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Case Study29 Jul 2008
World Vision’s first climate change mitigation project is a community-managed reforestation project in Humbo, Ethiopia. The project is located in the south-west of the country in World Vision’s Humbo Area Development Project. It has been hailed as a highly successful example of a development reforestation project that benefits the environment through improved natural resource management and increased biodiversity. It also contributes to poverty alleviation by creating a new community-based income stream through the generation of carbon offset credits under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) – the Kyoto Protocol system reserved for developing countries.
This project is a prototype for other potential reforestation projects that World Vision Ethiopia has identified with support from World Vision Australia. World Vision Ethiopia is looking to launch several carbon offset reforestation programmes in the near future. The Humbo project is fully funded at present, but funding is needed for other potential project sites in Ethiopia and other African countries.
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Humbo before the project
The area was bare of any trees, although some small shrubs remained. High rainfall led to flash flooding in
the area, and there were significant areas of erosion on the project site. Large amounts of topsoil were removed, reducing potential productivity in higher areas, and leaving large silt deposits on farms in lower areas, destroying roads and bridges. |
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Humbo after the project
As of June 2008, the project site was being managed for re-vegetation using World Vision's Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration technique. The communities are very excited about the project, and the growth has been exceptional for a project only operating for 12 months. Tree nurseries are all very successful – and some 450,000 seedlings have been established and will be planted in 2008. |
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Benefits of the Humbo Project
Environmental:
Increase in biodiversity
Soil protection: revegetation will act as anti-erosion mechanism leading to enhanced water filtration, reduced flash flooding and more
stable agricultural production
Increased incentives for people to invest in land use: the project models appropriate sustainable land management techniques and introduce incentives for communities to proactively manage forest resources for carbon outcomes | Socio-Economic:
Transfer of new funds to community for community development projects
New employment opportunities and income generation
Improved nutrition
Technical training and demonstration: technical capacity building through training in Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration technique, model of community ownership and successful application of managed forestry, more complex and sustainable production systems.
Reduced vulnerability to drought and adaptation to climate change |
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