Programme
Active
Forest-friendly livelihoods to protect biodiversity in the Bale Eco-region
Country
Ethiopia
Running since
2024
Target reach
120
Key focus areas
Boost productivity
Increase incomes
Protect ecosystems
Ethiopia’s Bale Eco-region is one of Africa’s most important biodiversity hotspots. However, increasing pressure from population growth and unsustainable land use is degrading the landscape, leading to deforestation, biodiversity loss and declining livelihoods for local communities.
To address these challenges, Farm Africa is supporting smallholder farmers and agro-pastoralists in the Bale Eco-region to develop forest-friendly livelihoods such as sustainable coffee production, agroforestry and woodlot establishment. These efforts not only help rural communities to earn more money, but also reduce pressure on the surrounding forests.
Our work with smallholder farmers is focused on growing sustainable coffee gardens outside the forest. With support including seeds, tools and conservation techniques, farmers have established over 30,000 coffee seedlings outside forest boundaries and are starting to secure better prices for their improved coffee.
30,000
coffee seedlings have been established by farmers taking part in the project
We have been working with agro-pastoralists to establish sustainable woodlots as an alternative source of wood and income, rather than depending on the forest. Agro-pastoralists receive nursery materials, training and seeds and 21,000 tree seedlings have been produced. The community has also learnt to intercrop woodlots with vegetable crops, offering a source of income while the trees mature and further reducing their dependency on forest timber.
In addition, we trained government staff and community members in agroforestry and fruit tree propagation. This has led to the cultivation of more than 8,000 grafted avocados and 1,200 mangoes, which were distributed to farming households.
The impact has extended beyond the project participants. Farmers in neighbouring areas have independently started planting coffee outside the forest, indicating a shift in local attitudes toward conservation and sustainable agriculture.
This project is funded by the Mitsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe and Africa (MCFEA).
