ETFF Plants 2,600 Tree Seedlings in Bale & Acheber

View photos Here

 

 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - ETFF, in cooperation with members of its Ethiopia Chapter, planted 2,600 seedlings of the indigenous Pencil Cedar trees in Bale (Oromiya Region) and Acheber (Gurage Region) during the week of August 4-6, 2007.

 

The tree planting program was funded by ETFF NW Chapter, which raised the money during a fundraising held in Portland, Oregon in April of this year.

 

Following is a report prepared by the Ethiopian Chapter.

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Field Trip to Bale to Plant Trees August 4-6, 2007

 

Participants of the Trip from ETFF

1. Ato Yoseph Assefa
2. Ato Melaku Wondafrash
3. Ato Tsegaye Kassa
4. Student Leul Tsegaye
5. Ato Anteneh
6. Wzt. Bezawit Eshetu
7. Ato Tolcha
8. Ato Belay

Members of the ETFF Ethiopia Chapter

at the Tree Planting Ceremony

After a weeklong preparation, the group commenced the journey early in the morning. Ato Yoseph Assefa, assisted by Ato Melaku Wondafrash, took the lead in coordinating all the activities in Bale as well as in Addis Ababa. These courageous individuals organized the anchor group in Bale through Ato Adane and Ato Assefa, who collected the seedlings and mobilized government officials, NGOs, civil societies, and personnel from Higher Institutions, Primary and Secondary Schools, Police Forces, Farmers Associations and Women Associations.

Ato Adane and Ato Assefa, through the Bale Nucleus Group of the ETFF, had collected over 2,100 seedling of the indigenous Pencil Cedar.

When the Addis ETFF group arrived in Bale, it was received by Ato Adane and a small welcoming party. The group didn't waste any time and immediately started a discussion and talked about ways to organize the Bale Group for sustainable future protection and environmental development of the region.

The Tree Planting event, which was organized by Ato Adane, was reviewed and approved unanimously.

Tree Planting in Bale

Mother Nature also collaborated as the tree-planting event was held on a beautiful and sunny day.

Here follows the program:

9:00 am Arrival of all participants from government, civil society,
Colleges, police force etc

10:00 am Introduction of the Day Tree Planting Activity by Ato Adane

10:10 am Introduction of ETFF goals, by Ato Yoseph Assefa

10:50 am Demonstration by Ato Assefa how to properly plant the seedlings

11:00 am Planting of the Trees (Pencil Cedar 2,100) by all

11:45 am Visit to a wonderful park decorated by trees and clean river

12:00 am Question and Answer Session Organized by ETFF

12:30 pm Awards of participation certificates to 23 participating Individuals and organizations and rewards to outstanding Individuals.

12:45 pm Vote of Thanks

13:00 pm Tree Planting Party Celebration and lunch

14:00 pm Coffee Ceremony and small-group discussion about the future of ETFF in Bale byh Ato Adane.

15:30 pm End of the Program

The triumphant team of ETFF Ethiopia returned to Addis on Monday, August 6. The team enjoyed the Bale Mountains and surrounding dense forests with plenty of Pencil Cedar and Hagenia Abyssinica trees among other numerous types of Fauna and Flora. We also enjoyed endemic birds like Ibis, Raven, Abyssinia Eagle, Meksel Birs etc and rare animals such as the Mountain Nyalas, Menelik Bush etc

The evergreen & beautiful Bale Mountains in the background

• We learned that it is not too late to make a difference and that there are people waiting for us to work with them.
• Ethiopia still owns a lot of rare fauna and flora to provide to the whole world.
• There is a great potential for creating Beauty Zone and Parks as demonstrated by the Bale youth Nature Club
• Individuals like Ato Adane and Ato Assefa are key persons for creating a Social Movement to mobilize the public and bring about sustainable change in Rural Ethiopia.
• Coordination between various organizations at local and grass roots level is imperative to bring positive and lasting changes
• We have to show our support by contributing financially, technically and materially to such local efforts and forming nucleus organizations.
  Frequent field visits are important to provide continuous moral and technical support to the sites
• We have witnessed the small effort of ETFF can bring big changes in remote areas of Ethiopia.
• There are ready groups and individuals who can take the case of ETFF further to the public provided they are given the critical minimum support.
• Working with local Governments, institutions, colleges and the public in a coordinated manner is key and building block to be successful with any project.

 

Great Job! Members of the ETFF Ethiopia Chapter