The second SLM workshop was organized in the town of Mekelle, Tigray Region in Northern Ethiopia, from August 8 – 9, 2008. This event was organized jointly by Mekelle University (MU) and Environmental Economics Policy Forum for Ethiopia of the Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EEPFE/EDRI).
There were about 65 participants representing both public sector (e.g. Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bureau of Finance and Economic Development, Regional Research Institutes, etc) and local and international NGOs, involved directly or indirectly in Sustainable Land Management (SLM) research practices, policy making and implementation. Several researchers working on SLM, practitioners, policy makers, and guest of honor His Excellency General Manager of the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority, Dr. Tewelde-berhan Gebreegziabher were present in the workshop.
The objectives of the two-days workshop were to: a) Create common understanding on the available policies and strategies of the Tigrai region and implementation barriers; b) Share experience on currently available research outputs on agriculture and natural resource issues including policies as well as identify gaps and future research intervention areas; c) Examine the roles of the EEPFE/EDRI and MU and other research and development institutions in the Tigrai National Regional State(TNRS) in future collaborative research and capacity building; d) Promote inter-institutional and cross-sectoral cooperation and networking efforts between MU, EEPFE/EDRI and relevant institutions in the TNRS that have actual and potential involvement in research and capacity building endeavours; e) Create a strong platform to bridge the gap between SLM research, extension, and policy making processes.
Dr. Menale Kassie of EEPFE/EDRI, Dr. Zenebe Gebreegziabher, Head of the Department of Economics, Ato Aregawi Gebremichael, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics, Dr. Abdulkadir Kedir, A/Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Programs of MU welcomed the participants. Dr. Menale Kassie outlined the objectives and expected outcomes from the workshop. HE Dr. Tewelde-Berhan delivered keynote speech on ‘Sustainable Land Management: Research and Policy Challenges’.
The first day of the workshop addressed several issues starting with presentations and discussions on: Development Strategies in Tigrai, Challenges and Opportunities; Challenges in Implementing Sustainable Land Management Practices and Rural Development in Tigrai; Water Harvesting and Watershed Approach for SLM; Institution and Economics of Investment on Land including compost, rough tillage and various soil conservation measures; and Biodiversity, Productivity and Risk for SLM.
Several issues including Tree Planting and Conservation; Land Certification and Titling impact on Land Investment and Productivity; and Sustainable Land Management and Livelihood Strategies were presented and discussed on the second day morning session of the workshop.
In the afternoon session of the second day, facilitated group discussions on three thematic areas, namely Land and Water; Biodiversity; and Socio-economic and Policy Issues, all focused on SLM, were conducted on identifying SLM research work done so far, research and knowledge gaps, networking and advocacy, influencing policy makings on SLM and institutionalization of future collaborative SLM research and capacity buildings.
The major recommendations of the group discussion included: a) inventories of SLM research work so far done and data collected for the same activities; b) Translating the workshop summary and major findings to local language to effectively communicate the outcomes of the workshop to policy makers and development practitioners and scale up the dissemination of research outcomes; c) create a platform that facilitate policy dialogue on SLM, coordinate and facilitate SLM research information flow to all stakeholders, indentify research and knowledge gaps on SLM, and avoid duplication of research on the same area.
HE Dr. Tewelde-Berhan expressed his gratitude to all the participants and requested them to keep on their dedication they reflected on the two days workshop for a better world and better Ethiopia.
The workshop was concluded with vote of thanks by Drs Menale Kassie and Zenebe Gebreegziabher and commitments to communicate the workshop outcomes to all stakeholders and establish a forum for synergy in SLM researches, institutionalization of future collaborative researches, and effective communication of research outcomes to policy makers.