Advocacy and local empowerment on community rights for forest protection in Sheka Zone

The Sheka Zone, in south-western Ethiopia, contains one of the country’s last remaining indigenous forests. Local livelihoods and the forest ecosystem are under considerable threat due to a disregard for community rights, non-enforcement of existing environmental laws and constitutional rights, and unregulated speculative investment and human resettlement in the region. The situation is compounded by a lack of mechanisms for participation by forest-adjacent communities in decision-making regarding forest use. The project seeks to protect the forest and empower local communities through advocacy work and training in community rights for both local communities and decision makers. Activities will include capacity building on environmental and community rights, a review of existing laws and policies, strengthening the advocacy coalition, lobbying of policy-makers, and raising public awareness about the issues through media and publications.

The project was implemented successfully, and the implementing organisation MELCA organized community awareness raising workshops for clan leaders and local youth. These trained individuals became 'eco-advocates', working to increase the awareness of their communities on environmental and human rights. This has proved to be a more effective and efficient way of reaching the wider community than the original plan of holding two community meetings. An in-depth study on policy and law was conducted, identifying the inconsistencies between the constitution and other legislation related to forests, biodiversity and culture. Based on these results, awareness raising workshops were conducted for regional, zonal and Woreda level decision makers and other relevant officers. Parallel to these activities a strategy development workshop was organized for the Sheka Forest Alliance resulting in a strategy document. This document details the progress to date and highlights the need for further action related to e.g. territorial land and eco-mapping, and advocacy for the protection of the Sheka Forest and for recognition of the sacred sites as protected areas under community custody. The strategy document also identified advocacy on implementing the EIA-law as a priority for 2007. Further operational plans are being developed.