERTIES OR BY VOLUNTEERING SERVICES TO THE ORGANIZATION.

WE INVITE ALL ETHIOPIANS AND FRIENDS OF ETHIOPIA WHO ARE IN THE FIELD OF FORESTRY OR ANY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FIELD TO JOIN THE PARENT ORGANIZATION AS MEMBERS. WE ALSO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO OPEN ETFF CHAPTERS IN THEIR REGION OF RESIDENCY. ONCE ORGANIZED AS A GROUP ETFF WILL PROVIDE THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO HELP YOU DO SO.

WE ask you to support by participating in the ETFF on going programs by making a donation of $25 or $10 per month or a one-time donation of any amount. If you would like to know more, about our programs and projects contact any of the officers listed in the web site.

OUR MOTTO IS “BY CHANGING A SMALL PIECE OF EARTH FOR THE BETTER WE HOPE TO SAVE OUR PLANET EARTH”.