Lafa (exclosure)
{{Short description|Exclosure for woodland restoration in Ethiopia}}
{{Prose|date=December 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use British English Oxford spelling|date= February 2020}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Lafa exclosure
| iucn_category =
| photo = Lafa exclosure.jpg
| photo_caption = Lafa exclosure
| location = Mizane Birhan municipality, in Dogu’a Tembien district, Ethiopia
| nearest_city = Hagere Selam
| map = Ethiopia | relief = 1
| coordinates = {{coord|13.596|N|39.294|E|display=inline, title}}
| area_ha = 45
| established = 1988
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| website = https://ethiotrees.com
}}
Lafa is an exclosure located in the Dogu'a Tembien woreda of the Tigray Region in Ethiopia. The area has been protected since 1988 by the local community.{{cite book |last1=De Deyn |first1=Jonathan |title= Benefits of reforestation on Carbon storage and water infiltration in the context of climate mitigation in North Ethiopia. Master thesis, Ghent University| date=2019}}
Timeline
- 1988: established as exclosure by the community
- 2017: support by the EthioTrees project
Environmental characteristics
- Area: 45 ha
- Average slope gradient: 41%
- Aspect: the exclosure is oriented towards the south
- Minimum altitude: 2008 metres
- Maximum altitude: 2088 metres
- Lithology: Antalo Limestone
Management
As a general rule, cattle ranging and wood harvesting are not allowed. The grasses are harvested once yearly and taken to the homesteads of the village to feed livestock. There are two guards to protect the exclosure. Field observations showed that however some illegal grazing occurred in the exclosure in 2018.
Benefits for the community
Setting aside such areas fits with the long-term vision of the communities were hiza’iti lands are set aside for use by the future generations. It has also direct benefits for the community:{{cite book |last1=Jacob |first1=M. and colleagues | title= Exclosures as Primary Option for Reforestation in Dogu'a Tembien. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546}}
- improved ground water availability
- honey production
- climate ameliorator (temperature, moisture)
- the sequestered carbon (in total 75 tonnes per ha, dominantly sequestered in the soil, and additionally in the woody vegetation) is certified using the Plan Vivo voluntary carbon standard,[https://www.planvivo.org/project-network/ethiotrees-tembien-highlands/ EthioTrees on Plan Vivo website] after which carbon credits are sold
- the revenues are then reinvested in the villages, according to the priorities of the communities; it may be for an additional class in the village school, a water pond, or conservation in the exclosure.{{cite book |last1=Reubens |first1=B. and colleagues | title= Research-based development projects in Dogu'a Tembien. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546}}
Biodiversity
With vegetation growth, biodiversity in this exclosure hast strongly improved: there is more varied vegetation and wildlife.
References
{{reflist|32em}}
External links
- [https://www.davines.com/blogs/projects/ethiotrees EthioTrees on Davines website]
- [http://ethiotrees.com EthioTrees project website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215154255/https://ethiotrees.com/ |date=15 February 2020 }}
- [https://www.planvivo.org/project-network/ethiotrees-tembien-highlands/ EthioTrees on Plan Vivo website]
- [https://www.un.org/esa/forests Link For Forestry Projects]
Category:1988 establishments in Ethiopia
Category:Environmental conservation
Category:Environmentalism in Ethiopia