EthioTrees is restoring tropical ecosystems, discover our projects here
Rising groundwater for food production in May Genet
The landscape in the area of May Genet (Ethiopia) forms an integrated agricultural system. With the support of EthioTrees, the exclosure in the steep upslope parts of the catchment is under restoration. This will increase rainfall infiltration to the groundwater. A rising water table in the flat valley bottom provides clear opportunities for irrigation agriculture of vegetables and fruits. The community of May Genet already started to implement ‘conservation agriculture’ with zero-stubble-grazing in the intermediate parts of the catchment. This will boost food production and food security in the area.
Incense and oil from Adi Lehtsi
On a large limestone plateau in a dryland area between the rivers Geba and May Zegzeg (Ethiopia), EthioTrees is working with the community of Adi Lehtsi. The local association of landless farmers is active in the tapping and sorting of frankincense. Together with EthioTrees, the landless farmers are restoring a large bushland that covers nearly the entire slope towards Geba river. In this dry region with shallow soils, the frankincense tree or Boswellia papyrifera can be found. The frankincense resins from Adi Lehtsi form the basis of the aromatic oil that is produced in the distillation center established by EthioTrees in Dogua Tembien.
Bringing back olive trees in Gednet Gestet
Together with the community of Gednet Gestet (Ethiopia), EthioTrees is restoring the degraded grazing lands located between an upslope part of the village and a hamlet more downslope. This area has quite steep and rocky slopes, and the bushland vegetation is clearly degraded. Under a gradual increase in soil- and groundwater, we expect an increase of olive trees in this area. Olive is an indicator species of improved water availability. With percolation ponds near the top of the area, the restoration project will also benefit from increased water availability for the downslope population.
White honey in the Togoga exclosure
The water pump of the Togoga (Ethiopia) community is located on the slope just below the village, covered by the bushland of Mummad Ali. EthioTrees works in partnership with the community and the association that manages this exclosure. Soil and water conservation, including stone bunds, is the key to the successful restoration of this area, which is important for increased water availability throughout the year. Within this exclosure, EthioTrees is working with the association of landless farmers from Mummad Ali in a new honey production center with more than sixty bee hives to produce ‘white honey’ for the local market.
Searching for drinking water in May Huwo
In the district of Amanit, a small agricultural center is located in the May Huwo (Ethiopia) catchment. In the dry season, people have to fetch drinking water from the May Zegzeg river, which requires a walk of more than four hours. Ethiotrees aims to restore and reforest this limestone catchment, in order to rise the local groundwater table. This will strenghten the temporary spring in the May Huwo cave, delivering more drinking water to the village in the driest months and years. In 2017, the upper slopes of the catchment were also added to the project area.