Impact of Exclosure on Restoration of Degraded Lands and Carbon Stock Enhancement in Ethiopia, a Review

Land degradation due to forest loss is the most challenging problem in sub-Saharan countries including Ethiopia. The forest coverage of the country has been declined at an alarming rate. Currently, exclosure practice is part of the community mass mobilization of soil and water conservation program in the country as a means to reverse land degradation problem. The involvement of either of the exclosure intervention methods (passive or active) could enhance plant regeneration (seedlings, saplings, shrubs, under stories, and woody vegetation) including the diversity of all woody species, grass and herbs and biomass carbon stock of the terrestrial ecosystem. It then can control splash erosion by providing sufficient surface cover that reduces the amount and velocity of runoff. Additionally, the exclosure could play a significant role in generating income from non-timber forest product such as bee keeping, fattening by cut and carry feeding system to improve the livelihood of the community. These can be considered as the opportunities to promote the enclosure practice. However, the controversies are the burden of shrinkage and overstocking of livestock on the remaining grazing land, inequitable benefit-sharing for the local communities and unaccountability of exclosure management, monitoring, and lack of the management plan. These are upsetting challenges in the exclosure program of Ethiopia.