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Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

National REDD+ Secretariat

In collaboration

SNNPRRegional State REDD+ Coordination Unit (RRCU)

Training Report

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Training Topic: Climate change, Forests and REDD+ Basics

Training days: March 7 – 8//2017

Training Place: Mizan-Aman Town, Bench Maji Zone, Salayish Hotel

Opening Remarks: DrTeshale W/Amanuel, Coordinator of SNNPR State REDD+

Coordination Unit, welcomed the training participants and provided a brief remark on the

objectives of the 2-days training and invited AtoGeremewKocho from the Bench-Maji Zone

Administrator’s office to deliver an opening Remark. In his remark, AtoGeremew noted

The challenges of Climate Change (CC) globally and nationally

Ethiopia’s efforts to address the challenges of CC

Regional initiatives being undertaken in line with the national efforts and

The activities of the regional REDD+ coordination unit

Following the opening remark, DrTeshale outlined the detailed activity schedule of the 2-days

training; the expected outcome of the training; the mode of delivery; and what is expected of the

trainees after the training.

Training objectives: The objectives of the training were

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1) To raise awareness of wereda level government experts on the issue of climate change impacts; role of

forests in climate change mitigation and the concept of REDD+

2) Equip training participants with the knowledge and skills needed in implementing REDD+ and the role

of relevant wereda level stakeholders for the successful implementation of REDD+.

Training Themes: There are two major themes (with sub-topics)

1) Session I - Climate change and Forests:

Global climate change & its impacts (Global & National)

The role of forests in climate change mitigation/Adaptation

Deforestation and forest degradation and carbon emissions

Sustainable Forest Management: The Ethiopian Experience

2) Session II - Introduction to REDD+s

What is REDD+? The approach and its historical evolution

Basic & Technical Elements of REDD+

Social & Environmental Safeguards in REDD+

Ethiopia’s REDD+ Program: Implementation Status

Target Stakeholders:The trainees were experts drawn from the wereda

Livestock and Fisheries office

Agriculture and Natural Resources office

Environmental Protection and Forest office

Water and Irrigation office

Energy and Mining office

Administration office

and Zonal offices of the above sectors

Mode of delivery:

The two days training was divided into 2 sessions (Session I - Climate change and Forests AND

Session II - Introduction to REDD+s). The mode of training follows

Short presentations followed by discussions

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Group exercises on selected issues (e.g. local level climate change perceptions, perceived impacts and

observed adaptive responses)

General discussions on outstanding issues

Provision of training materials and additional resources for trainees

Short documentary movies related to the theme of the training

A total of 70 training participants took part in the training representing 10 weredas of Bench-

Maji Zone along with Zonal offices of the same sectors and the Media.

After the introduction session, DrTeshale invited AtoTesfatsion Samuel, a forest expert from the

regional Environmental protection and Forest Authority to provide his presentation.The first

presentation was on Climate change, its causes and impacts; the global concern and efforts, national cases

and measures to curb CC impacts.

Documentary film: In order to provide a background, the first presentation was preceded by a short

documentary film on climate change impacts.

Presentation 1: Global Climate Change (CC) and its impacts (AtoTesfatsion Samuel)

Global Climate Change: Evidence and concern

Impacts of Climate Changes

The Ethiopian Case

The UNFCCC

Measures to curb climate change impacts: Adaptation/Mitigation

Ethiopia’s response to Climate Change impacts

Group exercise 1: Following the first presentation, the trainees were grouped into 5 groups where

trainees from predominantly pastoral weredas were mixed with those from predominantly agrarian

weredas. Each group reflected (for 45 minutes)on the local perceptions of CC, its impacts and the local

adaptive measures being taken. This was followed by a short presentation (on their reflection) from each

group.

Topics for group reflection: Local perceptions of CC, its impacts and adaptive responses

Discuss on the perceptions of the changing climate in your locality.

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Write down your perceptions of climate change, its manifestations and impacts.

What are the local adaptive responses you know of?

Summary of group reflections: The following is a summary of the group presentations on the

perceptions of CC, its impacts and adaptive responses.

Local level perceptions/Manifestations of Climate Change

Change in seasonal calendar and variability;

Significant reduction in the length of the rainy months;

Incidence/occurrence of unusual disease (humans/cattle);

Frost Incidence

Reduction in livestock number (pastoral areas)

Reduction in agricultural productivity

Increase in Temperature

Local perceived impacts of CC

Drying of springs, decreased river flow

Decline in agricultural yield

Human migration which sometimes lead to resource conflict (Pastoral areas)

Torrential rains (in some areas) and flooding

Reduced honey production (an important livelihood activity)

Crop failure

Water shortage

Occurrence of new diseases

Some local adaptive responses

Adoption of perennial crops (in place of annuals, e.g fruit trees, Cassava, Godere and Enset) and

changes in feeding habit

Changes in the farming calendar

Adoption of early maturing crop varieties

Increased awareness on forest protection and tree planting

Water well development (pastoral areas)

Practicing cultural/spiritual rituals on the belief that these practices will make the rain to fall

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Relocate to riverine areas (pastoral communities)

Diversification of fodder trees (enset and Korch)

A scheme depicting the congruence between local perceptions/impacts and responses and the

scientific knowledge

Presentation 2: The role of forests inClimate Change (AtoTesfatsion Samuel)

Multiple benefits of forests

Forests and Climate Change (Adaptation and Mitigation)

Forests as sources and sinks of carbon: Carbon stocks of forests (Global and National)

Forests for Mitigation and Adaptation

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Documentary film: the second presentation was preceded by a short documentary film on the experience

of World Vision Ethiopia’s Area Rehabilitation activity of the Humbo Assisted Natural Regeneration

Project.

Presentation 3 :Deforestation and Forest degradation and Carbon emissions (AtoDemes Lemma)

Basic Concepts: Forest Definitions; Deforestation; Forest Degradation

Drivers of Deforestation and Forest degradation (Global & Tropical)

Carbon dioxide emissions due to deforestation & forest degradation (Global & Tropical)

Drivers of deforestation and Forest Degradation in Ethiopia (proximate & underlying)

Forest carbon emissions due to deforestation and Forest degradation in Ethiopia

Group exercise 2: Following the two presentation, the trainees reflected (for 45 minutes) on a second

topic. The topic was identification of strength and gaps of the regional legal and institutional frameworks

with regard to land and in relation to the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. This was

followed by a short presentation (on group reflections) from each group.

Summary of group reflections: The following is a synopsis of the group presentations on thetopic.

Strength of the legal frameworks on forests, land administration and investment

The regional forest law gives more emphasis on forest protection

The regional forest law fails to fully recognize the rights of traditional forest owners

The regional forest law is aligned with the constitution; recognizes two forest ownership regimes;

encourages forest development and gives emphasis to promotion of market linkages

The regional forest law encourages community forestry, recognizes biodiversity conservation and the

need for regulating environmental pollution

The proclamation on land use administration recognizes farmers’ ownership of land and recognizes

the right of women on land.

The proclamation on land use administration identified different land use categories for use

Gaps in the legal frameworks on forests and land administration

The regional forest law lacks a regulation for its proper implementation and this has a far reaching

implication in forest protection and law enforcement.

The regional forest law fails to fully recognize the rights of traditional forest owners

The forest law fails to indicate a standard PFM implementation framework

The forest law (or the absence of a regulation) does not provide the procedure for making decision in

the transfer of forest land to investment which often leads to forest resource destruction.

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Despite the previous forest law, the current proclamation fails to put a special ban on selected

endangered indigenous tree species (e.g. Cordia, Juniperus, Anningeria (Pouleria))

The proclamation allows the transfer of forested areas to investors who invest on coffee production

which often creates a loop hole for forest destruction

The forest law (perhaps related to the absence of a regulation) does not specify on punishing forest

intruders or violators.

The proclamation on land use administration is pro-agriculture (perhaps a reflection of the national

political economy)

The proper implementation of the proclamation on land use administration is sometimes

compromised by corruption

The proper implementation of the proclamation on land use administration is compromised by

weaker institutions (who failed to enforce the law and provide awareness creation)

The proclamation on land use administration has gaps in land certification and

The implementation of the proclamation on land use with regard to investment certification fails to

ensure the proper implementation of EIA regulations

Presentation 4: Sustainable Forest Management (DrTeshale W/Amanuel)

What is SFM?

Why SFM? Evolution of the approach

The underlying principles of SFM (principles of PFM)

Extent of PFM practices in Ethiopia: Data and cases

The challenges to sustain PFM

How PFM serves as a vehicle for REDD+

Documentary film: Following the presentation, a short documentary film on experience FARM

Africa/SOS Sahel’s Participatory Forest Management (PFM) in Oromia and SNNPRS.

Discussion Session: An in-depth discussion was carried out on sustainable forest management experience

in SNNPRS in general and in Bench-Majo Zone in particular. The following is a synopsis of the

discussion on the strength of the PFM approach for effective SFM and the limitations that should be

addressed.

Comments

The PFM approach when implemented appropriately ensures SFM, empowers communities,

improved local forest governance and contributes to community livelihoods.

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We have to give the appropriate credit to the role of non-state actors (NGOs/CSOs) in introducing the

PFM approach and improving forest governance

Challenges/Gaps in the PFM implementation

PFM lacks a comprehensive legal support. The PFM approach should be included in the legal book.

The gap in mainstreaming PFM (the absence of a dedicated department on PFM activities) in the

government structure created a void in ensuring the sustainability of PFM arrangements,

The proper implementation of the PFM approach requires full devolution of forest governance to

local communities (forest stewards) with the required technical support and regular monitoring.

The current PFM arrangement gives more emphasis on the forest management but fails to

appropriately address the livelihood component (limited incentives to communities). A proper

evaluation of the current PFM arrangement is needed so as to improve the level of community

incentives particularly the integration of both forest-based and non-forest based enterprises,

community skill building and successful market linkages.

Presentation 5: What is REDD+? (Ato Demes Lemma)

What it means?

Why REDD+ is attractive? (the underlying principles)

Evolution of REDD+: Milestones in the UNFCCC

The phased approach

Documentary film: The presentation was followed by a short documentary film on the concept of

REDD+ approach and its implementation.

Presentation 6: Basic and Technical Elements of REDD+ (DrTeshale W/Amanuel)

Measuring and Monitoring

Forest Carbon stocks

Carbon Accounting (IPCC Guidelines)

Activity data and Emission Factor calculation

Reference Levels and additionality

Leakage and non-permanence (concept and management)

Reporting and Verification: procedures

Presentation 7: Social and Environmental Safeguards in REDD+(Dr Solomon Zewdie)

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What are safeguards?

Why safeguards in the context of REDD+ (The Cancun Safeguards)

How to ensure REDD+ Safeguards?

Ethiopia’s REDD+ Safeguard instruments

Presentation 8: Ethiopia’s REDD+ Program: Implementation Status(Dr Solomon Zewdie)

Ethiopia’s REDD+ program

The REDD+ Readiness activities

Components of the REDD+ Readiness Process

REDD+ Strategy Preparation

REDD+ Piloting: An Overview

Documentary film: The presentations were followed by a short documentary film on the experience of a

consortium of organizations (HoAREC, ICCO, Fair Climate Fund, Fair Trade Max Havellar the

Netherlands) on forest carbon emission reduction through the adoption of energy efficient cook stoves

among forest dependent communities in Oromia.

General Discussion

The presentations were followed by a discussion session (question and answer session) and a summary of

the most important issues discussed is given below.

Comments/Questions

REDD+ is an approach to ensure SFM in developing countries. If REDD+ is an undertaking of

developing countries, what will be the role of the Developed countries as these are largely responsible

for the current climate crisis.

It is evident in our Zone (weredas) that there are overlapping roles/mandates among implementing

government offices which often lead to poor coordination. How do you ensure effective

coordination/policy harmonization across levels?

There seem to be a gap in technical capacity of the forestry offices at wereda level particularly with

respect to forest inventory/forest resource assessment. How can we fill this gap and improve the

forest resource management of the Zone.

The effective implementation of EIA is crucial in ensuring law enforcement and safeguarding the

environmental resources. The concerned bodies need to work together for a better law enforcement.

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Capacity building, at different levels, should be given so as to improve the technical capacity of

experts working in the area of natural resource management (including forests).

REDD+ should be understood as a coordination platform not an exclusive undertaking of the forestry

sector. Rather, the approach aims at coordinating the activities of the different sectors (forestry,

agriculture, energy, livestock etc…) so that the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation can be

effectively addressed.

Responses

REDD+ is an exclusive undertaking of developing countries. The reason for this is that

a) Much of the carbon emissions from developing countries is related to land use changes and much

of the emissions in the tropics is related to forest conversion to different land uses.

b) REDD+ has the principal goal of reducing/curbing forest carbon emissions

However, it should be noted that in implementing REDD+, developed countries are obliged to provide

financial and technical support. Moreover, the commitments made underthe UNFCCC require all

countries to undertake mitigation activities that contribute to the global mitigation efforts and achieve the

2OC global temperature limit as envisaged in recent submissions of Nationally Determined Contributions

(NDC) during the Paris COP Meeting.

On the concern of harmonizing policies and improving sectoral coordination, the issue is

identified as a gap (an underlying driver of DD) in the Technical studies commissioned by the

National REDD+ Secretariat. As outlined in the draft REDD+ strategy, some of the strategic

interventions (related to creating an enabling environment for REDD+ implementation) aim at

addressing this gap. We are planning to create a discussion platform among the relevant sectors

in harmonizing mandates and in realizing REDD+ objectives.

With regard to addressing the existing technical gaps at wereda level, zonal level experts should

take the initiative to transfer the knowledge and skills they gained (through ToT by the National

REDD+ Secretariat and trainings offered by regional REDD+ Coordination Units) to wereda

level. In the short-term, Zonal experts should provide a technical training on for wereda level

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experts. Moreover, there must be a proper coordination between zonal offices and wereda offices

for technical support.

The comments on proper implementation of EIA and continuous capacity building are valid and

are well taken.

Annexes:

a) Pictures to give a bird’s eye view of the training sessions

b) Attendance list of trainees (including names and organizations)

c) Training timetable

a) Pictures to give a bird’s eye view of the training sessions

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Plate 2a Discussion on challenges and opportunities of Sustainable Forest Management

Plate 2a Discussion on challenges and opportunities of Sustainable Forest Management

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Plate 2b Discussion on challenges and opportunities of Sustainable Forest Management

Plate 3a General discussion

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Plate 3b General discussion

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b) Attendance list of trainees (including names, organizations,

expertise)

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5.Training Schedule

DAY 1

MORNING SESSION Time Training Activity Content Responsible

8:30 - 9:00a.m. Registration Participant Attendance Organizers

9:00 - 9:20a.m. Welcome Welcome and Introduction Workshop Objectives and

Agenda Introductions of participants and

trainers Expectation and Norms

RCU Coordinator

Part I: Forests and Climate Change 9:20 - 9:30a.m. Documentary film (Climate change & its impacts) RCU

9:30 - 10:30a.m. Session 1: Global Climate Change and Its Impacts

What it means? The Scientific evidence: Causes

of CC (GHGs) Impacts of CC The Ethiopian case The UNFCCC Measures to curb climate

change impacts: Adaptation/Mitigation

Ethiopia's response to CC impacts

AtoTesfatsion Samuel (ToT Participant)

10:30 - 10:50a.m. Health Break Coffee/Tea Break Hotel

10:50 - 11:30a.m. Group exercise & Discussions Perceptions of climate change (local manifestations and impacts)

Training Participants

11:30 - 12:20a.m. Session 2: The role of Forests in Climate Change

Forests: as sources and sinks of CO2

Carbon stocks of forests: global & national

Multiple benefits of forests Forests for adaptation &

mitigation

AtoTesfatsion Samuel (ToT Participant)

12:20 -12:35a.m. Documentary Film (WVE) RCU

12:35 - 1:30p.m. Lunch Break Hotel

1:30 - 2:10p.m. Discussion (Question & Answers) Training Participants 2:10 - 3:10p.m. Session 3:

Deforestationandforestdegradation global & National

Definition of terms (D, FD) Global and Tropical data on

drivers of DD CO2 e emissions due to DD:

global & Tropical Drivers of DD in Ethiopia

(proximate/underlying) CO2 e emissions due to DD in

Ethiopia

SNNP RCU (AtoDemes Lemma)

3:10 - 3:30p.m. Health Break Coffee/Tea Break Hotel

3:30 - 4:10p.m. Group Discussions Discuss past and present policies of Ethiopia in relation to land use

change

Training Participants

4:10 - 5:00p.m. Session 4: Sustainable Management of forests (SMF)

Why SMF? The concept of sustainability (Rationale)

Evolution of the approach (conservation vs. PFM)

SNNP RCU (DrTeshale W/Amanuel)

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The underlying principles of SMF (principles of PFM)

Extent of PFM practices in Ethiopia: Data & cases

The challenges to sustain PFM How PFM serves as a vehicle for

REDD+ 5:00 - 5:15p.m. Documentary Film: PFM (EWNRA) PFM in action (South-west

Ethiopia) RCU

5:15p.m. Session closed for DAY 1

TRAINING SCHEDULE

DAY 2 MORNING SESSION

Time Training Activity Content Responsible

8:45 - 9:10a.m. Recap of Day 1 (Part 1) Let training participants give a summary of the lessons they grasped from the previous day

Write it on a chart & ask the group to add or correct the list

Organizers

PART 2: Introduction to REDD+ 9:20 - 10:00a.m. Session 5: What is REDD+

What it means? Why REDD+ is attractive? (the

underlying principles) Evolution of REDD+: Milestones

in the UNFCCC The phased approach

SNNP RCU (AtoDemes Lemma)

10:00 - 10:20a.m. Health Break Tea/Coffee Break Hotel

10:20 - 11:30a.m. Session 6: Basic and Technical requirements of REDD+

Technical elements of REDD+ Measurement (Carbon Accounting) Setting Forest Reference Level Additionality; Permanence; Leakage MRV

SNNP RCU (DrTeshale W/Amanuel)

11:30 - 12:10a.m. Session 7: Social and environmental safeguards in REDD+

What are safeguards? Why safeguards in the context

of REDD+ (Cancun elements) How to ensure REDD+

safeguards? Ethiopia's REDD+ Safeguard

instruments

Dr Solomon Zewdie (National REDD+ Secretariat)

12:10 - 12:30a.m. Group Exercise Summary questions on REDD+ elements

Training Participants

12:30 - 1:30p.m. Lunch Break Hotel 1:30 - 2:10p.m. General Discussion Questions & Answers Training Participants

2:20 - 3:40p.m. Session 8: National level REDD+ process (Ethiopia's REDD+ Program)

National REDD+ program Ethiopia's REDD+ program

Initiation of Readiness Activities Components of REDD+

Readiness REDD+ Strategy Preparation REDD+ Piloting: Overview

OFLP Amhara, SNNP &Tigray Regional Pilots:

Dr Solomon Zewdie (National REDD+ Secretariat)

3:40 - 4:00p.m. Health Break Tea/Coffee Break Hotel

4:00 - 4:40p.m. General Discussions Training Participants

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4:40 - 5:00p.m. Training Evaluation Compiling trainees feedback

5:00 - 5:15p.m. General Reflection & Way Forward RCU

5:15 WS closed