3. MANAGEMENT OF FGR

3.1. In situ conservation activities
3.2. Ex situ conservation activities
3.3. Selection and genetic improvement
3.4. National priority species

3.1. In situ conservation activities

The current MOA enclosure policy was initiated in the Highlands and, to some extent, has been based on a traditional system of land management used by agriculturists in the Highlands for many years. The immediate objectives of the enclosure policy are to:

• create favourable conditions for vegetation recovery through natural regeneration;
• develop pastoral reserves for the growing livestock numbers and woody biomass for local people;
• protect endangered tree and wildlife species from extinction;
• control runoff and loss of arable land by erosion;
• increase infiltration for water conservation and for more soil moisture.

The term “forest (or woodland) enclosure” applies to any area put under full or partial protection by implementing a number of measures intended to halt or at least limit human pressures placed on existing resources.

A survey of existing and potential closures was completed by the recent FAO Pre-Investment Study mission to MOA and provides the first comprehensive assessment of the extent of the closure system in Eritrea (FAO, 1997). The results of this survey are summarized in Tables 3 and 4. These data reveal that the overall area enclosed is 8.3% of total forest and woodland habitat type.

Table 3: Summary of Forest/Woodland Enclosures Established in Eritrea

Zobas (Zones)	Permanent Enclosures		Temporary Enclosures		Potential Enclosures
	Number	Area (ha)	Number	Area (ha)	Perm.	Temp.
Maekel	7	4,990	5	4,500	10	1
Debub	24	13,843	16	1,290	2	17
Anseba	17	8,138	2	64	0	1
Gash-Barka	10	23,435	10	8,650	0	0
S.K.Bahri	20	59,932	0	0	15	0
D.K.Bahri	0	0	0	0	5	0
Total	78	110,338	33	14,504	32	19

Table 4: Forest/Woodland Enclosures Established In Eritrea By Zoba

Zobas	Forest and Woodland area (ha)	Area Enclosed (ha)	% Area Enclosed
Maekel	10,300	9,490	92
Debub	197,100	15,133	8
Anseba	157,100	8,202	5
Gash-Barka	708,200	32,085	5
S.K.Bahri	311,200	59,932	19
D.K.Bahri	123,500	0	0
Total	1,507,400	124,842	8.3

3.2. Ex situ conservation activities

Seed demand and supply

In 1996, government nurseries collected 3103 kg of seed and produced approximately 9 million seedlings, while the amount of seedlings produced in 1977 was 8.1 millions.

As the level of seedling production seems relatively constant at the moment, the actual seed demand has been calculated on basis of 1996 and 1997 annual reports from the nurseries on seedling production. The Forestry and Wildlife Divisions has compiled these reports.

These calculations are based on the total number of seedlings of the most commonly planted species in the country. With 1100 plants (spacing 3 x 3 m) per ha, 50% loss in the nurseries and 20% replacement in the field, the total annual seed demand for the country is estimated around 1600 kg.

As NTSP is being fully integrated into the FRD under DARHRD, it is not likely that NTSP will develop into an independent seed supplying organization. Instead NTSP will become the national focal point for tree seed quality control and advisory services on procurement of quality seed, supporting the activities of the zones on seed procurement through training, information service, research and minor physical inputs, and by support to identification and establishment of seed sources.

The zonal offices of the Forestry and Wildlife Division are responsible for the planning of seedling production, and NTSP should therefore ensure that they have information on available seed sources in their zones. Furthermore, NTSP should introduce a simple seed documentation system and assist in its implementation at the zonal levels.

The present structure with a large number of nurseries collecting seeds locally should be supported. Centralization of the collection of abundant and “easy-to-handle species” would not be as efficient nor sustainable as decentralized collection. Difficult species could however be collected, stored and distributed by NTSP. Furthermore, imports of seeds should be managed by NTSP.

The nurseries are in great need of training for staff, especially in seed collection procedures. Improvement of the understanding of physiological and genetical aspects of seed quality is also needed. NTSP must analyse the training needs, and implement training courses for nursery staff in the zones.

Plantation

Prior to liberation (before 1991), though few accurate records were maintained, tree planting was concentrated within 6 major catchments (namely, Anseba, Nefhi, Damas, Mereb, Ferendyt and Leghede) as part of a soil and water conservation strategy, based on Food-for-Work. In this way over 10,000 ha of plantation were planted, mainly consisting of Eucalyptus cladocalyx, but also Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Acacia saligna, Acacia decurrens and Acacia mearnsii. Such work was nearly always combined with physical terracing operations. Due to the lack of subsequent maintenance, few of these plantations remain.

In the years leading up to liberation, tree planting by farmers appears rarely to have taken place. Tree planting for amenity by municipalities has obviously taken place in the past, to good effect, but due to the uncertainties prevailing over latter years, existing trees have been damaged, or have died. This tree planting exercise was based on approximately 31 nurseries, located principally within territories held by Ethiopia.

Following liberation (1991-1997) about 65.24 million seedlings have been planted and 124,480 ha of an area closed for natural regeneration. The survival rate of the planted seedlings, is between 30 and 40% in the Lowlands and 60 to 70% in the Highlands. Details of major activities are given in Table 5.

Table 5. Achievements of afforestation Programme (1991 - 1997)

No	Activity	Unit	Achievements
1	Hillside terrace con.	Ha	17,200
2	Check dam con.	Km	2,000
3	Micro basin con.	No	1,084,200
4	Seed collection	kg	21,700
5	Seedling- production	No	75,904,800
6	Planting & Replanting	No	65,248,100
7	Road-construction	km	240
8	Spot weeding & cultivation	ha	1,300
9	Nursery establishment	No	47
10	Closure area	ha	124,480
11	Peasant training	No	4,440

Since Liberation, there has been an upsurge of interest on tree planting by individuals, communities and organizations with large numbers of seedlings collected from nurseries, free of charge. Since 1994 Eritrean students, have been participating in a national afforestation and soil conservation programme organized by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Agriculture during the summer vacation. Approximately 19,000 students have participated every year, resulting in the planting of nearly 5.8 million tree seedlings.

3.3. Selection and genetic improvement

Tree Improvement

NTSP’s tree improvement activities relate to national needs and will benefit both the public and private sectors concerned with tree planting programmes. Tree improvement in the broad sense means the application to silvicultural practices of the principles, methods, and technologies of genetics of trees. Tree improvement encompasses the following main activities:

• matching seed source to planting site, using existing knowledge of environmental conditions of seed source and planting site, as well as specific knowledge of performance of species and provenances in particular environments,
• identification of provenances and individual trees of superior performance for the products required, as done in provenance, progeny, and clonal trials, and
• mass production of improved genetic material as done in seed stands, seedling or clonal seed orchards, clone gardens, possibly micro-propagation (meristems, cell-cultures).

At present, knowledge of genetic variation of species in Eritrea is very limited. In general, it is therefore recommended to use seed from local, well adapted seed sources for any planting area. Matching seed source to planting site therefore implies using seed sources located within the same area, and having similar environmental conditions as the prospective planting sites.

Enhanced performing material for production forestry would be used as more knowledge on performance of specific provenances or selections in various environments become available.

Selection of species and level of intensity for improvement are based on economic considerations, and the more intensive the improvement work, the higher the cost. Generally, the “investment” that may be made in improving the genetic qualities of tree species depends on the expected returns in terms of increased value production per unit area and year of the improved material, as well as the area where the material will be utilized.

Species/Provenance Trials

The medium and long-term afforestation efforts of Eritrea will be more successful if the most suitable species are used. The choice of species for a particular area must be considered, not only with regard to their suitability for survival and growth, but also whether they fit the purpose for which they are planted. The most suitable species can only be identified after comparing the performance of a large number of potentially suitable species in the environment where plantations are going to be established.

For species with wide natural distribution, it is important to examine if there are important differences in adaptability and productivity among different provenances. This is especially so for Eucalyptus species which have been introduced from the end of the last century. Four Eucalyptus species have been popular and are the most planted species in the Eritrean highlands and midlands. The original introduction and successive additional imports were poorly documented as to their identity and origin. Their genetic history is therefore obscure and problems are beginning possibly to arise with inbreeding depression. Possibly, early introductions might have been made from single-tree collections.

The medium and long term afforestation efforts with Eucalyptus in the Eritrean Highlands and Midlands using Eucalyptus seeds produced in the region itself should take into account potential growth restrictions due to inbreeding problems. Consequently, to enlarge the genetic base in the Highlands and Midlands of Eritrea, the National Forestry Research Programme recently introduced other species and provenances of this genus from Australia. The objective is to determine the extent and pattern of variation between provenances of promising species with wide natural variation, in order to select the most promising provenance for establishment of seed stands of the genus Eucalyptus.

Species/Provenance Trials of Eucalyptus

Five species provenance trials were established during 1995 in three groups as follows:

• Three seed lots of Eucalyptus cladocalyx and one of Eucalyptus leucoxylon from Australian natural provenances and a local (Adi-keih) Eucalyptus provenance (landrace) were included in one trial at Merhano and in one trial at Adi-keih.
• Seed lots from Australia of Eucalyptus globulus sub-species globulus, Eucalyptus globulus subspecies maidenii, Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata, along with a local landrace of Eucalyptus globulus sub-species globulus were included in a second trial, also located at Merhano and Adi-keih.
• In a third trial at Merhano, four seedlots of Eucalyptus rudis and one of Eucalyptus camaldulensis from Australia, along with a local landrace from Maitekela were included.
• One trial was established with four Eucalyptus provenances in Shambuko. Termites have destroyed this trial.

Provenance Trial of Gliricidia Sepium at Halhale (1995)

Seed of three provenances of Gliricidia sepium (82/94 Retalhuleu, 12/91 Belen Rivas and 12/91 Monte Rico) of the five top performers was given to Eritrea for verification trials. The objective was to study differences between selected best provenances of Gliricidia sepium under non-optimal conditions for the species, i.e. higher than normal altitude, and lower than normal rainfall.

The survival of all provenances decreased to low levels and most plants had died back due to frost in early 1997. The provenances ought to be tested again at lower altitudes. The trial will be abandoned, but maintained for the production of vegetative material obtainable for some years.

Provenance Trial of Cordia africana (Halhale,1997)

Provenances included Cordia africana, Hal-hal, Cordia africana, Mai-Aini, Cordia africana, Shambuko.

3.4. National priority species

The first step in a tree improvement programme is to determine the species to be included and the level of improvement intensity for the selected species. The integrated approach can be utilized as a tool for making initial decisions.

Species may be ranked according to a number of criteria; the most important criteria are area planted with a species, and the value of production on that area. Table 6 shows the ranking of species in order of priority based on their estimated share of total annual planting area in 1996.

Table 6: Ranking of Species in Order of Priority

Species	Area (ha)	% of area
Eucalyptus cladocalyx	2677	39
Eucalyptus rudis	696	10
Eucalyptus globulus	585	9
Dodonaea angustifolia	454	7
Acacia etbaica	402	6
Acacia senegal	382	6
Acacia saligna	351	5
Schinus molle	268	4
Olea africana	246	4
Eucalyptus camaldulensis	184	3
Leucaena leucocephala	157	2
Melia azedarach	135	2
Cupressus lusitanica	89	1
Azadirachta indica	86	1
Cordia africana	55	1
Juniperus procera	39	1
Total	6806	100