As a general rule, cattle ranging and wood harvesting are not allowed. The grasses are harvested once a year and taken to the homesteads of the village to feed livestock. Field observations showed that some illegal grazing occurred in the enclosure in 2018.[1]
Benefits for the community
Setting aside such areas fits with the long-term vision of the communities, where hiza’iti lands are set aside for use by future generations. It also has direct benefits for the community:[2]
The sequestered carbon (in total, 34 meter per hour, predominantly sequestered in the soil and additionally in the woody vegetation)[1] is certified using the Plan Vivo voluntary carbon standard,[3] after which carbon credits are sold.
The revenues are then reinvested in the villages, according to the priorities of the communities; it may be for an additional class in the village school, a water pond, conservation in the exclosures, or a store for incense.[4]
Biodiversity
With vegetation growth, biodiversity in this enclosure has strongly improved; there is more varied vegetation and wildlife.
References
^ abcdDe Deyn, Jonathan (2019). Benefits of reforestation on Carbon storage and water infiltration in the context of climate mitigation in North Ethiopia. Master thesis, Ghent University.