Silvicultural contributions towards sustainable management and conservation of forest resources in the highlands of Ethiopia

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Reinhard Mosandl
• Subject Area: Forestry
• Term: from 2006 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 18245114

This research proposal aims at closing the existing gap in the presently running DFG-project GU 406/12 Regeneration, Maintenance, and Sustainable Use of Natural Forests in Ethiopia . The interdisciplinary project in the Munessa-forest has the overall objective of providing recommendations for the local scientists and foresters for the sustainable management of highland forests in Ethiopia. For this reason, investigations at tree and landscape level were conducted. However, for developing an appropriate management concept, information on stands and investigation at the stand level are necessary. The aim of the research proposal is to evaluate at the stand level appropriate silvicultural management options, which are developed specifically for the highland situation in Ethiopia. Therefore, in the neighbouring new field station in the Munessa-forest, experiments including three different silvicultural measures at different ages or development phases will be installed in the most important plantations (two species: Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Cupressus lusitanica Mill.) and in the natural forest. For assessing the effect of the silvicultural measures, mature stands, regeneration and ground vegetation will be studied in depth. Investigations of soil science, geobotany, plant physiology and socio-economy will help to complete the evaluation of the silvicultural measures.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Ethiopia
• Participating Persons: Professor Dr. Masresha Fetene; Dr. Alemu Gezahegne; Dr. Sileshi Nemomissa; Demel Teketay, Ph.D.