Ethiopia
One of our focus regions in Africa
Ethiopia: The wild coffee forests of Kafa have been recognized as UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2010. The predominantly highland region is covered with evergreen montane cloud forest - photo: Mathias Putze
NABU is engaged in Ethiopia since 2006 and officially registered in 2009 as an international aid agency. Since then, 12 million Euro budget, more than 40 staff, and seven vehicles have been deployed on the ground in Ethiopia with headquarters in Addis Ababa, the country's capital, and local offices in the project regions. Since 2023, NABU Ehtiopia has been an independent NGO. It works closely with NABU in Germany.
Focus of activity
What we do
Our efforts revolve mainly around different aspects of habitat protection/restoration and sustainable regional development.
Since 2009 NABU has been implementing large projects and annually handles budgets of more than ~1,000,000 EUR. Planning and establishment of UNESCO biosphere reserves, adaptation to climate change, reforestation and forest management including participatory forest management (short: PFM), sustainable development for the benefit of local communities and capacity building at government and community level are some of the core topics NABU is working on in Ethiopia.
In detail, this includes...
➢ Establishment of protected areas, for example UNESCO biosphere reserves, private forest protection sites, national parks
➢ Identification of hotspots of biodiversity, threatened/ fragmented habitats and species for immediate management and restoration and development of management plans for protected areas and/or specific habitats
➢ Participatory landscape planning/zoning and ecosystem restoration, for example erosion control, afforestation/reforestation, river restoration
➢ Development and piloting of guidelines and/or manuals, for example community-based restoration, community-based resource management, sustainable fisheries, agroforestry
➢ Development of species action plans, for example yellow-fronted parrot
➢ Feasibility studies, for example for protected areas, restoration and conservation schemes
➢ Biodiversity and species assessments and monitoring
➢ Management of protected areas and conservation sites
➢ Development and implementation of community-based natural resource management
➢ Design and implementation of sustainable income generating activities, for example ecotourism, improved agriculture and regional product marketing
➢ Technical advisory on different topics for example sustainable agriculture, climate change, waste management
➢ Rural appraisals, trainings and stakeholder workshops on all relevant topics
➢ Awareness creation campaigns for communities, governmental partners and stakeholders for behavioural change
Our project areas
NABU’s major geographical focus in Ethiopia
➢ South West Ethiopia Peoples‘ Regional State (Kafa Biosphere Reserve, Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve, both Southwest)
➢ Amhara Regional State (Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve, Northwest)
➢ Oromia Regional State (Yayu Coffee Biosphere Reserve, Southwest)
Under patronage of NABU, two of these have been declared UNESCO biosphere reserves in a joint effort with the Ethiopian government.
Achievements
➢ Establishment of two UNESCO biosphere reserves: Kafa Biosphere Reserve and Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve
➢ Reforestation and enrichment of at least 800 ha Afromontane cloud forest
➢ Reduction of CO2 emissions through nature-based-solutions (56,742 t CO2 annually)
➢ Establishment of community management for 15,000 ha of forests and wetlands eight
➢ Introduction of 14,000 energy-saving stoves and alternative fuels
➢ Adaptation of agriculture to climate change and livelihood support in four 4 biosphere reserves
➢ Conduction of two international biodiversity assessments with discovery of at least 80 new species, find out more here
➢ Organisational development for four biosphere reserves’ administrations
➢ Development of a smartphone-based real-time forest monitoring
➢ Raising awareness of more than 250,000 people on climate change and conservation
➢ Development of educative modules on biodiversity, fauna, flora, find out more here
➢ Greening of 114,000 home garden for erosion reduction and closing of 100 erosion gullies
NABU in Ethiopia - Facts and figures
Committed in Ethiopia since
2006
Average annually invested funds
At least 1 million EUR
Working modalities in Ethiopia
NABU is registered as NGO in Ethiopia since 2009. A country director and about 50 employees run NABU’s Head Office in Addis Ababa and three NABU Project Offices in Bonga (Kafa Zone, SWEPR), Bahir Dar (Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve, Amhara Regional State) and Mettu (Yayu Biosphere Reserve, Oromia Regional State). Since 2023, NABU Ehtiopia has been an independent NGO. It works closely with NABU in Germany. For detailed information download the organisational chart below.
Our partners in the country
NABU collaborates with a broad variety of partners in Ethiopia. Amongst others, for example, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission (EFCCC), the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI), UNESCO Cluster Office, the respective regional states’ authorities as well as zonal administrations, partner NGOs such as the Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society (EWNHS, BirdLife Ethiopia), Ethiopian Coffee Forest Forum (ECFF), Ethio-Wetlands and Natural Resource Association (EWNRA), scientific and business partners and religious institutions, GIZ offices in Ethiopia.
Our Ethiopia projects are funded by
our ethiopia projects in detail
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 industrialization and development have been posing a threat to this vital water supply. more →
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 →
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 consortium aims at structuring the up to now non-commercialised garden coffee value chain. more →
OUR ENGAGEMENT IN africa
Africa harbours a fascinating variety of traditions, biodiversity, and great national parks. But it is also affected by climate change or natural catastrophes. Helping people help themselves – this is NABU’s concept. Together with local people, authorities, and governments, NABU works on community-based management concepts for use and conservation of endangered ecosystems. Find out where and how NABU is active in Africa. more →
OUR focus regions
All over the world biodiversity is at risk, and with it people's quality of life. Nature conservation must transcend borders. Together with international partners, NABU is active in these regions: Europe, Africa, Central Asia, South East Asia and the Caucasus. more →