In 1992, the lack of quality seedlings was considered by the Ethiopian and German governments as the main bottleneck for the rehabilitation of an appropriate forest cover in Tigray. A joint tree nursery project focused therefore first on the rehabilitation of tree nurseries and on the training of forestry staff in the production of indigenous and exotic seedlings. After successful set-up of a network of reliable state tree nurseries, it now appears that the lack of integrated land use management, the limited afforestation and conservation as well as the over exploitation of existing woodland is still seriously slackening off forest development in Tigray.

Ethiopian and German partners decided in 1996 that the BoANR/GTZ forestry project could contribute in tackling these problems by both addressing the communities in selected catchment areas and the forest teams at different levels of the Tigray forestry department.

The rehabilitation of 46 state tree nurseries included also the improvement of water supply systems and the delivery of full sets of nursery tools.

Tree nursery in Enticho with a newly constructed combined store/office: seedlings of this tree nursery are mainly sold to individuals. Leaves from the gesho tree (Rhamnus prunoides) grown in the nursery are used to produce a popular local beer.

Training of nursery technicians is part of the improvement of nursery management. The technicians of Gormodo tree nursery in front of a practical research trial to demonstrate nursery techniques with reduced watering.