Community-based approachIt all starts with consultations with the local community about the need for the restoration work. “When we first learned about the restoration project after organizing into an association, we had a mix of hope and doubt,” recalls Gutema Mieso, chairman of Fike Lelisa youth association. Through extensive terracing and protecting the fertile soil from water erosion, the land gradually began to regenerate with grass. After five years, Abijata-Shalla National Park has seen significant improvements, with increased forest cover, reduced soil erosion and improved water levels in Lake Abijata. He says the restoration program has also created new livelihoods for community members directly involved in the restoration.

Source: Ethiopian News December 22, 2025 13:07 UTC