Restoring Forests to Protect Water and the Community's Future
The Southern Ethiopian Region is in the far south of Ethiopia, and Uba Debretsehay Woreda is located about six hours drive on rough roads from the nearest city, Arba Minch, where the airport is located.
When you hear the word Ethiopia, you may think of its rich culture and long history. However, in recent years top of mind has become the natural disasters caused by climate change that have sharply increased, and how severely the environment and people's livelihoods have suffered serious damage. Natural disasters such as floods and landslides have occurred every year for the past five years, and a flash flood in April 2023 that damaged 53% of the farmland also caused the loss of 620 livestock and killed 21 people.
One of the main causes of natural disasters that have occurred in South Ethiopia in recent years is said to be the erosion of top soil due to the reduction of forests along with long and torrential rains that fall on open ground, which didn’t occur before due to the forest canopy. As a countermeasure, the Ethiopian government launched The Green Legacy Initiative campaign that started in 2019 and will plant 40 billion trees throughout Ethiopia.
HOPE began planting trees in Uba Debretsehay in April 2024. A survey prior to the project revealed that residents were cutting trees and expanding farmland to obtain food. Therefore, along with tree planting, we educate residents about environmental impacts and why it is important to maintain a balance between food security and forests without excessive logging to reduce the risk of natural disasters.
HOPE values ownership by having residents think of the project as their own. This tree-planting project is also a participatory endeavor in collaboration with residents. Aiming to nurture a forest in the community, the first step is to reestablish a nursery for saplings that was damaged by the disaster, and plant 2,000 trees and fruit trees with the residents. Local leaders and the watershed committee members are trained in environmental conservation knowledge and techniques to create an ecosystem that can protect the forest for a long duration.
As trees grow and new forests expand, the foundation for living with nature is gradually being established. Trees support the soil and help rainwater infiltrate, reducing the risk of flooding and landslides. In addition, the fruit trees will provide food for the villagers and help them solve part of their food problem.
It takes time to grow forests, but we hope these efforts will ease the anxiety of our partner beneficiaries regarding natural disasters and help reduce the risk of floods so that they can lead a more secure life. HOPE continues to work from the perspective of providing long-term benefits to individuals and communities, rather than just short-term gains.
- This tree-planting and environmental education project in Ethiopia is subsidized by Toyo Tire Group Environment Protection Fund and Green Fund.
