Postcard from Ethiopia: “We can’t live without the forest"

Photo: A forest community in Ethiopia meets to discuss plans to manage the forest

By Hulemenaye Assefa, Farm Africa’s assistant documentation and communications officer in Ethiopia

Today is the first International Day of Forests – a day to celebrate the value that forests bring, particularly to the communities that live in and near them.

At Farm Africa we work with forest communities to help them use the resources forests provide – such as honey and wild coffee – to protect biodiversity and provide a sustainable income.

Alemayehu Gebre is a member of Bola Yaja Forest Management Association, in southern Ethiopia. He says that previously the local community used to cut down trees for construction and fuel. But after learning from Farm Africa and our partners SOS Sahel, they know how to find benefits from the forests that also keep it protected.

Sustainable forest conservation

Alemayehu says the communities’ attitudes towards the forest have changed and the level of awareness about sustainability is raised.

“We can’t live without the forest,” he says. “We’ve promised to share and protect the forest in a way that helps us all, and lets us earn money.”

Recently, Alemayehu took part in a seedling exhibition held in the capital city, Addis Ababa.

He says: “It was a great opportunity for me to participate in this exhibition to increase my income from non-timber forest products. Today, I am able to send all my children to school with the bags, books and clothes they need.”

Farm Africa works jointly with SOS Sahel in Ethiopia on two projects, forest management in Bale eco-region and forest management expansion, to secure the sustainable management of forests and improve the livelihoods of the local communities.