Haramaya University Tree-Based Restoration Project at Dengego Mountain is said to be encouraging.
Dengego Mountain, located in Haramaya and Kersa Woredas of East Hararge Zone, is prone to severe vegetation depletion and soil erosion because of various influences.
Haramaya University is working hard on this deforested and degraded mountain by designing a tree-based restoration project in collaboration with the Federal Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission, Forest Transformation Unit and Haramaya and Kersa woredas.
According to Dr. Tesema Toru, a lecturer at the Haramaya University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and the Project coordinator; the project has conducted many activities. Some of these activities done over the last year include treating natural regeneration, protecting the mountain from animal and human contact, and consulting with the local community, conserving soil and water and mulch planting, and planting fruit trees on the farm areas outside of the mountain.
Dr. Tesema also said that now onwards, researches will be conducted on the recovered mountain and a recovery model that will be implemented as a national level after being evaluated that developed by Haramaya University. Even though the project is said to last for one year, it is hoped that the project will stay longer based on its results. Lastly Dr. Tesema said that there are planned activities that will benefit the local community in the future and the community should work together with the project.
Mr. Alemayehu Eshete, Head of Haramaya Woreda Natural Resources, on his part, said that they are working with Haramaya University to restore the degraded Dengego Mountain. As he informed, the total area under Haramaya Woreda is 30.5 hectares. So far, soil and water conservation works such as constructing terraces, planting of seedlings, and protecting it from animals and humans for its regeneration have been carried out. As a result, the stripped hill is now said to be recovering, covered with greenery, and the seedlings are still growing.
Mr. Alemayehu added that he hopes to continue working with the University for the Success of this project and the long-term benefit of their local community as it is a work that can be a good experience and a role model for the district’s agricultural professionals.
Haramaya woreda’s agricultural experts Nibras Ahmed, Mehamed Abdurehman, Abiyot Fanta and others, in their turn, confirmed that the work done by the project so far is encouraging and can be a good lesson and input for their future work.
Explaining that they are still happy to see green plants on the mountain, Hawa Mohammed and Jamal Ame, residents of Biftu Geda Kebele in the area promised that they will take care of this development project, for they are the first beneficiaries.
Source: HARAMAYA University