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The specialist international beekeeping organisation
We've been planting tree seedlings this week, in a part of the Ethiopian highlands that has suffered from a reduced forest cover from 40% down to just 1%. The drastic reduction has caused big problems for local people, with erosion of the soil and the crucial freshwaters of the lake spoiled by a build up of silt.
We are replacing forest cover, re-wilding an area of degraded hillside and restoring an abundance and diversity of natural vegetation. As the area becomes re-wilded a wealth of natural resources will return. Some of these resources take time to recover, but honey bees will re-populate the area quickly, enabling local people to keep bees, an income generating activity that is fully compatible with wise use of biodiversity.
For the most part, we are relying on natural regeneration rather than planting trees, as naturally-regenerating trees are more resilient to occasional browsing by livestock. In places where forests have been cleared completely, and where there is no remnant seedbank, seedlings from trees native to the area are being planted.
55,000 new trees are being planted, transported using mule and cart over the off-road area. The work is being coordinated by Tilahun Gebey, Director Bees for Development Ethiopia, who will also be providing training for several landless people in the area.
This project is made possible with kind funding by Rowse.
If you'd like to donate to support our work, please do so here.
Posted: 11th July 2019
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