A Barren, Perilous Mountain Restores and Pays Back the Community

It was early on Wednesday morning. Katimar, 50, who has lived at Humbo’s Mountain Foot since birth, guided me to the Humbo Mountain Afforestation Project, the first of its kind on the African continent, to get United Nations-administered carbon credits as of 2012. As I approached the forest, I noticed a great, majestic, towering, deep, dark, dense forest with brown, green, and yellow tree leaves swaying back and forth in the wind, creating a lovely scene.

We took a trek into the forest to learn more about the restoration of the vegetation. The rising indigenous trees, the rustle of leaves beneath, the cracking of limbs, birds tweeting, foxes barking, monkeys conversing, and nature's busy noises created wonderful harmony for our ears. The chilly air created by the movement of the trees cools one’s body, giving the sense that one is in Genesis. What a fantastic experience to see the healing of trees and the sounds many wildlife species make as they coo, screech, and chatter.

Katimar patted my back, sensing my delight and wonder. You know what? Showing a sense of bitterness, he says, "From the mid-1980s to 2006, this mountain was completely barren due to uncontrolled logging for firewood, charcoal, and furniture." It has turned into a depleted wasteland, causing severe flooding, erosion, hot weather, irregular rainfall, and drought."

Given what I witnessed on the ground, I couldn't believe Katimar's logical premises, but he was correct. The flooding from the barren mountain often eroded the topsoil, reducing productivity and damaging homes and properties. Katimar was a victim of this catastrophe. "The flood from the mountain used to wash away all of the crops, turning the farmland into gullies and stones, and destroying my properties, including our homes. My farm's yield decreased from two tonnes per hectare to one, putting my family at risk of food insecurity," he sadly recalls.

The flooding caused some members of the village to rely on relief food each year, while others were forced to travel to cities in search of work to support their families. “The decline in the fertility of the farmland left some people to evacuate their residence area and others to rely on frequent relief assistance,” Katimar painfully recalls.

In a bid to alleviate poverty while addressing climate change through improved natural resource management, World Vision, in collaboration with the community and the Ethiopian government, implemented a farmer-managed natural regeneration project in 2006. It organised the community into seven village-level cooperatives, shared a plot of land among the cooperatives included in the project, and provided training for them on forest management. It enclosed the barren mountain to allow the shrubs to regenerate, raised indigenous biodiverse seedlings, planted the seedlings in the open patch of land, monitored the plant growth, and cared for the forestry growth as per the forest management practices and principles.

Today, the 2,783 hectares of barren mountains have been restored to their natural glory and are home to biodiversity and wild species. The regeneration of the Humbo forest has reinstated the fertility of the farmland. The agricultural productivity downstream of Humbo has increased as a result of the increased water retention and moisture reserves available after forest restoration.

Katimar explains, “My land's productivity has increased by twofold as a result of the plentiful moisture reserves. We produce two times each year using moisture. I used to cultivate primarily grain crops, but thanks to World Vision, I now grow vegetables and fruits that increase our revenues and food alternatives. I also raise seedlings of various types and sell them. Now, we can put adequate food on the table.”

The Humbo reforestation project not only restores biodiversity and improves livelihood but has also become Africa’s great pride in earning United Nations-administered carbon credits. The project is expected to absorb over 880,000 metric tonnes of CO2 over 30 years, and the community is paid for protecting the forest. 

The funds secured from the sale of carbon are reinvested in productive, community-driven activities to address key community challenges such as mill flour installation, road maintenance, and school renovation, as well as paying for micro-businesses such as beekeeping and livestock husbandry, among other things.

Asane Ajebo is one of the community members who has benefited from the installed grain mill service. “I travelled for hours to get mill services. I sometimes faced flooding or heavy rain on the way. I occasionally spent the night out there, waiting for my turn. Now, through carbon sale income, a flour mill service is installed within walking distance. I am extremely pleased to have it nearby,” Asane explains gladly.

The full-scale regeneration of the forest has offered numerous benefits to the community. Adila Agebo is 50 years old and has 12 children. He owned a little farm and could not feed their families all year. He received beehives from cooperatives on low-interest loans and began keeping bees. He now maintains 10 beehives and collects approximately 250 kilogrammes of honey a year. "I was also worried about covering my children's school expenditures. I had to work tirelessly to meet their basic requirements, which was difficult most of the time. However, the cash I get from the beekeeping business now covers all of my family's educational expenses. It also enhances my family life and alleviates my concerns about food security during the bad season."

The community also uses the trimmed branches of trees as fuel. The forest also contains several herbal medicines for personal use and sale. Improved land management has stimulated grass growth, resulting in cattle fodder that can be cut and sold for additional cash. "The Humbo Forest Project is my family's source of income. I go twice a week to cut grass and sell it. This income is everything to me. "It is bread, fuel, school fees, and other necessities for my family," the 35-year-old Asnakech proudly explains.

The community is also provided with loans in kind and cash at low interest rates to help them engage in income-generating activities. Aklilu Goa, 35, had no ploughing oxen and had to hoe cereal fields himself. His income was so low that he couldn't feed his family for six months. His cooperative loaned him an ox to fatten. After a series of fattening operations, he purchased a milk cow and a calf with the remaining profits. The cow gave birth, and the calf is now old enough to farm. He says, "I now own two ploughing oxen and a milk cow." My kids can drink milk and I can feed them adequate food.

World Vision is implementing multiple reforestation projects across the country. Despite continued efforts, much more work is needed to address Ethiopia's myriad environmental issues. The organisation is always willing to work with a donating organisation to do more to reduce the impact of climate change in other parts of the country.

By Aklilu Kassaye, Field Communication Manager, World Vision Ethiopia