1. Approach’s Outline and Features

2. Description of the project from which this approach is derived

2-1. Introduction

Estimates indicate that 5,000-10,000 hectares of forest in the Oromia Region are being lost each year due to agricultural expansion, inappropriate land use and excessive deforestation. Accordingly, the Regional Government requested that the Japanese government implement the first phase of “The participatory forest management project in the Belete-Gera regional forest priority area in the Oromia Region”, a technical cooperation project aimed at encouraging local farmers to manage the forest in line with the results of a JICA survey in 1998. The initial project phase was implemented for three years, from October 2003.

To further extend Participatory Forest Management (PFM) to other settlements in the Forest Priority Area, a second phase of the project was implemented for four years from October 2006.

• The project’s purpose: WaBuB Participatory Forest Management (WaBuB PFM) is developed in selected areas in Belete-Gera RFPA (Regional Forest Priority Area).
• Project Periods: Phase 1: Oct. 2003 – Sep. 2006, Phase 2: Oct. 2006 – Mar. 2012
• Biome: Highland (forest coffee area / mountainous)

2-2. Details of measures taken

• The Project promoted and realized the demarcation of forest boundaries to conserve the natural forest. A provisional forest management agreement (P-FMA) was also concluded between the WaBuB and forest administration bodies such as Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprise (OFWE). 
• The Project strengthened the capacity of the forest administration institution/agencies and WaBuB through training.
  • Training for forest administration
    • Training for Trainers (Farmer Field School, project management and participatory forest management etc.), Training in Japan, Third-country training (Kenya, Uganda and Thailand)
  • Training for WaBuB
    • Participatory forest management, forest certification, tree and fruit nursery, fodder bank, cultivation of fruit and vegetables, woodlot, tree intercropping, 
• The Farmer Field School was adopted for the capacity development for the WaBuB.
• A benefit-sharing mechanism was introduced in the Belete-Gera forest area.
• The Project has utilized and developed a system of traditional local knowledge, particularly in forest protection and utilization for sustainable forest management such as follows:
  • Felling big trees is taboo within the Oromo community.
  • Tree bark must be properly utilized while preparing traditional beehives.
  • Regeneration protection: Regeneration is associated with children among residents (Oromos).
  • Cultural and administrative gatherings take place under trees, so major trees are considered a source of shade and shelter.
  • Farm tools made from old and fallen trees.
  • Awareness that deforestation can cause drought.
  • Banning any hunting of wildlife unless harmful to the community.

(Perspectives on sustainability)

• In the field manual, forest management monitoring and feedback activities are included with numerous pictures and photos.
• This project was conducted in collaboration with Zone and District (Jimma Zone, Gera and Shabe Sombo Districts) stakeholders.

3. Analysis of the approach

3-1. Impact

• The establishment of 124 WaBuBs and establishment and registration of seven cooperatives.
• All cooperatives participating in the forest coffee certification program sell coffees at premium rates.
• All target WaBuBs have sustained FMA, even after the termination of the Project.

3-2. Lessons learned

• A participatory forest management approach, in which forest users participate at each stage of forest management, such as planning, implementation and monitoring & evaluation, is necessary and effective for sustainable forest management. This is because involving local communities in forest governance helps develop a sense of responsible ownership. In turn, increasing awareness of ownership helps ensure sustainability.
• Simultaneously helping conserve the forest and generate income by producing premium-priced forest coffee and implementing the WaBuB Farmer Field School would be an ideal PFM model that would also incentivize participants to join in forest conservation activities. Establishing the FMA allows WaBuB members to harvest forest coffee in the forest areas. That income may also represent an economically solid incentive to participate in the FMA for the local community. Accordingly, under the FMA, it is expected that WaBuB will participate in forest management together with the forest administration body such as OFWE and the natural forests in the area can be monitored and conserved sustainably. FFS served as an extension tool for WaBuB to learn new agriculture or forestry practices requiring long-term interaction.
• Developing manuals and guidelines in the local language with photos and drawings paves the way to understand the contents. Moreover, such manuals can also be used as means of monitoring and feedback in PFM activities and would be very effective in promoting and sustaining PFM.
• Local knowledge and cultural authority were incorporated into the participatory forest management structure. Such efforts can promote sustainability and coordinate opinions among forest user group members.　

NbS Approach Category	3-1. 11
Title of the project from which the approach is derived.	The participatory forest management project in Belete-Gera regional forest priority area in the Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Country	Ethiopia
Biome	Montane
Implementing term	Phase 1: October 2003 – September 2006 Phase 2: October 2006 – March 2012
Implementing organizations	Phase 1: Oromia Agriculture and Rural Development Bureau Phase 2: Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprise
Supporting organizations	Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Report/Tool/Guideline	・Project Brochure on FFS (Farmer Field School) Approach for Agroforestry and Naturel Resource Development ・Project Brochure on WaBuB PFM in Belete-Gera Regional Forest Priority Area  ・Project Brochure / Participatory Forest Management Project in Belete-Gera Regional Forest Priority Area Phase 2Summary Sheet for Terminal Evaluation (2010) ・Internal Ex-Post Evaluation for Technical Cooperation Project (2019) ・[AI-CD Website]: Participatory Forest Management Project in Belete-Gera
Contributors to this article	NORO Takamasa, SHIRAISHI Takuya, TEJIMA Shigeharu/Oriental Consultants Global Co., Ltd. Mohamed Saeed/Ex Project Manager of the participatory forest management project in Belete-Gera regional forest priority area in the Oromia Region