The local people depend on the frtile soils ans abundant harvests of the Lake Tana region - Photo: Bruno D'Amicis
The people of Lake Tana
Interdependence of culture, nature and people's livelihoods
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Religion plays an important part in the life of the people around Lake Tana – some churches date back to the 14th century (Bruno D’Amicis)
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Ethiopian families are large – the average family has 4 or more children (Bruno D’Amicis)
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The majority of people in the region are farmers. The local cereal ‘teff’ is the main staple - Photo: Bruno D’Amicis
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Teff is used to prepare Injera – a very typical Ethiopian flatbread - Photo: Bruno D’Amicis
The Lake Tana region is highly productive due to its rich soil and has been cultivated and fished for thousands of years. Agriculture is the main source of income for 80% of the population, mostly subsistence smallholder farming with crops and livestock. A wide variety of crops are cultivated including sorghum, millet, rice and maize. Coffee is also an important source of income for the local population. Other sectors include tourism, fishing, livestock breeding and small businesses for manufacturing and marketing of products.
The area plays an important role in their local communities' culture and religion. The lake and its islands are home to Ethiopian Orthodox churches and monasteries dating back to the 13th century. These monasteries have a unique architectural style and have guarded their magnificent cultural treasures, art and paintings over many centuries. These churches and monasteries are surrounded by patches of natural forest that play a major role in religious practices and are holy places important for spirituality as well as providing a sanctuary for many rare and endemic plant species.
| Population facts on the communities living in the future biosphere reserve | |
|---|---|
| Number of inhabitants | 2-3 million |
| Ethnic groups | There are many ethnic groups found in the future biosphere reserve including the Amhara, Tigrayan, Oromo, Agew, Weyto and Qemant |
| Religions | The majority of the inhabitants practice Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. There are also Muslims and Protestants in the area. |
project overview
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 →
related topics
Regional Development
NABU promotes sustainable regional development worldwide. Our international projects always include income-generating activities, which comprehensively address all three dimensions of sustainability - balancing economy, ecology and social equality. more →
Civil Society
Conservation needs lobbying. That's why at NABU we also take initiative to foster civil society and strengthen NGOs. We are part of a global alliance of conservation organisations. We collaborate closely alongside partners such as BirdLife International. more →
Protected Areas
NABU supports the creation, establishment and effective management of protected areas as part of our international activities. A special emphasis lies on UNESCO biosphere reserves, however, not exclusively. more →
Biodiversity
Ecosystem functioning needs to be seen as a global task. Therefore, NABU is active in 36 biodiversity hotspots and beyond. As part of the BirdLife network, bird conservation has a long tradition for us. Its efforts contribute to biodiversity as a whole. more →
Cooperations
We aim to shape production sustainably and environmentally-friendly while encouraging companies towards corporate responsibility. NABU is advising entrepreneurs how to improve production, processing and sales for no-harming practices and low carbon footprint. more →