The document summarizes updates from stakeholder forums held in the Jeldu, Diga and Fogera woredas of Ethiopia. It describes key challenges facing natural resource management in the areas, including population growth, deforestation, soil degradation, limited knowledge and adoption of improved practices. Baseline studies identified historical top-down approaches have weakened community institutions and farmer participation. Current government programs still lack sufficient participation. Improving capacity of local extension agents and developing two-way communication between farmers and government is needed to effectively address the severe land and water management issues facing the regions.

1. Site updates - Jeldu, Diga & Fogera Alan Duncan, Gerba Leta, Beth Cullen and Kebebe Ergano NBDC Stakeholder Forum 5 October 2011

4. Predominant crops and farming systems of the sites Source: WoARD Woreda Predominant crops along agro-ecology Highland Midland Lowland Jeldu Barley, wheat, potato-livestock Wheat, barley, teff-livestock Sorghum, maize, teff-livestock Fogera Barley, Niger seed, wheat, –livestock Rice, maize, millet, teff-livestock ---- Diga --- Teff, millet, maize-livestock Maize, sorghum, sesame-livestock

5. Crop-livestock contribution to the livelihood (source of income) Woreda Percent contribution (on average) Livestock Crop Jeldu 30 70 Diga 30 70 Fogera 33 67

6. Livestock numbers

9. Innovation platform updates

10. Platforms based around NRM Action 2 NBDC Local Research NGO Private sector Woreda extension Woreda water Woreda admin Champion farmers Woreda offices NBDC research outputs National research Indigenous knowledge Business ideas Comm Comm Comm Action 1 Action 3

15. Highlights from Diga report

20. Implementation Land and water management interventions Quotas Campaigns

24. Different perspectives on way forward Govt needs to step in with NRM approach which is strictly enforced in order to address the severity of the problems There are issues with sustainability due to lack of participation and motivation of farmers and DAs at lower levels