Dear FfE members and supporters,
Re: Workshop on promoting non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in Ethiopia

Forum for Environment (FfE) is a platform for communication and advocacy on issues of environment and sustainable development. FfE has been undertaking a series of public meetings on NTFPs during 2006 in collaboration with Ethiopian Foresters˘ Association, Ethiopian Coffee Forest Forum and the NTFP Research and Development Project. The public meetings focused, among others, on gums and incenses; bamboo; organic coffee; honey and bee˘s wax; medicinal plants and essential oils. The presentations and deliberations on these diverse topics have indicated that Ethiopia has a huge potential of NTFPs, which, if properly exploited and sustainably managed could continue to be increasingly useful for poverty alleviation and environmental conservation.

On the other hand, the promotion of NTFPs in Ethiopia has also faced a number of challenges that revolve, inter alia, around marketing, policy and research issues. Addressing these challenges could pave way for a better exploitation of the country˘s potentials and better management of our natural resources.
A diversity of NTFPs have been used as means of livelihood by a large number of Ethiopian population; and also as sources of foreign revenue for the country. In view of this fact, NTFPs have been promoted by government and non-government actors in different parts of the country. Considering the positive experiences from some other countries in terms of the immense economic and environmental values of NTFPs, many agree that this effort has to be greatly reinforced in the future as well.
As a wrap up session of the public meetings we have had in 2006, and to create a platform for dialogue among stakeholders, policy architects and decision makers, a one-day workshop is organized on the topic, ˇˇPromoting NTFPs in Ethiopia: Prospects and Bottlenecks.˘˘ There will be plenary presentations as well as a panel discussion amongst professionals during the workshop. The workshop will deliberate on the successes, challenges of and lessons learnt from existing NTFP initiatives in different parts of the country. It is hoped that recommendations useful for future interventions and actions will be put forward by the workshop.
We, therefore, kindly invite you to a workshop that is going to be held at the Global Hotel on Friday, December 29, 2006. Please register for participation by providing your name, organization and telephone number before December 25, 2006 through telephone (5521015 or 5521662) or e-mail: ffe@ethionet.et. Kindly note that registering within the given deadline is a necessary requirement for participation. We will send you an e-mail or inform you right away over the phone to confirm the possibility of your participation.

Sincerely,
Negusu Aklilu
Coordinator, FfE