In a run-up to a new project to be helmed by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that would restore degraded ecosystem endangering Chamo Lake and its agro-ecology has hosted inception workshop from 25th to 26th March, 2019, at Emerald Resort, Secha. The deliberated outcomes would provide a roadmap to identify restoration opportunities and duly shape up the interventional strategies.

On the occasion, IUCN experts including Mirjam Kuzee, Global Coordinator for FLR Assessments and Capacity Development, FLR Program Officer, Mr Craig R Beatty and Mr Peter W Sailr of GIZ spoke on broader aspects that will assess and identify Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) opportunities at the site.

In a yearlong project is aimed at restoring withering agro-ecology and aquatic life of Chamo Lake; the cross-sectional interactions with above mentioned personnel answers some of the pertinent questions as what strategy stakeholders opt, how IUCN will strike a balance between needs and opportunities and what role GIZ will play to achieve this common objective. Following is the excerpts of their opinions.

Mirjam Kuzee, said, in Ethiopian context two main things are important for FLR to stop erosion and loss of top soil occurring annually, so conservation is the major strategy IUCN will employ; preventing erosion and retention of soil and water is critical to production of all goods and services.

Therefore, she adds, using Restoration Opportunity Assessment Methodology (ROAM), we will identify the areas and approaches that are most appropriate; and for landscape we will identify zones wherein FLR interventions are necessary to work on to prevent degradation and ensure livelihood. Because even though conservation of soil and water is first priority that is from degradation side; but from the reasons to do FLR, first priority is to ensure livelihood and benefit transferred to people, so we will look for the areas where we can achieve these both objectives.

On land erosion, she emphasized, preventing flow of sedimentation and nutrient into lake is first priority that sits in the hinterland, it is also about livelihood of people, as they lose cycle of their crops. It’s the same problem in the landscape, it’s just you put different measures in place and ensure livelihoods, here you would have different interventions, which are related to filtering water and on the top you put FLR intervention that will prevent erosion and conserve soil.

On project timeline, she said, starting from now, one year will go into assessment of the situation and a year later we will have fund from German donor; but the actual need for implementation process will be decided later. This project will assess the opportunities for FLR, if we want to make decreasing flow of soil into Chamo, we will identify what and how it can be done.

On mass of land eroded in Ethiopia, she said, under Bonn Challenge, Ethiopia has made the pledge of restoring 15 Million Hectare of land by 2030.

Technical Assistance provider, GIZ’s Germany based officer, Mr Peter W Sailr (technical cooperation), said, it’s relatively young project, GIZ started to take several partners in Arba Minch and two catchments of Chamo basin -  Elgo and Sile; giving the lowdown on GIZ initiatives, he said, we are here to establish forest.

Elaborating on technical assistance, he said if there is need at kebele level with development agent, who wants access to latest technology that can be facilitated; we also work with university on hydrology and soil conservation and applied science aspects perspective. We can work with Arba Minch Municipality in stopping severe damage caused by Kulfo River by creating big gully erosion.

FLR Program Officer, Mr Craig R Beatty, on last week’s training focusing on ROAM, said, as participants came from across different areas; they were explained ROAM process in order to develop restoration opportunities assessment and restoration strategies. With this we strived to start taking experiences that they had at site level and translate them at landscape assessment.

He adds, they have learnt the component of degradation, what causes it and how to address them. They have learnt how we can take the landscape approach to satisfy the needs of people that they don’t need to expand their agricultural lands and yet can increase crops, etc.
(Corporate Communication Directorate)