ID: 1276

Ethiopia Desa’a project

The Desa’a Forest is one of the oldest remaining dry Afromontane forests in Ethiopia. Over 26,000 people live below the poverty line here, relying on the forest for water, energy and to feed their cattle. This ambitious, award-winning project aims to restore and protect arid Afromontane and bring water back to this region, which is directly threatened by desertification coming from the north, and lift the rural communities out of extreme poverty. The Desa’a forest reserve is home to many threatened species, and plays an important role in climate adaptation and water supply in a region directly threatened by desertification from the north and east. Currently, 74% of the forest has disappeared and the remaining 26% is severely degraded. The immediate consequence is erosion of topsoil and the significant reduction of agricultural yields for smallholder farmers. Even more alarming is the possible long-term impact on local cloud formation and rainfall, causing more frequent droughts and food insecurity. WeForest has been working since 2016 to directly restore and protect nearly 40 000 hecatre of the forest through Assisted Natural Regeneration and Enrichment Planting. They select species that serve multiple purposes in the forest and for the communities, generating a combination of social, economic and environmental benefits. Examples are olive (Olea europaea), juniper (Juniperus procera) and briar root (Erica arborea), which are combined with different grass species for fodder and to reduce erosion. Furthermore, soil and water conservation structures are built to reduce run-off and improve soil infiltration. By combining forest restoration with livelihood improvement programmes, WeForest focus on improving natural resource governance and the socio-economic resilience of communities living in and around the forest, with a special focus on women, the landless, subsistence farmers and youth. Examples of income-generating activities are beekeeping, poultry, sheep, high-value trees and vegetable seeds, efficient cookstoves, solar lights and the employment of forest guards. The project also establishes and strengthens rural schools’ environmental clubs. To measure the impact of the project, forestry and science teams are conducting surveys in special plots to monitor the progress of biomass growth, tree density, survival rate and species diversity. They are also measuring socio-economic indicators, such as the number of beneficiaries, people trained, and income generated from forest-friendly livelihood activities. WeForest plan to reach 37 million trees over 38,365 hectares by 2030, working with approximately 19,000 households.

Planned actions

Protection of land/water

Management of land/water