Exclosures as forest and landscape restoration tools: lessons from Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

In response to the 2011 Bonn Challenge, Ethiopia has committed to restoring 15 million ha of degraded forest and savannah. This study focuses on rehabilitation of communal lands in Tigray through the use of exclosures. Exclosures, often established by using so-called social fences in Ethiopia, are widely recognized as effective in restoring vegetation. This study identified factors contributing to the success of exclosures. After selecting nine successful exclosures from three agro-ecological zones, data were collected through a formal survey of 324 randomly selected households, and from focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Local communities recognize the role of exclosures in increasing site productivity and vegetation cover. However, this positive attitude is often challenged by shortages of livestock feed as a competing priority. Results of our analysis are presented here, bringing insights on factors affecting successful planning and implementation of exclosures and their wider adoption as a means of landscape rehabilitation.

Ecosystem Service Values Changes in Response to Land-Use/Land-Cover Dynamics in Dry Afromontane Forest in Northern Ethiopia

“…The establishment of exclosures has been one of the strategies for rehabilitating degraded hillsides within catchments delineated for the rehabilitation and soil and water conservation programs. In line with the present study, Kassa et al [54] and Birhane et al [55] have stated that since the 1980s, area exclosure has been introduced to manage degraded lands and increase productivity in Northern Ethiopia. In addition, community members work to enrich the forest land by planting seedlings which provide ecological and economic benefits.…”

“…In addition, community members work to enrich the forest land by planting seedlings which provide ecological and economic benefits. This result is supported by Birhane et al [55], who discovered that community members in the Tigray region of Northern Ethiopia had participated in enrichment planting programs to improve their forest cover. Inside the forest, different soil and water conservation activities have been carried out to reduce soil erosion and to increase the moisture content of the land so that seed banks easily regenerate, eventually increasing the forest cover.…”

“…This was common practice in different areas of the country. For instance, Birhane et al [55], who studied exclosures as a forest restoration tool, indicated that the construction of soil and water conservation structures is one of the measures practiced by the community to rehabilitate degraded lands in Northern Ethiopia. Seyoum et al [56] also reported that massive soil and water conservation programs were carried out to restore degraded lands in Northern Ethiopia.…”

Farmers’ willingness to accept payments for ecosystem services on agricultural land: The case of climate-smart agroforestry in Ethiopia

“…Extreme environmental degradations in terms of soil erosion, loss of general biodiversity, and desertification have occurred throughout the district. In the past two decades, community-based conservation programs have played a significant role in mobilizing human and financial resources towards the construction of stone terraces, reforestation efforts, and enforcement of grazing restrictions (Birhane et al, 2017). The current policy priority of Tigray region in general and Hintalo-Wajirat district in particular is to showcase for large-scale adoption of fadehrbia albida which has been identified as a thriving agricultural innovation to enhance households' food security and reduce their vulnerability to the effects of climate change (Noulekoun et al, 2017;Rinaudo, 2010).…”

Effect of exclosure on dryland woody species restoration in northeastern Amhara, Ethiopia

“…In exclosures, 35 woody species representing 21 families and 29 genera were recorded; 19 woody species representing 13 families and 13 genera were recorded in the from openly accessing a severely degraded area (Aerts et al 2009). Exclosures are advantageous over other methods such as hillside terracing and planting; it is fast and inexpensive, relatively easy, requires less investment in planting materials, site preparation and management (Birhane et al 2017), and existing vegetative material may invade the site faster and with better coverage than planted seedlings. They are implemented for management or research purposes (Ubuy et al 2014) to improve degraded and generally open-access lands (Birhane et al 2007;Mekuria 2007) and to prevent agricultural use (Mekuria et al 2009).…”