CWEL staff have been involved in a number of studies of forest fringe management and assessment. These build particularly on long-term experience of the forests of south-west Ethiopia and link to the wetland work in that area. Projects include:

Biodiversity Assessment for Forest Protection within a tea plantation development plan in south-west Ethiopia

This involved identifying the areas of highest biodiversity value and proposing how these can be protected, while areas of lower biodiversity value are developed for tea production.

Local markets are the first step in marketing non-timber forest products

Local Level Forest Use Systems and Non Timber Forest Products

A long term institutional appraisal of access to forest resources and local level forest use systems has been undertaken in the Kefa area of south-west Ethiopia in collaboration with the international NGO, Farm Africa. This study has explored the role of access rights to forest resources and the role of non-timber forest products on forest use and rural livelihoods.

Non-Timber Forest Products Research Development Project (NTFP)

The NTFP Research and Development Project seeks to develop ways of reducing poverty in the zones of Kefa, Bench-Maji and Skeka zones of the Southern People's Region of Ethiopia. Poverty reduction methods in this project focus upon the development and use of non-timber forest products, linking producers with the regional and national markets. To ensure the sustainability of NTFP production, forest management has to be supported through the development of local institutions and community-based forest management.

• CWEL's Non Timber Forest Products Project Website

• IUCN Forest Conservation Programme

• Livelihoods and Non Timber Forest Products