Preserving ecosystems in Bale

Farm Africa worked with a consortium of NGO partners, authorities and communities in Ethiopia to sustainably manage the Bale Eco-Region, a biodiversity hotspot, and enhance the livelihoods of local people, helping to reduce poverty and the current reliance on unsustainable practices.

The programme involved supporting communities to increase forest-friendly businesses and sustainably manage livestock and rangelands. The consortium partners helped promote sustainable timber harvesting and strengthened forest coffee, honey, gum and resin value chains.

We supported women and young people to increase their incomes by developing businesses in rearing goats and producing milk, energy-efficient cook stoves and eco-charcoal.

In addition, together with the Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Population, Health and Environment Consortium, Farm Africa worked with law enforcement, ranger patrols and Bale Mountains National Park management to develop policies and management strategies to protect the ecosystem.

This enabled strengthening of Participatory Forest and Rangeland Management committees to manage forests and rangelands and support community-controlled hunting areas.

There was also increased awareness in the community on the relationships between population, health and the environment.

The project was funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission.