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 are home to abundant diversity of flora and fauna. The biosphere reserve harbours one of the last remaining populations of wild Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) in the world. 

The local population earns the majority of its subsistence but also income from agriculture and forestry, for example through the cultivation of coffee, fruits and spices. The traditional extensive land use system of the area is under high demographic and climate-crisis related pressures. The consequences are scarcity and overuse of natural resources, threatening the future of the biosphere reserve and livelihoods. Young people and women are especially impacted by these developments, as they have only limited opportunities of participation, low decision-making power and few options to engage in entrepreneurial activities. 

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

• green entrepreneurship among women and young people 
• the onpassing of traditional knowledge on resource use 
• the cultivation and distribution 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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