The ranger programme

Spreading the word in local communities of the Kafa Biosphere Reserve

The Kafa Biosphere Reserve’s local communities’ understanding of climate change, forest conservation and the role of biosphere reserves has been tremendously improved during NABU’s former project due to a rangers and multipliers program involving 30 rangers who were continually trained by the project and officially contracted to the Kafa Zone’s Department of Agriculture. The rangers play an important part in making not only the NABU´s work but most importantly the entire idea of effective management and protection of the Kafa Biosphere Reserve a success, due to their role as communicators and multipliers.

In order to raise awareness of the region’s particularly rich biodiversity, to inspire local communities to protect their natural environment and to involve as many people as possible in conservation and sustainable development at the Kafa Biosphere Reserve, the project aims to implement another communication and education program together with 10 selected rangers.

This ranger team is responsible for supporting the implementation of project activities such as a regular monitoring with species recording, reforestation activities, wetland restoration, tourism and community based management systems like Participatory Forest Management (PFM). In addition, they will not only constantly act as focal points for the communities for topics concerning conservation, agricultural practise and regional development but also pass on their expertise through a multipliers program.

The increase of the local communities’ knowledge of the importance of biodiversity and conservation will help to reach a long-term sustainable use of the natural resources of Kafa Biosphere Reserve.

project overview