Ethiopia Implementing Sustainable Land Use Project To Rehabilitate Degraded Lands  

Addis Ababa November 19/2024 (ENA) Sustainable and Integrated land use project is under implementation to scale up sustainable land use practices and rehabilitate degraded lands in Ethiopia. 

The project, which is being implemented under the coordination of the Ministry of Planning and Development, is titled the "Food Systems, Rehabilitation and Sustainable Land Management Project." 

Program Coordinator at the Ministry, Mulugeta Worku, told ENA that the main goal of the project is to scale up sustainable land use practices and rehabilitate degraded land. 

The project, with a budget of 20.8 million USD, has been active since last year, he said.

The initiative focuses on establishing systems that ensure land is used responsibly to prevent degradation. 

It targets various regions across the country, particularly areas known for their wild coffee production, such as Oromia, Southern Ethiopia, South-Western Ethiopia, and Sidama regions.

To date, efforts have been made in areas like Bale and, Kefa and Yayu areas to support forest coffee cultivation while preserving its natural flavors. 

He also said that stumping  of old coffee trees has also been carried out to increase productivity as part the project. 

Over the next six years, the project aims to rehabilitate 60,000 hectares of degraded land in collaboration with local administrations. 

It is also expected to benefit 440,000 smallholder farmers and create employment opportunities for youth through nature-based conservation and restoration activities.

Overall, the project seeks to establish sustainable and integrated land use practices, rehabilitate land damaged by human activity and natural causes, and reduce the impact of climate change on local ecosystems and agricultural productivity.