Green Change

Women and Youth as key actors for socio-ecological change in the Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve

The Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve in the southwest of Ethiopia encompasses forests, wetlands and numerous rivers, farmlands and pastures. The diverse ecosystems serve as home to an abundance of flora and fauna. Additionally, the biosphere reserve harbours one of the last remaining populations of wild Arabica coffee plants (Coffea arabica) in the world.

A majority of the income of the local populace is based on agriculture and forestry, for instance through the cultivation of coffee, fruit and spices. Diverse and sustainable systems of land use have been developed here over centuries, but are now facing increasing pressures through the climate crisis and other factors. The consequences are scarcity and overuse of resources through agriculture, threatening the future of the biosphere reserve and the livelihoods of local people. Young people and women are especially impacted by these developments, as they have only limited opportunities to participate in civil society and engage in entrepreneurial activity.

In order to strengthen the resilience of nature and people in the Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve against the forces of the climate crisis, the project Green Change conducts targeted activities to support:

• entrepreneurship among young people
• the passing on and conservation of traditional knowledge
• the cultivation of old, climate-resilient varities in home gardens
• agroforestry-based methods of cultivation
• the establishment and empowerment of women's groups in marketing of home garden products

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