We would like to acknowledge the contributions of the Mechal team towards the process that led to the writing of this handbook. Special thanks go to Demamu Mesfin, Yosef Melka, Katinka Waagsaether, Donna Kotze, Estholene Moses, Emily Olsen, Daleen Lötter, Gina Ziervogel, Mark Tadross, Habtemariam Kassa, Kebede Kassa, Penny Price and Mark New.
We would also like to thank the community members in South Africa (Suid Bokkeveld and Goedverwacht) and Ethiopia (Arsi Negelle) for freely sharing their knowledge and insights.
This publication was made possible through a grant by the Volkswagen Foundation (Mechal Project under the Reference number I/83 735, co-ordinated by the University of Hamburg) with partners from South Africa (University of Cape Town, CSIR, Indigo development and change, Environmental Monitoring Group) and Ethiopia (Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hawassa University, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR).
