Preserving the

rangelands of
Somaliland
A policy brief to counteract the problem
of deforestation
By Abdirahman, et al.

A short note:
In writing this brief weve followed the format by Prof. Tsai in Guidelines for Writing a
Policy Brief. This can be found at http://jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu/~ktsai/policybrief.html
I would also like to note that weve particularized the general topic of deforestation by
specifically focusing on the Somaliland context and in particular the rangeland reserves
and nurseries in Somaliland. A policy brief is by itself geared towards a particular
situation and how to go on about it. That is the whole point of a policy brief. It is not only
impractical to go through the general topic of deforestation but it would sound more of
rhetoric rather than policy which is supposed to produce realistic approaches to dealing
with a specific problem in a specific context. Our topic Preserving the rangelands of
Somaliland still comes under deforestation so were still pretty much in the topic.
Executive Summary
Deforestation is an endemic problem in Somaliland. There was once a time when the
country was rich in bio diversity with elephants, lions, rhinos, wild ass and species of
plants and animals only found in Somaliland and no where else in the world. Sadly, there
are no more elephants, rhinos and pretty much many of the bio diversity is now either
extinct or nearly extinct.
In this short brief were going to present a study on the rangeland reserves and nurseries
set up first by the colonialists and then sub sequent governments of Somalia. Of course
most of these rangeland reserves including Daloo, Qado in the Sanaag, Erigabo region
have been destroyed by nomadic pastoralists and others who in the absence of an
effective law and order system cut down the trees destroying the bio diversity there upon.
It is our finding that Somaliland doesnt have any clear policies on the protection and
rejuvenation of now destroyed rangeland reserves and nurseries. There are now and then
people arrested and truck loads of charcoal confiscated, but there is no clear policy on
protecting rangeland reserves and nurseries. As one community member put it the
nomadic pastoralists have guns and they dont want anyone standing in their way.
Over the years NGOs local and international as well as subsequent governments of
Somalia have identified as key issues coordination and changing of behaviors in dealing
with the problem of destruction of the rangeland forests. To this effect we recommend, as
many have previously, educating people on environmental awareness and the inclusion of
the environment as a consideration in every aspect of their lives. This is not just printing
materials and transmitting them to the populace but an effective, aggressive and
compulsory consideration of the environment in every aspect of life from government
policies to NGO programs to the daily lives of people. We also hasten to mention that the
environment is not a project requiring its own programmatic planning and funding but a

way of thinking and we hasten to emphasize the key word here, thinking. Thus there is no
point in NGOs declaring that their mandate doesnt include the environment or
governments ministries making the same statements or even ordinary people claiming
that they need to feed themselves off the land, and that the environment comes after that.
Statement of the Issue/Problem
The once protected rangeland reserves and cared for nurseries in Somaliland are non
existent. This had lead to the extinction or near extinction of certain species in the
Somaliland bio diversity. This had dire consequences for the land and the Somali people
that live within it. Less grazing land for the livestock, soil erosion, water run off, and
climate change are consequences of this destruction of the rangeland and bio diversity
within it. With a still emerging effective Somaliland government that is financially and
workforce restricted, the question remains how can we protect, reclaim and expand
rangeland reserves?
Background of the Problem
Just about a hundred years ago Somalia was abundant with trees and grassland.
Elephants, rhinoceros and lions were everywhere like livestock sheep resting in the shade
of large trees. The last elephant died at Hargeisa in 1953. Rhinoceros, lions, greater and
lesser kudus and Swaynes Hartbeest are now extinct, or nearly so, in the region. (Herzog
2006)
As recent as 1980 there were about 40,000 elephants in Somalia, 1,135 species of
mammals, birds, reptiles, and freshwater fish. Just recently, about few years ago it was
thought that there were about 200 elephants left mainly in the south of Somalia with
about 500 to 750 lions remaining in the country. (Reuters 2006)
According to FAO today 10.8% or 6, 747,000 ha of Somalias land is covered by forests
of which 3,000 ha are planted. From 1990 to 2010 Somalia has lost on average 76, 750 ha
or .93% per year. In total from 1990 to 2010 Somalia has lost 18.5% or 1,535,000 ha.
(FAO Report 2010)
The depletion of these forests and biodiversity is a threat to the pastoralists way of life
and livestock production that is the backbone of the Somali economy. This has already
been recognized by the British colonialists. These colonialists have set up an extensive
network of range and forest reserves in Somaliland. Daloo and the Qado reserve for
instance. Similarly successive Somali governments after 1960 have continued the efforts
to preserve the forests of Somalia. For instance, the Somali republic passed the Law on
Fauna and Forest Conservation Law No.15 of 25 January, 1969. Article 7 of that law
states No person shall willfully or negligently cause any bush fire or grassfire, or fell;
cut; burn; injure or remove any standing tree, shrub, bush, sapling, seedling or any part
thereof on a game reserve This is an extensive law protecting the forests and animals
in the wild with fines and imprisonment imposed on anyone contravening such laws

(Article 66 of the Law of Fauna and Forest Conservation 1969). During the civil war the
forest reserves were neglected and destroyed. For instance, the Gedeble forest reserve, 30
kilometers north of Hargeisa has 4 guards. Before 1988 it had 20. During the 1996
drought nomads moved in to the reserve to cut down branches and trees. Qadow and
Salaan Yare reserves are also near Hargeisa as well as Dhan and El Bardaleh.
To counter the loss of the forests, prior to the civil war of 1991 the Ministry of livestock,
forestry and range ran some 18 nurseries and 47 range reserves. At present there is the
Hargeisa nursery which is in a big park in the center of town. Assisted by WFP, it
produces 12, 000 seedlings per year of Schinus, Parkinsonia, Papaya and Prosopis.
Charcoal production is ongoing at the natural forests at Erigabo and Daloh. In a 1994
Oxfam America survey Borama used 18,000 tons per year. About 80 tons of charcoal
comes to Hargeisa each day. According to the FAO project proposal 1993 92% of
domestic energy requirements of Somalia are dependent upon wood and charcoal fuel
source. (Herzog 2006)
The loss of the forests and bio diversity leads to soil erosion, flooding, water run off and
the like, this in turn leads to recurrent droughts and the loss of more bio diversity. There
are international and local NGOs working on this, COOPI, IRC, ARDO,
CANDLELIGHT, CARE, Caritas, WFP, ACTIONAID and the like. These NGOs are
assisting local communities with the establishment of nurseries, rehabilitation of forest
reserves, watershed management, irrigation and the like. But these same NGOs arent
responsible for maintaining and sustaining the efforts and there are many such projects
that were started and foundered afterwards. For example, SORRA NGO established a
nursery in Borama in 1993 and after 6 months the nursery was abandoned due to the
termination of the project contract.
Statement of our organizations interest in the issue
Save the Trees Somaliland is a non governmental, all inclusive organization dedicated to
seeing the restoration of our forests and fauna. Our vision is to see a Somaliland that has
the same forest canopy as it once did a hundred years back where wild animals such as
elephants and lions were abundant.
Our mandate is not only to plant new trees everywhere in Somaliland rural and urban but
also to protect trees everywhere from cutting for use as charcoal. To this effect Save the
Trees Somaliland has planted to date 10,000 trees in the Maroodi Jeeh, Sahil regions and
Sool areas. We are also effectively advocating for the end of the cutting of trees for
charcoal productions by training the communities in alternative ways of obtaining
livelihood without resorting to the destruction of their environment. We believe that our
effort is just a small drop in the sea. In order to have a lasting effect there has got to be
the involvement and coordination of every sector of society, government and NGOs. This
effort has got to be maintained continuously and for the long run.

While the government has made some efforts in penalizing the cutting of trees for
charcoal production this has done nothing to dent the demand in the charcoal market. The
demand for charcoal is still high and trees are still needlessly disappearing.
Save the Trees Somaliland is pushing for even a more radical stance on this problem
which will not only ensure that our forests remain for the next generations but that people
also obtain their livelihood without the cutting of our precious trees.

Pre-existing Policies on the protection of the rangeland

Somaliland promulgated the Range Policy and the Forest Policy and Legislation.
Somaliland also put in place a strategic plan for Agricultural Rehabilitation and
Development (2001-2003). This plan recognized the problems of environmental
degradation and the increasing number of sedentary agro pastoralists. This plan also
recognized the problem of charcoal and firewood production which exacerbate soil
erosion. However, this plan focused more on the improvement of soil and water
management systems through soil erosion control and improved water harvesting.
The weaknesses with the above mentioned policies as stated by the Country
Environmental Profile for Somalia 2006 is:
Lack of EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) and SEA (Strategic
Environmental Assessment) capacity at policy and legal levels as well as
implementation of activities and projects.
Lack of institutional capacity for the overall environmental management and
oversight.
The EC funded an EIA of seven proposed sand storage sub surface dams for Somaliland
in 2006. In that project the EIA identified the lack of strong policies and laws as one
serious impediment for EIA process.
FAO funded a Tropical Forest Action Plan for Somalia with a focus on trying to ensure
that the forestry is seen as key component of national development and economic growth.
Going a little back pre civil war there was the Law of Fauna Hunting and Forest
Conservation 1969. And of course the British imperialists have established reserve areas
where the fauna and forests would be preserved for future generations; areas such as
Daloo and Qadoo. This has been continued by subsequent Somali governments since
1960. This is a list of nature reserves in Somaliland pre civil war of 1991: Gaan Libah,
Surud, Las Anod, Geldora pass, Al Mado range, Molidera hill reserve, Bihen Dulla,
Wagar range and Hadaftimo.
Aside from the establishment of reserves, there was also an active plantation of trees in
the form of nurseries. This contributed to the overall forest cover of the country. Since

1991 there was a common disregard for traditional and legal rules and forests that were
once reserves and nurseries are violated and trampled on as there is a weak system to
protect them. (Herzog 2006)
In 1980, the National Range Authority (NRA) formulated a 10 year plan that included
Range survey and monitoring: potential land use map / meteorological stations / water
sources map / fodder supplies / establishment of fixed monitoring sites / assessment of
forest areas with potential use/evaluation of indigenous plants / of different ecological
zones (carrying capacity) / grazing systems / exotic species / rehabilitation - reseeding
combined with water conservation / conservation of fodder / bush control methods /
economy of range development
The current Somaliland Ministry of Livestock, Forestry and Range has the following
priorities Nurseries, protection of natural forests (Golis, esp. Erigavo, Sheikh and
Boroma), utilisation of timber, regeneration and plantations, range and watershed
protection, rehabilitation of water points, rehabilitation of ex-refugee camps and
surroundings: The situation has to be assessed, replantation should be done with natural
species. The Eucalypts (e.g. at Gedebile) should be replaced by Tamarindus (fruits.),
Acacia cataba and Ziziphus maurit; windbreaks and shelterbelts (e.g. at Berbera) with
Conocarpus and Balanites; sand dune fixation; species trials: locals, exotics amenity ;
amenity trees for the city and the villages; awareness raising / extension / especially at
schools.
According the Environmental Country Profile for Somalia policies and laws relating to
the environment in all of Somalia are weak and outdated and existing laws and policies
would benefit from environmental inputs. Such existing laws and policies should be
assessed on the impact they have on the environment.
Policy Options
These are some of the possible courses of action that may be pursued to combat the loss
of our rangeland forest reserves. The problem of the destruction of forest reserves has
been with us for a long time, and so most of these policy options have already been tried.
Ive got them from various sources including Martin Herzogs Forestry and Woodland
Management in Somaliland which was published in 2006. However, I have expanded on
recommendation 3 adding my own input. Here are the policy options:
1) There should be more plantations to harvest charcoal and firewood. Plantations
produce wood that is more expensive than wood from the rangelands. The costs
involved include the cost of harvest, processing of charcoal, transport and
marketing.
2) Rangeland reserves would have to be expanded and those neglected reestablished.
Focus should be placed on the Golis range at Erigabo and the Daloo forest.
3) Environmental education should be given to every sector of society from public to
the private sectors to the ordinary person on the street. The Environment should
permeate every aspect of peoples lives. It ought not to be a special subject that

requires special consideration but something that is essential and part and parcel
of everything people do. Focus should be placed on raising environmental
awareness. Initiating dialogue with the pastoral community whilst collecting
sociological data in the area. Continuing the dialogue by explaining the objective
of the range development plan.
4) The only way we can preserve our reserves more effectively is to effectively
employ existing laws on forestry and rangelands. People have to realize that there
are laws and consequences attached to encroachment of reserves, cutting down of
trees for charcoal, production of charcoal without license and the like. There must
be enforcement of these laws.
5) A rotation system for wood harvest, replantation and charcoal production has to
be developed with the participation of the ministry, the local charcoal
associations, committees and elders. Charcoal production areas should be set up
in blocks and delimited. Woodlands should be used carefully. Replantation,
regeneration and sustainability.
6) System orientation. Forest and range preservation require long term
commitments. Cooperation with other organizations and projects have to
establishedwater, range, woodlands and the communities are strongly
interlinked.
Advantages and Disadvantages of each policy option
Policy option 1: Plantations to harvest charcoal and firewood. Plantations produce wood
that is more expensive than wood from the rangelands.
Advantages:
Charcoal comes from a sustainable source and so can be maintained.
Wastelands in the rangeland recovers and regrows.
It becomes an incentive for others to turn away from the rangeland and instead
derive their charcoal from the plantations.
Disadvantages:
It will take years for the plantations to be fully in operative form.
It will take persuasion and the force of law to turn people away from the
rangelands and towards plantations.
Policy option 2:
Neglected rangeland reserves would have to be reestablished and expanded with new
reserves formed. Focus should be placed on the Golis range at Erigabo and the Daloo
forest.
Advantages:

 Somalilands dwindling biodiversity would be restored and preserved before

extinction.
Vast swathes of rangeland would recover and regrow.
This will have an overall positive effect on the climate of country.
Disadvantages:
This would require coordination and cooperation of everyone involved from the
government to the local communities to business people.
Pastoralists have guns and dont want to be told to keep their animals from certain
areas of land.
This would require lots of resource in terms of man power and finances.
Somaliland is a vast country. It would be difficult to patrol large swathes of
rangeland reserves.
Policy option 3:
Educating the people about their environment and finding alternative ways of obtaining
livelihood.
Advantages:
People are liberated through education. There is also respect and consideration for
oneself and others. There is a sense of purpose in life which in itself brings out the
potential inside that is translated into action which then is beneficial for
Somaliland.
Through education people are harmonized and are in touch and in step with the
rest of the world. We arent left behind in the pile.
There is a sense of law, order and hope instead of despair, violence and
degradation.
Disadvantages:
Its very hard to change old ways and would probably take some time to get
people to thinking in the other direction.
Policy option 4
Enforcement of existing laws and policies on the environment and the rangeland and the
incorporation of the environment in the making of all governmental policies.
Advantages:

 The environment becomes the center piece of peoples lives as it should be.
Rangeland and bio diversity recovers and rejuvenates.
There is a long term sustainability of the environment.
Disadvantages:
Requires coordination and cooperation of all persons involved from the
government to the local community to business people. People with vast interest
though with a common goal.
Enforcement of laws and policies requires man power and finances.
Recommendation/s
There isnt a single way of fighting deforestation in Somaliland. It would have to be a
series of actions. Thus in educating or rather reminding the people about their
environment and the stress its under you could have a campaign of plant a tree or two
across the nation; trees such as acacia and those that require little water of course. There
has to be the cognizance that planting a tree today would be an investment for tomorrow
where hopefully there would be a reversal of the trend of deforestation in the country.
With education as well there would be more respect and cooperation in protecting of
reserve areas such as Daloo, Gaan Libah, Qadoo and others though it might be worth
mentioning here that people needs such as grazing for their livestock and the like might
come first before protection of the environment.
And with education people might move away from destroying their environment
needlessly towards sustainable and alternative means of obtaining what they need i.e.,
alternative fuel sources such as kerosene, gas and the like though this would require
people with money to buy them.
With education towards environmental awareness raising as well as the link between the
environment and livelihoods everyone from the government to the populace would
hopefully integrate the protection of the environment in everything they do.
Were not advocating for new NGOs and campaigners for the environment, the NGO
sector is already crowded, but were advocating for these same existing NGOs
incorporating the environment in all of their projects. So for instance, along with posters
and slogans of child protection, HIV awareness campaigns and the like we would need
posters linking the environment with all these issues of child protection, HIV, and the
like. It doesnt matter if these NGOs dont have specifically the environment on their
programs so long as the message is out that the environment is a pervasive matter in all
aspects of our lives.
As the National Range Agency of Somalia put it in 1980 I should like to conclude this
introduction by pointing out that range development is, of necessity, a long term exercise

dealing with people's traditional ways and the growth of natural vegetation both of which
may be extremely slow to change. ... Traditional ways are hard to change and to raise the
educational standards takes generations." (Herzog 2006)
Sources
1-Herzog, M. Forestry and Woodland Management in Somaliland. Accessed on
December 11, 2012. http://www.mbali.info/doc6.htm
2-Stoddard, Ed. Uphill struggle to preserve Somalias wildlife. Reuters, January 11,
2006. Accessed December 11, 2012.
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/353763/uphill_struggle_to_preserve_somalias_wil
dlife/
3-FAO. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010: Country Report Somalia.
FRA2010/194 Rome, 2010. Accessed December 11, 2012.
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation/2000/Somalia.htm
4-IUCN Eastern Africa Regional Office. Country Environmental Profile for Somalia. The
European Commission Somalia Operations Office, Nairobi, Kenya 2006. Accessed
December 12, 2012.

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