Success story- Sustainability

Dubaba cooperative was established in 2011 with members of 135 of which 13 are females having a demarked area of 4820 ha along the road from Gondeho to Quara .According to Ato Siyum Assefa, member of executive body of the cooperative, before 2003,  Dubaba was  fully covered by natural forests and dwelling different species of wild animals and  the community  could  harvest abundant  honey from the natural forest, meat from wild animals, fish from natural rivers, more over surplus product from farming from plot of lands. However, these golden opportunities were vanished after 2003, said. Ato Mequannet Chanie, regulatory body of the cooperative.  For the purpose of protecting forests and friendly benefiting the public an approach called Participatory Forest Management (PFM) put in place by the ORDA –biodiversity project.

The project entailed a number of interventions that could help to improve the income of members of the cooperative and foster the proper use of the natural resource base. According to Sew Mehon Shita, the kebele natural resource development agent, members were organized in sub-groups and produce timbered products especially incense and gums. Accordingly 929 quintals of incense and gums were collected and waiting to be sold. From the fattening of cattle the cooperative earned a profit of Birr 11,000. 30 transitional beehives were distributed members received training. 30 fuel saving stove were also distributed.  According to the participants so far changes have been observed. For example firing forest has been totally condemned by the community ensuring that ownership has been created. As a result forest coverage of the area has significantly improved. The champion of this change is that their attitude towards forest development is changed as the participants noted that no single individual cuts tree.