Plantation and Agroforestry

Back ground

Development goals Engaging MSc and PhD students in research is another opportunity to carry out 
biophysical and socioeconomic studies on project sites. Wide ranges of scholarly articles are available, and metanalysis is possible for adaptation and policy brief preparation. Engaging MSc and PhD students in research is another opportunity to carry out biophysical and socioeconomic studies on project sites. Wide ranges of scholarly articles are available, and metanalysis is possible for adaptation and policy brief preparation. PAF can use biotechnology for technology generation and ICT based tools for efficient data collection, databases and extension of technologies to end-users.
National Priorities in Afforestation and Reforestation 

The Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy

of Ethiopia outlines that 3 million hectares of land would be put under 
afforestation and reforestation and 4 million ha of forests and woodlands
under sustainable forest management by 2030 for improved abatement 
potential. The second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTPII) has been 
under implementation as of 2015/16 to 2019/20. The GTPII agricultural 
sector development plan targets for accelerated and sustained growth of
agriculture within the framework of the Climate Resilient Green Economy
Strategy and include increasing the area of watersheds supported with 
physical soil and water conservation structures from 8.12 million 
hectares in 2014/15 to 27.23 million hectares by the end of the plan
period. Also, the GTPII sets a target of increasing the national 
forest coverage from 15.5% in 2015/14 to 20% by the end of the GTP II 
period.
Furthermore, Ethiopia has pledged to restore 15 million hectares of land by 2030 under the Bonn Challenge.
The Bonn challenge commitment of country expounded to 22 million hectares in the UNFCCC summit in New York
for the implantation of the Paris Agreement. Ethiopia is also party to the Pan African Great Green Wall 
for the Sahel and Sahara Initiative (GGWSSI) to establish a green wall to prevent the expansion of the 
Sahara Desert. Thus, the country has shown great interest in forest landscape restoration and forest 
creation.

The National Forest Sector Development Program (NFSDP) stipulates to serve as the general framework for
the enhancement of sustainable forest management in the country from 2016 to 2025. It identifies different
program areas, which include forest production and value chain, forest environmental function, urban
greening and urban forests, and forests and rural livelihoods program areas. Thus, research in plantation
and agroforestry would be highly relevant to all the above program areas.
Besides, the PAF research could contribute to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) through livelihood
improvement, improved environment, better nutrition, improved water production and hydrological cycle, 
improved forest products supply, improved resilience and adaptation and mitigation to climate change, 
preservation and restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity, and through gender-sensitive and 
gender-equitable approaches and through establishment of strong partnerships in research and development.

Plantation and Agroforestry Research Directorate Goal
and Programmes 

The goal of the Plantation and Agroforestry Research Directorate is to develop forested landscapes with 
economically important tree species and increase tree diversity in landscapes and agricultural systems
for sustainable ecosystem products and services including climate change adaptation and mitigation. The
Directorate aims at generating and adapting technologies and scientific information that are  relevant 
for afforestation and reforestation in a Research in Development approach. The Directorate has identified
the following five research program areas as relevant to Ethiopia based on plantation/agroforestry type
and purpose:

1. Industrial Plantation Research,

2. Environmental Plantation Research,

3. Agroforestry Research,

4. Smallholder Plantations Research and

5. Urban Forests Research, each with 5 to 7 sub-programmes.

Prioritization of PAF Programs

• The Directorate recognizes the need for prioritization of the above listed programme areas and 
  sub-programmes in each of EEFRI’s Research Centers: Central Ethiopia, Bahirdar, Mekelle, Jimma, 
  Hawassa and Diredawa. The prioritization would consider the following issues:
  Identify priority research areas for the upcoming GTP period 2020/21-2024/25.

• Align activities with national priorities and government commitments such as Forest Landscape
  Restoration (Bonn Challenge/ NYDF)

• Align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Structurally, the Plantation and Agroforestry 
  Research Directorate has three Divisions: *Agroforestry Research Division,
  *Commercial Plantation Research Division and *Environmental Plantation Research Division.

The prioritization will guide allocation of resources (financial, physical and human) properly against
priority activities and deliverables. PAF will seek funding sources to supplement government investments 
for the priority programs and sub-programs. PAF has developed a theory of change for clarifying priorities
by defining goals and the path to reach them. PAF will work closely and form strategic partnership and 
collaborations with the
 1) Federal and Regional Agricultural Research    Institutes,
 2) Strategically important public universities involved in forestry education and research,
 3) Pastoral and Agro-pastoral Research Institutes and 4) the CGIAR’s Forests, Trees and Agroforestry 
    Research Programme.

• Dr. Abayneh Derero
• Director, Plantation and Agroforestry Research Directorate
• Mobile phone: + 251 913 43 98 08
• Office fixed line: +251 116 4648 88
• Email: abaynehd@efd.gov.et /or/abaynehdd@yahoo.com