Coffee harvest in Ethiopia: The Kafa Biosphere Reserve in the south-west of the country is considered the cradle of Arabica coffee. - Photo: Maheder Haileselassie
Ethiopia
Nature conservation and sustainable regional development in the Horn of Africa
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To create sustainable income opportunities, NABU promotes the diversification of value chains for products such as coffee, herbs and spices. - Photo: Bruno D'Amicis
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In Ethiopia, NABU is working to protect ecosystems such as the cloud forests in Kafa. - Photo: Bruno D'Amicis
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Monkey in Kafa: Protecting ecosystems also preserves the habitat of many animal and plant species. - Photo: Bruno D'Amicis
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NABU has carried out two biodiversity assessments in the Kafa Biosphere Reserve together with an international team of scientists. - Photo: Bernhard Walter
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Lake Tana is home to one of the three biosphere reserves established on the initiative of NABU. - Photo: Bruno D'Amicis
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NABU strengthens local NGOs and creates networks for a sustainable future of the Lake Tana water catchment area. - Photo: Bruno D'Amicis
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Lake Tana and its surrounding wetlands are important refuges for many bird species, such as the crowned crane. - Photo: Bruno D'Amicis
NABU is engaged in Ethiopia since 2006 and officially registered in 2009 as an international aid agency through a regional office in Addis Ababa, the country's capital, and local offices in the project regions. Since then, NABU has been implementing large projects promoting nature conservation and sustainable regional development in close cooperation with local communities, international partners and the Ethiopian government.
Since 2023, NABU Ethiopia is operating as an independent CSO. It is working closely with the NABU headquarters in Germany.
Our engagement in Ethiopia focuses on:
- Ecosystem restoration, habitat protection and biodiversity monitoring
- Sustainable regional development and capacity building
- Participatory landscape planning
- Adaptation to climate change
- Establishment of the three UNESCO biosphere reserves Kafa Biosphere Reserve (761,144 ha), Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve (695,885ha) and Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve (167,021 ha)
- Reforestation and enrichment of at least 1,300 ha Afromontane cloud forest
- Establishment of community management for 15,000 ha of forests and eight wetlands
- Establishment of the Southwest Forest Alliance Platform (find out more here)
- Restoration of nine church forests
- Conduction of two biodiversity assessments for the Kafa Biosphere Reserve with discovery of at least 80 new species (find out more here)
- Greening of 114,000 home gardens for erosion reduction and closing of 100 erosion gullies
- Establishment of nine organic coffee cooperations and organic certification of garden coffee from Kafa (find out more here)
- Raising awareness of more than 250,000 people on importance, purpose, opportunities and links of conservation and climate change
Achievements
Our projects in Ethiopia
Sustainable water, sustainable lives
The ecosystem faces severe strain from population growth, climate change, and industry. NABU Ethiopia's initiative addresses these challenges by enhancing regional sustainability and conservation through collaborative, community-driven efforts. more →
ForestConnect
Fragmentation and degradation are threatening Ethiopia's diverse forest landscapes and thus the country's biodiversity and food security. In Southwest Ethiopia, NABU and its partners are therefore implementing action plans to restore the precious forests. more →
Green Change
The project Green Change builds the resilience of people and nature in times of climate crisis. Our work in the Yayu Biosphere Reserve supports sustainable land use, the planting of old varieties and the empowerment of women and youth through generated income. more →
Waste management in Ethiopia
Waste is a serious problem in Ethiopia's cities. It gets stranded in nature, clogs waterways and endangers health. In the fight against pollution, NABU and its partners are developing a more effective waste management system together with local communities. more →
Water for Life
The largest lake in Ethiopia, Lake Tana, is a source of life for 4 million people in the region. Over the course of the last decade, however, the consequences of increased industrialisation and development have been posing a threat to this vital water supply. more →
Empowering Communities
By capacitating coffee farmers for better yields and climate resilience, supporting local communities with forest-oriented income and sustaining the biosphere reserve and its ecosystems, we aim to maintain the unique forests of Yayu Biosphe Reserve. more →
Coffee-novation
Kafa Biosphere Reserve is challenged by the lack of sustainable employment and innovation for green development and adaptation to the impacts of climate change. The project aims at structuring the up to now non-commercialised garden coffee value chain. more →
Forests for Future
Degradation of highland forest landscapes of South Ethiopia is a serious threat to livelihoods and biodiversity. NABU is engaged with the goal of preserving the forests of Bench-Sheko, Kafa & Sheka as carbon sinks and long-term ecosystem service suppliers. more →
Women & Energy
Using charcoal for fuel releases carbon that damages the climate and threatens natural forests. NABU is spreading awareness and empowering women to promote the use of sustainable briquettes made from coffee husks as an alternative fuel source. more →
Kafa Biodiversity Project
Ethiopia is a globally significant biodiversity hotspot and one of the world's most species-rich countries. The last remaining highland forests have been identified as particularly valuable key ecosystems. However, they have declined dramatically in size. more →
SPOTLIGHT: IMPRESSIONS FROM LAKE TANA
Our publications
4.2 MB
- NABU Kafa Visitor Guide
20.1 MB
- NABU Kafa Herbs Spices Manual
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A Highlander in Ethiopia
Dragonflies are charismatic insects: Their traits include spectacular aerial maneuvers, jewel-toned bodies and an important role in the ecosystem. More than 6,400 dragonfly species worldwide are known to science. One of them is the “Ethiopian Highlander”. more →
Forests - The heart of biodiversity
Forests are home to the vast majority of terrestrial biodiversity and represent a key battleground in combating the biodiversity crisis. With local partners, NABU promotes forest conservation, restoration and sustainable forest management around the world. more →