About Forestry

Background

Forests are among the most valuable resources of humanity rendering natural, social, and economic values. They are home for a wide range of fauna and flora and a source of wood and non-wood forest products and other direct and indirect use values for mankind. Ethiopia owns diverse vegetation resources that include high forests, woodlands, bushlands, plantations, and trees outside forests.

Each of these vegetation resources variously contributes to the production, protection, and conservation functions, and plays a significant role in the national and local economy. There are six key economic roles that forest resources play in Ethiopia: (i) foreign currency earnings, mainly from the export of non-wood forest products; (ii) import substitution for energy; (iii) contribution to the GDP; (iv) employment opportunity; v) livelihood support for millions of citizens, and vi) provision of environmental services that support other sectors, particularly agriculture, construction, and energy. At the local level forests and trees provide food, medicine, energy, fodder, farm implement, and construction materials. Environmental benefits of forests are well studied and a large volume of evidence exists supporting the role of forests in soil and water conservation, amelioration of local climate and provision of a range of ecosystem services. Forest ecosystems currently receive attention as potential sinks for carbon and a means to addressing climate change, and thus the area of planted forests is increasing while the rate of deforestation shows signs of decreasing at the global scale. By contrast, Ethiopia has been known as one of the countries whose forest resources are severely deforested and degraded. Population growth, urbanization, and unplanned settlement, unstable land tenure, forest property rights, lack of forest and land use policies and socio-political instability, overgrazing, and many other factors are suggested as causes for the depletion and deterioration of the forest resources. Thus, in order to fill this gap, Arba Minch University opened a general forestry BSc program in the year of 2014 at the College of Agricultural Sciences with the following vision, mission, and objectives.

Vision

The department of forestry envisions being the center of excellence in forestry education and research, dissemination of knowledge and skills relevant for sustainable management, utilization, and conservation of forest and forest resources of the country contributing to food security and poverty alleviation, economic improvement, and environmental sustainability.

Mission

The mission of the department is to provide up-to-date and problem-solving training at the BSc and MSc levels and carry out research and extension for the advancement of science and technology in forestry and forestry-related resources. The program will also play an important role in producing and disseminating forestry research outcomes to all stakeholders including policymakers and local communities.

Objectives

The objectives of the department are to:

  • Provide high-quality and relevant professional-level education in forestry and related fields to address the human power needs of the Country;
  • Conduct demand-driven research in forestry and related fields and disseminate research findings to users through appropriate dissemination mechanisms;
  • Contribute to the national development goals of poverty alleviation and increased food security by increasing the opportunities for forest-based income-generating activities;
  • Maximize the contribution of the forestry sector to income, employment, and trade through the development of appropriate wood processing activities;
  • Ensure that forestry development contributes to national development goals and international commitments (including regional cooperation and transboundary issues) and is coordinated with other relevant branches of government; and
  • Ensure that activities in the forestry sector (including forest management, plantation development, harvesting, conservation, and industrial development) are based on sound scientific and technical principles;

 Staffs profile

S/No

Name

Academic

       rank

Specialization

Remark

1

Yonas Ugo Utaile

PhD

Forest ecology

Active

2

Mekdes Ourge Wegasie

PHD

Forest Ecology

Active

3

Daba Misgana Bekele

MSc

Agroforestry

Active

4

Angasa Bekele

MSc

Production Forestry

PhD Candidate

6

Aman Abeje Armo

MSc

Agroforestry

Active

7

Esubalew Girma Hailu

MSc

Production Forestry

Active

8

Bayisa Bekele Tiko

MSc

Agroforestry

Active

9

Shashe Shita Ambaye

MSc

Agroforestry

Active

10

Abinet Dinbo

GAII

Forestry

MSc candidate

11

Assefa Deginew Dessie

MSc

Biodiversity conservation and management

Active

 

12

Wondimagegn Elias

BSc

General Forestry

Active

13

Endalkachew Esayas

MSC

Agroforestry

Active

14

Gezahagn Gelabo

MSc

Watershed management

Active

 

Academic Programs in the department (BSc)

Undergraduate Program

  1. BSc degree in General Forestry (Regular)

Postgraduate program (MSc)

  1. MSc degree in agroforestry

Research and community services

Starting from its establishment the department is working in community services in several ways. As an example, it has been raising different types of seedlings and providing for local communities to achieve the Ethiopian green legacy goals. And also different research activities have been conducted in the department by the staff.

External funded Research and community services

The department is working with the national organization of the Ethiopian health institute on maximizing the development and safe utilization of Moringa stenopetala through an interdisciplinary investigational approach since 2017. The objective of this research is meant for increase the benefits of this miracle tree for the surrounding community. The research includes Moringa for agroforestry and Moringa for climate change mitigation and food security issues. Recently, the department is starting community services activities with GIZ forest for the future by launching a project called School Youth Forest Landscape Restoration Engagement.

Contact us:

Mr. Daba Misgana Bekele,

Head, Department of Forestry

College of Agricultural Sciences

Arba Minch University

Arba Minch, Ethiopia

Phone number: +251922160244

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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