The forest resources of Ethiopia have been, and still are, subject to indiscriminate destruction. Agricultural expansion and free grazing have been practiced for centuries in Ethiopia. These, and the relentless cutting for fuel and building needs by a dense and rapidly growing population, have led to almost complete deforestation of the Ethiopian highlands today.

The forest and woody vegetation resources of Ethiopia had been estimated to cover more than 27.5million ha of land in 1992 (EFAP, 1994). Currently (in 2016), Ethiopia has close to 17.35 million ha (15.7%of the country area) of forest resources, including bamboo, dense woodland, natural forests, and planted forests. Plantation forest also comprises public industrial plantations and private woodlots. Species wise, eucalyptus dominates the current plantation forests, covering more than 90%. Cupressus contributes3.3% and other species cover a small fraction of the standing stock (MEFCC, 2017).