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MELCA Newsletter Volume 1 No. 5 August 2012

The Sheka Forest has Become One of the Global Biosphere Reserves

The United Nations

Educational Scientific and

Cultural Organization

(UNESCO) has added the

Sheka forest to its global

list of 599 Biosphere

Reserves in 117 countries,

on 11, July 2012 in Paris.

According to UNESCO’s

definition, Biosphere

reserves are places

recognized by Man And

Biosphere (MAB) where

local communities are

actively involved in

governance and

management, research,

education, training and

monitoring at the service of

both socio-economic

development and

biodiversity conservation.

“Biosphere reserves are

sites for experimenting with

and learning about

sustainable development,”

UNESCO has said in a news

release about the adoption.

Sheka Forest is located in

the Sheka Zone of the

Southern Nations,

Nationalities and Peoples

(SNNP) Regional State. The

Sheka forest covers a

unique bio-geographic unit

extending from cold and

very wet highlands

bordering Illubabor zone of

Oromia regional state and

Kafa zone to hot lowland

areas bordering Gambella

regional state and the

Bench-Maji zone. The whole

area is very diverse, with

contrasting landscape

elements, habitats and

cultural practices.

The Sheka forest is adopted

to be a biosphere reserve

because it fulfills the three

functions of biosphere

reserve-namely the

conservation, development

and logistics support

functions to the desired

level. In terms of the

conservation function, the

forest contributes to the

conservation of landscapes,

ecosystems, species and

genetic variation.

The Sheka forest constitutes

one of the few remaining

afromontane forest

vegetation in Ethiopia.

As such it is highly regarded

as important for

conservation of the

Afromontane forest

vegetation types, especially

the Afromontane Rainforest

and alpine bamboo thickets.

Furthermore, the forest of

Sheka is important for the

role it plays in protection of

watersheds that have local

and international

significance in the Nile and

Omo-Ghibe/ Lake Turkana

Basins. It is the source of

major rivers like Baro and

Akobo rivers, the main

tributaries of the White

Nile, Gojeb, the main

tributary of Omo from the

southwestern highlands of

Ethiopia.

It is also highly regarded for

conservation of

biodiversity, flood and

erosion control, and carbon-

sequestration to mitigate

the effects of climate

change.

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The forest is rich in both

plant and animal species.

There are over 300 higher

plants, 50 mammals, 200

birds, and 20 amphibian

species, occurring in all

habitats. Out of these, at

least 55 plants, and 10 birds

are endemic to Ethiopia.

There are also over 38

threatened species (IUCN

Red list) in the area, which

include 5 bird, 3 mammals

and 30 plant species. It is an

important gene pool for

Ensete (sometines called

‘false banana’), Arabica

coffee and other plant

species important as food,

agricultural and forestry

purposes.

The forest’s

development/economic

function is also vital. The

Shekacho people earn most

of their cash income from

honey and spices produced

in dense forest. The

traditional agricultural

practice is also ecologically

sustainable, while fulfilling

the social and economic

needs of the local

population.

There is also a growing

trend of coffee production

by the highlanders, by

planting coffee in degraded

forest areas. Since coffee is

shade-loving crop,

enrichment planting of

trees is also conducted,

thereby contributing to

ecological sustainability

through rehabilitation

degraded forest areas. The

area also has a good

potential for eco-tourism,

with its diverse natural and

cultural landscape, tropical

forest, crater lakes,

waterfalls and cultural

festivals.

The fact that the forest has a

great potential as a

demonstration site for

environmental education

and the link between

culture and biodiversity or

cultural biodiversity

explains its function in

logistical support. Currently

MELCA-Ethiopia is

implementing an

environmental education

program called SEGNI

(Social Empowerment

through Group Nature

Interaction) in the forest. As

related to this, UNESCO has

also recognized the Sheka

Biosphere Reserve to serve

as a training center for a

transfer of cultural and

traditional ecological

knowledge from the old to

the new generation. And in

the near future, the forest

has a great potential to

serve as biological field

station for the newly

established universities in

the area, especially for

Mizan-Teppi University,

located in the proposed

biosphere reserve, and

Metu University located at

60 km away in Illubabor

zone of Oromia state.

The Sheka Forest Biosphere

reserve has a total area of

238,750 hectares. Out of

this total area 55, 255

hectares (23.14%), 76,395

hectares (30%) and

107,100 hectares (44.86%)

are designated as core zone,

buffer zone and transitional

zone respectively.

The core zone is an area

devoted to long-term

protection of the natural

forest. It is composed of

intact natural high forest,

cultural forests (Kobo),

sacred forests, wetlands and

bamboo tickets. Hence it is

an area to be protected

from human interference

except for traditional non-

timber uses such as

traditional beekeeping, wild

spices and medicinal plants

collection, ritual ceremonies

as well as controlled eco-

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tourism using some routes,

research, monitoring, and

trainings.

The buffer zone on the

other hand is an area

devoted for both

conservation and use

functions.

All use functions except

logging, new permanent

settlements, and high

impact investments like

monoculture plantation,

intensive agriculture and

hunting are allowed in this

area.

And lastly the transitional

area is a development zone

where all activities for

livelihood of the local

community take place. Here,

all kinds of traditional and

modern agriculture based

sustainable land

management can be

undertaken.

MELCA-Ethiopia has played

a pivotal role in the

coordination of the Sheka

forest biosphere reserve

nomination based on the

demand of the Sheka

community and the local

government administrative

organs.

The 11th Hour

Looking Back to World Environment Day-2012

The global concern

regarding environmental

degradation and the

associated climate change

has increased especially

during the past three to four

decades. Accordingly, the

global community is

engaged in the arrangement

of various measures meant

for mitigation of the

situation. Among these is

the world environment day

being celebrated annually at

international level.

The objectives of the

celebration, in general, are

to raise the awareness of

participants of the event

regarding environmental

issues and enable them to

realize their role in support

for a healthy ecosystem and

sustainable development.

This year, on the 24th

World Environment Day, a

fair on seed and seedlings

has been organized from 5-

11, June 2012 at Ethio-Cuba

Friendship Park in Addis

Abeba. MELCA-Ethiopia, in

collaboration with Institute

of Biodiversity

Conservation (IBC), Ethio-

Organic Seed Action (EOSA),

and Institute for Sustainable

Development (ISD) has

participated in the fair by

organizing different events

and releasing publications

and brochures with a focus

on farmers’ seed varieties.

The most impressive part of

the seed and seedling fair

was the exhibition of seed

arts presented by MELCA

and its SEGNI club member

students from schools

around MELCA’s Suba-

Sebeta project area.

The seed mosaics showed

the traditions, customs and

socio-economic activities of

the students’ community.

Different types of

indigenous seeds were used

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for the production of these

beautiful mosaics.

Among the seed arts was

one mosaic entitled with

“11�� ”, which is

Amharic and means “The

11th hour”. Its message is

easy to understand: We are

at the 11th hour in terms of

the erosion of farmers’ seed

varieties and the decline of

associated traditional

knowledge and it is high

time that we should start to

act to reverse the situation.

Generally the schools came

with amazingly creative and

beautiful mosaics of all sorts

of things done with farmer’s

varieties of seeds. Before

the exhibition there was a

two-minute statement for

Radio, which has been

published as ‘five reasons

for protecting our seeds’.

This was an extremely

useful move. Short half page

statements but punchy.

They are not one or two

sentences but mini

explanations. Some were

designed to motivate

nationalism such as a

statement ‘Ethiopia is one of

the nine countries famous

for seed diversity’

others to provide an

economic argument ‘our

seeds will give us a

competitive edge on the

world market as they are

unique’; others to give sense

to their value in times of

climate change ‘our seeds

will give us an option in

times of climate change’.

The five themes were

transmitted through radio

for 10 days. Journalists also

used them extensively.

There was also a one-hour

Radio talk show for three

days. Most of the leading

seed experts in Ethiopia,

including Dr. Regassa, Dr.

Melaku, Dr. Bayush, Dr.

Gemedew (head of the

Institute for Biodiversity

Conservation), Dr. Alganesh

and a very knowledgeable

farmer, coming from a

group who has succeeded in

recuperating their seeds,

came to the studio to open

discussion with the public.

The farmer was a star. Very

eloquent and sharp! One

farmer, for example, asked

him how to take poison out

of the soil. He was talking

about agricultural

chemicals. He said ‘you can

do that with legumes. You

have to do that for at least

two years.’ He said he does

not advice stopping using

artificial fertilizers

altogether. It has to be done

gradually. He advised the

farmer to plant his own

seeds, even using a piece of

his land if forced to plant

only improved varieties.

The discussion on seed

issues and agro-biodiversity

was further reinforced by a

one-day debate organized

as a side event at the

exhibition site. Every event

pointed at one direction-

that there is a national

consensus regarding

conservation of farmers’

seed varieties and maintain

diversity on our farms. Yet

the challenges from the

push for industrial

agriculture backed by big

western corporations like

Monsanto remain to be

consciously dealt with.

As has already been said,

the seed arts presented on

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the seed exhibition by

SEGNI club member

students from schools

around MELCA’s Suba-

Sebeta project area were

the most exciting ones.

Thousands of people

flocked to see their art and

comment. There were some

who said ‘Are you playing

with seeds while life is so

expensive!’ The students

laugh and say ‘We are doing

this to show you how we

are loosing these seeds and

how it is important for you

to know and join the work

for their conservation so

that you keep on eating in

the future.’ The majority

was so appreciative and

showered the students and

teachers with praises and

encouragements. A woman,

one of the visitors to the

exhibition, who was much

impressed by the seed arts

insisted that this exhibition

should be taken to the

Agricultural Exhibition

organized by the Addis

Ababa Chamber of

Commerce from 14-18 June

2012 at Addis Ababa

Exhibition center.

The woman’s

recommendation was

welcomed and the seed arts

by the students were

exhibited at the fifth

industrial agriculture

exhibit entitled AGRIFEX V.

The seed art exhibition,

surrounded by huge

commercial agriculture

exhibits run by Chinese,

Indian, Egyptian and

Ethiopian investors, looks

small, yet, unique and

attractive. A mid the seed

arts, there was also a

banner which says ‘our

seeds are our environment,

culture and resilience. Let

us protect them’. Hence, it

called the attention of

thousands of visitors who

saw something different

among the many similar.

Almost every visitor, who

casted eyes on the seed arts,

expressed his/her

unreserved appreciation for

the inspiring arts and the

idea behind.

Just a week after the closing

of the industrial agriculture

exhibit, the Addis Ababa

Chamber of Commerce and

Sectoral Associations

(AACCSA) announced the

seed art exhibition,

presented by the students,

as one of the three best

stand award winners.

Extracting lessons from this

remarkable experience,

MELCA-Ethiopia and the

Institute of Biodiversity

Conservation (IBC), Ethio-

Organic Seed Action (EOSA)

and Institute for Sustainable

Development (ISD) are

planning to come together

and ponder on what has

been done fine and what

should be added or

improved to chart the

future.

The organizations are also

planning to start a big

coalition on bio-cultural

diversity in Ethiopia.

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Community Land Reclamation for the common benefit

In 2008 MELCA gave a para-

legal training on

environmental laws and

cultural and human rights

for 35 community members

including youth, women and

clan leaders in Masha

woreda of Sheka Zone. The

training was meant to

enhance the awareness of

these members of the

community regarding their

cultural, environmental and

human rights and demand

them accordingly.

These members of the

community reached and

shared the idea they got

from the training with

about 17, 930 fellow

community members.

Following these, MELCA

organized training on

national and international

environmental laws, culture

and human right for law

enforcement and justice

organs as well as those in

the administrative position

of Masha Woreda. The

purpose of this training was

to enlighten these organs

with national and

international laws dealing

with environmental issues,

cultural rights and make

them aware of the

challenges relating to the

implementation of the

environmental impact

assessment law of the

country.

Further more consultation

meetings with the local

government organs

continued on the value of

conserving the forest of

Sheka the different

strategies that can be

implemented to that end.

Triggered by these

consecutive trainings and

consultative meetings, the

community of Masha

Woreda demanded the

forestland granted to East

Africa Group for investment

in tea plantation should be

reversed as it has adverse

effect on the forest. This

idea of the community was

supported by the local

government organs and

resulted in the stopping of

expansion of the tea

plantation.

The East African Group was

originally given 3435

hectares of forestland for

investment in tea

plantation. By the time the

community demanded

reversal of the investment

agreement the group has

already cleared about 1000

hectares of forestland and

planted tea on it. So, the

group was ordered by the

relevant government organ

to restrict its investment to

the land it has already

planted and not to do any

more expansion.

Accordingly, for over five

years now, the company is

producing tea from the land

it has cultivated before the

community demanded its

expulsion from the area.

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MELCA-Ethiopia Held its Annual General Meeting

MELCA-Ethiopia has

conducted its annual

general meeting on the

10th of March 2012 at

Harambe Hotel in Addis

Ababa.

Dr Melaku Werede,

chairman of MELCA’s Board

of Directors, made a

welcome speech on the

meeting. After extending his

welcome address to all

members and invited

guests, Dr. Melaku stated

that the erosion of

biodiversity all over the

world has been high on the

global agenda for the past

several decades. He said, “in

this regard Ethiopia is no

different and so the issue is

worrying especially for

those of us who have been

working on the issue

through out our lives.

Currently, as far as I know,

there are only a few non-

governmental organizations

working on the

conservation of

biodiversity. MELCA is one

of those few organizations

endeavoring for

conservation of not only the

biodiversity but also related

cultural values of local

communities. We are seeing

signs that the works of

these organizations are

becoming fruitful. So all of

us should support them in

any way we can.”

Dr. Melaku also added that

he hopes MELCA’s

performance report of the

year 2011 will go some

steps above the previous

years and the plan for the

year 2012 will go even

further. Then he called up

members to discuss on the

reports and future plan in

detail and forward

constructive comments.

On the meeting, MELCA’s

Director Ato Million Belay

presented the overall

performance report and the

achievements gained in the

year 2011.

Ato Million’s report

explained performances in

all the six program areas

that MELCA applies at its

three project areas, namely

Bale, Suba-Sebeta and Sheka

and the corresponding

achievements gained in

each of the program areas.

His report focused on the

results obtained rather than

the activities done. In

addition beneficiaries and

partners representing the

local government organs,

from Suba-Sebeta project

area, witnessed the

achievements gained in

each of the program areas.

Ato million also presented

action plan for

implementation in the year

2012. He stated that the

budget allocated for

implementation of actions

in 2012 exceeds that

allocated for last year by

30%.

A welcome address by Dr.

Melaku

Ato Million reporting to the

assembly

Beneficiaries testifying about

the projects

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An independent external

auditing firm has also

presented financial report

of the year 2011. A

representative of the

auditing firm reported that

the auditing has been done

in accordance with

internationally accepted

auditing principles and no

flaw has been found in the

financial utilization of

MELCA.

The assembly has approved

the activity and financial

report of 2011 and the 2012

action plan unanimously.

Finally, the assembly has

discussed on membership

issues and passed decisions.

Accordingly, five new

applicants for membership

has been accepted by the

assembly, while nineteen

members, who could not

properly discharge their

membership obligations for

at least the past three years,

for various reasons, have

been removed from

membership.

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