Reforestation of Korata Kebele, Ethiopia
This project seeks to rehabituate the Korata Kebele forest and create a sustainable heritage for future generations.
Areas of Korata Kebele south of Gondar in Ethiopia have been extensively deforested over the last 20 years as a result of unsustainable clear cutting to supply local markets with charcoal. The biodiversity of the region has also suffered due to habitat loss. Moreover the soil has been depleted and is prone to desertification without a forest of trees to stabilize the watershed.
This project will fund the replanting 40 hectares with6,500 trees of 11 varieties: Juniperus procera, Fortunella spp. (kumquat), Ficus abutilifolia, Schrebera alata (, Moringa Stenopetala, (cabbage tree), Olea europaea ssp africana (African olive), Afrocarpus falcatus, Cordia africana, Mangifera indica (mango), Persea americana (avocado), and Citrus aurantium (orange).
Many of these species are endemic to Ethiopia and those introduced species provide the local community with resources to either consume or sell on the open market.
To protect the region from further deforestation 10 forestry keepers will be hired for a period of 2-years to protect the remaining forest and seedlings as they take hold. A further 300 temporary workers will be employed to rehabituate the land and plant the 6,500 seedlings. The introduction of non-native species is specifically to offer the local community cash crops from the re-seeded forest and thereby pass custodianship back to the community as the forest keepers are phased out within 2-years.
The Korata Kebele community would like to sincerely thank any contributors in advance for any assistance pledged to re-empower the local community to manage their resources. All contributors will be welcome to visit the site and/or ask for regular updates, please send an email to Mr. Abebaw Atinkut: [email redacted]
