Donate Trees for Conservation & Jobs in Ethiopia

KDA-Global Giving Project - Tree Planting Project Report

(Donate a Tree for Jobs & Conservation in Ethiopia)

December 2012 – February 2013, three months’ report

KDA is linking Environmental Rehabilitation, Protection and Development interventions to ecotourism as tourism is one option for Development and to fight Poverty. The Konso area or district is one of the known tourism destinations in southern Ethiopia. The settlement style; traditional rural villages/towns; the Konso cultural landscape; the indigenous intensive agriculture techniques such as indigenous soil and water conservation terraces; mixed cropping; agro forestry practices; cultural statues; walled villages, Mora or cultural gathering areas and traditional handcrafts/arts are some of the tourist attractions in the area. The KDA tree planting activity will help to diversify the tourism market, create jobs for the community members, enhance visitor’s interaction with the community, their contribution in rehabilitating the degraded environment and above all conserve the environment. The tree planting activity was launched by Konso Development Association/KDA and Ethiopian Sustainable Tourism Alliance/ESTA. People who are more responsible for the environment and interested in planting a tree provide a fund of US$20 for a tree that is planted in his/her name. The tree planting activity is linked with Global giving to receive donations on the Global giving website to support the activity.

During the last three months 8 tourists (foreigners) have participated in the tree planting at the field level to plant tree in their name. Each has planted one tree and donated US$20 (Total is US$160). 10 female community members participated in the plantation and management of the trees. The seedlings were tagged. The trees are in good condition at the field and the community members will continue to care for the trees until they are well established.  Some pictures from field are also included here with the report.

KDA has also continued to strengthen the linkage of the tree planting activity with tour and travel agencies in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. This is in turn to strengthen the participation of tourists or visitors in tree planting to conserve the environment and to create jobs in Konso.  For this matter refresher training was held for the Konso local tour guides and with the community conservation area members about tree planting and management and how to guide tourists arriving for the tree planting activity.

The KDA – Gersale tree nursery has continued to produce different tree seedlings for plantation.  The KDA project nursery has financial support from Greener Ethiopia, to which the tree planting activity is linked for provision of seedlings.

By

Karale Kasaso

Fundraising and Public Relation Department

Konso Development Association/KDA

KDA-Global Giving Project - Tree Planting Project Report

(Donate a Tree for Jobs & Conservation in Ethiopia)

The Konso people have a vibrant traditional culture and unique agricultural practices that have drawn praise from around the world. However, the growing population has put extra pressure on natural resources leading to deforestation, soil erosion and wildlife. To address the issue, the Konso Development Association (KDA), community based NGO, legally registered with government of Ethiopia as Ethiopian Residents Charity Organization, created the Gersale Tree Nursery which has a goal of planting trees seedlings over 5.6 hectares of degraded land which will also provide jobs. KDA-Global Giving Project of Tree planting is part of the objective and now really making difference by planting tree to conserve and create Jobs.

Report since KDA Tree planting project was approved on Global Giving:

Your donations are making difference. 10 women were selected from the community and established as a group. This is to facilitate the plantation of trees on the plantation site on behalf of the individuals/donors that donate the money to KDA tree planting project on Global giving. Orientation or field level/practical training was provided to the women group members to enable them how to plant and care for tree seedlings. Now they are watering and taking care for the seedlings planted on behalf of the visitors and donors.  Until now 100 tree seedlings were planted in the plantation site and are under the care of the women group. Tags were prepared and fixed with the tree seedlings planted to indicate the name of the visitors who planted the seedlings or who donated money on global giving website. Since the start of the project 20 visitors or tourists have directly participated in the plantation. A total of about 140 USD was provided by the visitors or tourists for KDA tree planting project and 105 USD was donated at global giving website.

KDA is also linking the tree planting project activity with tour and travel agencies with their office in Ethiopia. This is to strength the participation of tourists or visitors in tree planting to conserve the environment and to create jobs. Through this activity 15 travel and tour agencies have agreed to support the tree planting activity and promote the tree planting by providing information to their customers. They also donated a total of 664 USD to the KDA tree planting project. 

Now the Gersale tree nursery is carrying over 120, 000 seedlings of different trees which will be planted to conservation areas under the management and rehabilitation by KDA and the community. Of this about 10,000 tree seedlings is prepared and made ready for plantation to the plantation site of KDA tree planting project.

Karale Kasaso

Fundraising & Public Relation Department

Konso Development Association/KDA