Land Reforestation Ignites Hope and Prosperity in a Community
Damota Mountain stood stark and bare, its summit stripped of its forest, revealing a rugged landscape of stones and sand. The once vibrant ecosystem had given way to a desolate expanse, where harsh elements prevailed. The Kokate villagers, who had made their homes at the mountain's base, faced relentless hardships. Each rainy season brought with it a torrent of destruction; boulders and debris cascaded down the slopes, shattering homes and filling farmers' yards with rubble. The fertile fields, once abundant with crops, lay devastated under the weight of stone and sand.
Betalo is a 40-year-old farmer residing in the small village of Kokate Village. He is a devoted husband and a loving father of four vibrant children. He embodies the spirit of resilience and hard work. He shares the challenges his community faced before the restoration of Mount Damota: “This mountain caused significant damage to us. During the rainy season, floods from the mountain erode our farmland, taking away the fertile soil and depositing stones that render it unproductive. As a result, many community members have been forced to migrate to nearby cities and other areas in search of better living conditions. Our farmland's productivity has steadily declined.”
As the mountain's bareness intensified, the springs and rivers that once sustained the land began to dry up, leaving both people and animals in desperate need of water. "Water became scarce," he reflects. "We had to travel long distances to fetch it, often taking hours to return home. This not only impacted our washing practices but also took a toll on our overall health."
"Back when I was a grade 11 student, the severe degradation of our land drastically reduced my parents' farm production, leaving us unable to cover my school expenses," Betalo recalls with a heavy heart. "As a result, I had to drop out of school and take on a job as a child, tending to cattle and producing charcoal to support my family."
Wild animals, driven by hunger, began to prey on domestic livestock as their natural habitats became increasingly barren. This fear discouraged the community from breeding sheep and cattle, resulting in a dramatic decline in domestic animal populations. Compounding the problem, all but one small water source in the area dried up, leaving the community with inadequate access to water. Diseases such as waterborne illnesses proliferated, further straining the community's resilience.
In response to these challenges, World Vision initiated a Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) project on Damota Mountain. This initiative focused on raising awareness about land restoration and its potential benefits for improving livelihoods. “Initially, the concept of land restoration seemed more like a dream than a reality. The organisation made significant efforts to educate us and changed our attitudes. The organisation also facilitated experience-sharing sessions with communities that practiced FMNR and provided us with various training opportunities,” he recalls.
The initiative not only prioritized mountain reforestation but also offered a comprehensive support package to help households reliant on these mountains for their livelihoods. This included opportunities for income-generating activities such as raising improved calves and heifers, enhancing poultry production, cultivating vegetables, and growing agroforestry seeds and seedlings, including apples and false bananas (that looks like a banana with uncanny resemblance and is a staple food for some people in Ethiopia).
After two decades, the once barren mountain has been restored, transforming a desolate area into lush, green fields that support both human life and diverse ecosystems. “After the land restoration, my family's farmland became more productive, allowing me to settle down and improve our livelihood. I was able to continue my education and earn a diploma.”- Betalo recalls.
After earning his diploma, he returned to Kokate Village to practice farming, and the landscape's restoration has transformed his life. The rejuvenated forest at the mountain's base keeps the farmland consistently moist, enabling farmers to cultivate three times a year, restored once dried springs, to be used as a source of water for irrigation. “Before the restoration, we could only produce once a year, often facing crop failures due to unpredictable rainfall. Now, we harvest twice during the dry season and once in the rainy season, tripling our income,” he gladly explains.
Betalo and his family, including his wife and four children, now enjoy a better quality of life. "I have enough food for my family and can send all my children to school," he shares. The increased fodder availability has also allowed him to start dairy farming, and he now owns five milk cows, generating significant income from milk sales. “Dairy farming has not only boosted my income but also created job opportunities for others,” he adds.
Lidiya, a bright 13-year-old in the sixth grade and the eldest daughter of Betalo, proudly shares how her family's life has improved. "The return of the lost forest has enabled my father to cultivate a variety of crops on our land. Thanks to this, he can provide us with all the necessary school supplies, allowing us to focus on our studies. We enjoy fresh milk and have plenty to eat.
Access to clean water has dramatically improved in the community thanks to the restoration of over 32 springs, eliminating waterborne diseases. The community has earned almost US$400,000 over eight years through carbon credit sales. This revenue has been strategically invested in essential infrastructure, including schools and roads, as well as improved water access. These funds have also enabled access to credit, electrification projects, and in-kind support, such as solar lanterns for households.
Betalo is one of the most enthusiastic residents of his village, celebrating the restoration of the forest and World Vision's significant contribution to this positive change."If World Vision hadn't intervened, I would have never imagined our village could transform like this. Initially, their information felt unreal, but I’ve witnessed the change firsthand. I'm truly grateful for their dedication to helping us adopt FMNR practices,” happily explain Betalo.
Lidiya is full of hope and determination. "I aspire to become a medical doctor," Lidiya says, her words echoing with hope. "The lush forest has returned, and with it, a better life for my family. Now, my father can support our education, and my dreams feel within reach."
By Hilina Hailu, Communications Coordinator, World Vision Ethiopia