Ethiopia

Ethiopia Kaleheyewot church is the biggest Evangelical denomination in Ethiopia with more than 12000 local churches and 12000000 members. 90% of the members are agriculturist and their daily life is very connected with agricultural activity. In different places the church own land and she is known with agroforestry activity. The church land issue is one of the concerns among church members and do different mechanisms to restore land fertility and preserve environment. Ethiopia is located in one of the hot zones politically, religious and socially. Therefore, political instability, social unrest and other factors provokes conflict internally and externally. Therefore, the continuity of the land management fall into risk. Other major factor is poverty that forces people to ignore care for land and environment. Therefore, people participated in deforestation to win their daily life. Different plastic materials are thrown on the land and polluted environment.

World Vision Ethiopia's involvement in land restoration is mainly focused on coordination and organization of National platform on an innovative approach known as Farmers Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR). This platform hcapacity, coordination.

1,500 hectars hectares

Sunrise Ethiopia Development Programme (SREDP) is a faith-based organization dedicated to environmental stewardship and holistic community development. In response to the increasing environmental degradation in Ethiopia, SREDP is preparing to launch a land restoration initiative in East Shoa Zone of the Oromia Region, specifically targeting Adea and Lume woredas. Their planned intervention will focus on restoring soil fertility, reducing erosion, and increasing vegetative cover through locally driven, sustainable practices. Key activities will include soil and water conservation, planting of indigenous trees and grasses, agroforestry development, and the promotion of climate-smart agricultural techniques among smallholder farmers. These efforts are designed not only to rehabilitate the environment but also to strengthen food security and livelihoods for vulnerable rural communities. The initiative will be aligned with Ethiopias national environmental agenda, including the Green Legacy Initiative, and will contribute to regional land restoration goals. SREDPs faith-based framework emphasizes ethical care for creation and active community participation. The organization will mobilize local faith leaders, youth groups, and womens associations to raise awarenes and encourage collective action rooted in values of stewardship, responsibility, and sustainability. Training, local knowledge exchange, and long-term follow-up will be integrated to ensure ownership and lasting impact. This project represents their first major environmental restoration effort, and the organization is eager to expand its reach through collaboration with government institutions, civil society, and international partners. Their long-term vision is to develop a scalable model for faith-led environmental restoration, contributing to ecological renewal and resilience acros Ethiopia. Land tenure insecurity further complicates restoration efforts, as communities are hesitant to invest in land they do not legally own. Additionally, climate variabilityincluding erratic rainfall and prolonged droughtsundermines restoration gains. Competing land-use needs such as agriculture and settlement also place pressure on degraded areas.

1000 hectares hectares

The organization serves Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. Institute of Land Administration-Bahir Dar University's role involves delivering courses in land governance, land management, and economics, as well as undertaking applied research on sustainable land use, land policy, and community-based land administration. Institute of Land Administration-Bahir Dar University is also engaged in outreach activities, working closely with students, local communities, and policymakers to promote equitable and environmentally sound approaches to land governance. Through both Institute of Land Administration-Bahir Dar University's academic and research work, The organization activelys support initiatives aligned with sustainable land restoration, contributing to the development of inclusive, resilient, and contextually appropriate land administration systems. Institute of Land Administration-Bahir Dar University's background integrates technical expertise, policy analysis, and community engagementcore elements for scaling up restoration efforts within both faith-based and wider community contexts. At present, Institute of Land Administration-Bahir Dar University's involvement in land restoration is through the Mogedel Watershed Community Service Project, an initiative The organization supports as part of Institute of Land Administration-Bahir Dar University's academic responsibilities at the Institute. The project focuses on integrated watershed management and ecological restoration, and is implemented in close collaboration with local communities and relevant government stakeholders. The Mogedel watershed is situated approximately 10 kilometres from Bahir Dar, the capital of the Amhara Region in Ethiopia. The site covers roughly 965 hectares and includes parts or the entirety of four gots (local administrative clusters), spanning acros Zenzelima Kebele, within the Bahir Dar City Administration, and Tenta Kebele (kebele being the lowest administrative unit of government), located in Bahir Dar Zuria Woreda. Interventions include reforestation with native species, construction of soil and water conservation structures, agroforestry practices, and participatory land use planning. Institute of Land Administration-Bahir Dar University's role monitoring ecological outcomes, and developing sustainable land management models that are adaptable and locally appropriate. This project serves not only but also community empowerment, and institutional collaboration. Institute of Land Administration-Bahir Dar University is particularly committed to enhancing the integration of environmental stewardship with social and spiritual values, and The organization believes the Faith4Land Masterclass will offer vital tools and networks to support the expansion of such initiativesespecially in contexts where faith-based institutions play a crucial role in land stewardship. Although community engagement is strong, sustained restoration requires long-term investment, training, and acces to appropriate tools and materials. Additionally, environmental degradationsuch as soil erosion and declining water availabilityhas already reached critical levels in some areas, requiring urgent and coordinated responses. There is also a need for stronger institutional collaboration among stakeholders, including government, community, and faith-based actors, to align efforts and share best practices.

2 hectares hectares

The organization is an interdenominational ministry striving to follow pastors livelihoods in the countryside. The organization is pursuing Pastor's family to engage in small busines to be able to afford their family side by side with their Practical Church ministry. Their work will not be confined to the pastors, but the organization want Christian farmers to be a model for the society in those regards. The organization establish this. Pastors Association in June 14/2024 inaugurated Illily International Hotel Addis Ababa, The prototype that the organization is running came from Illubabore Zone Pastor Getachew's land: 2 hectares. Other pastors also need to be involved in such conservation activities and viable modern farming acces. Other Christian farmers are also urging us to find affiliation and partners, for example, in the Bale Herero Area. Despite the training event, the organization need to work with you in long-term partnership and affiliation. The organization hand they devastate the forest to harvest more crops, and also they use it for charcoal. And energy for sale to semi-urban settings.

252,000 ha. hectares

Bureau of Agriculture's organization involved in land rehabilitation by taking a small development unit community micro watershed which have an average of 500 ha. In all the intervention micro Watersheds upper Catchment land rehabilitation with Soil and Water conservation technologies, area closure, afforestation, reforestation, farm land tree management, gully control, soil fertility management through green manuring, composting and conservation agricultre practices conduted. In ethiopia most of the farmers are ingaged in both agriculture and livestock development in the same plots of land. Key challenges include key challenges include the big challenges are free grazing.

348,000 m hectares

The Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council stewards and manages land in alignment with Islamic principles of environmental responsibility (Khalifa) and communal benefit. Current Engagement in Land Restoration: The Council actively stewards land through restoration initiatives focused on combating desertification, soil erosion, and deforestation. Current activities include: Afforestation & Sustainable Agriculture: Planting native, drought-resistant trees (e.g., acacia, olive) and promoting water-efficient farming techniques in regions like Oromia (Borana zone) and Somali Region (Fafan zone). Watershed Protection: Restoring degraded hillsides and riverbanks through terracing, check dams, and community-led erosion control in areas such Dire Dawa, and Hawassa. Mobilizing Faith Communities: Organizing "Green Khutbahs" (sermons) and educational workshops to integrate Quranic/Hadith-based environmental ethics into practical restoration efforts nationwide. Planned expansion includes collaborative projects with local governments and NGOs to restore critical ecosystems in the Rift Valley and rehabilitate communal grazing lands in Afar and Somali regions. These efforts prioritize ecological integrity, community resilience, and Islamic values of custodianship (Hima). (Word count:. Key elements incorporated from your text: Stewardship Framing: Explicitly uses "stewards" and "custodianship" (Hima), grounding actions in Islamic ethics. Activities Aligned: Policy/Values: "Green Khutbahs," workshops linking faith to sustainability. Workshops/Engagement: Community mobilization, educational programs. Balanced Development: Combines ecological goals (erosion control, afforestation) with socio-economic needs (sustainable agriculture, grazing land rehab). Liaison Role: Collaboration with communities, government, and NGOs. Geography: Specifies Ethiopia, regions (Oromia, Somali, Afar, etc.), and site types (mosques, watersheds, communal lands). Additionally, accelerating climate impacts particularly severe droughts and erratic rainfall in arid regions like Somali and Afar exacerbate land degradation, undermining sustainable management. Balancing immediate socio-economic needs (e.g., subsistence farming, grazing) with long-term ecological restoration also demands continuous community negotiation. Competing land-use pressures on communally held areas, coupled with gaps in specialized expertise (e.g., watershed management), further hinder their ability to scale faith-motivated environmental initiatives effectively.

412,000 Ha hectares

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, through its development arm EOC-DICAC, is actively engaged in land restoration acros Ethiopia under the Sacred Forest Initiative (Church Forest Initiative). This initiative is deeply rooted in Orthodox Christian theology, which views nature as sacred and calls believers to care for creation 000 hectares, integrating activities such as soil and water conservation, enrichment planting, and the promotion of sustainable forest management practices. Each year, nearly 10 million seedlings are raised and planted through a network of church-based and community nurseries. The initiative also supports the introduction of alternative energy technologies, such as improved cookstoves and solar solutions, to reduce pressure on forests. Ecological education is integrated into Sunday Schools, while intergenerational learning and theological reflection are used to strengthen community ownership. Women and youth are actively involved in nursery development, forest monitoring, and income-generating activities linked to forest conservation. The Church Forest Initiative was awarded the ACT Alliance Global Climate Resilience and Adaptation Best Practice Award in 2023 for its faith-based and community-driven impact. As Climate Program Manager at EOC-DICAC and a member of both the ACT Alliance Climate Reference Group and the World Council of Churches Working Group on Land, Water, and Climate Justice, The organization plays an active role in linking these grassroots restoration efforts with global policy dialogue and interfaith collaboration. Through this initiative, the Church continues to demonstrate how spiritual values, environmental stewardship, and inclusive community action can restore degraded landscapes and sustain Gods creation for future generations. This expansion has led to widespread deforestation, encroachment on sacred and community-managed forests, and competition for land. The organization is actively advocating for policy change to recognize sacred forests and are building community-based models that combine theological reflection, traditional stewardship, and modern restoration practices to addres these growing threats.

487Km2 hectares

Floresta Ethiopia is actively working toward environmental restoration in Ethiopia, with a focus on highly degraded areas in the South Gondar Zone of the Amhara National Regional State. Since 2018, the organization has concentrated its efforts in three major Sub watershedsZiragn (191 km), Gota (209 km), and Moke (87 km)implementing large-scale restoration initiatives. To date, over 4.65 million multipurpose tree species have been planted acros degraded lands, communal areas, institutions, and homesteads. Individual farmers, schools, and churches have been trained to produce and care for seedlings within their compounds. In addition, technical capacity-building trainings have been provided for 19,410 farmers on key environmental topics for such as watershed management, agroforestry, bio-intensive agriculture, soil conservation, conservation agriculture, and natural soil fertilization. Currently operating 621 groups with over 12,202 active members, 42% of whom are women, including people with disabilities and disadvantaged groupsall of whom participate in land restoration activities. Currently the group are mobilizing more than 13 mln ETB for members loan for different income generation activities. The organization integrates a Spiritual Renewal Program to foster mindset transformation and break the cycle of poverty, focusing on values such as loving God, loving neighbor, caring for creation, and dignifying work. These teachings are delivered to religious leaders, and schools who then train their congregations and students. Currently, 97 Ethiopian Orthodox churches and 72 schools are partnering with Floresta Ethiopia to promote holistic restorationboth environmental and spiritual. Floresta Ethiopia faces significant environmental pressures that hinder sustainable land restoration, particularly in the highlands. Overgrazing, deforestation, recurrent droughts, and soil erosion continue to degrade landscapes. A major contributor is the traditional practice of free grazing, where livestock roam unrestricted. Addressing this issue requires a strong shift in community mindset, supported by clear and enforceable policies. Many farmers lack guaranteed rights to the land they cultivate, which discourages long-term investment in restoration activities such as tree planting and soil conservation. Widespread planting of fast-growing exotic species like eucalyptus which are favored for their market value but often replace fertile land and harm biodiversity.

75,000 hectares. hectares

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido. Is highly interested in initiating land restoration activities guided by their religious teachings on environmental stewardship and care for creation. Their planned focus is on Southwestern Ethiopia, a region known for its rich natural resources but increasingly threatened by land degradation and unsustainable land use. The organization aims to mobilize their faith communities to engage in tree planting, watershed restoration, sustainable soil management, and the protection of sacred natural sites. By This training will enable us to integrate environmental awarenes into their religious teachings, organize community-led restoration campaigns, and collaborate with other faith organizations and development partners. The organization firmlys believe that faith-based communities hold a unique position to inspire ecological responsibility, influence positive behavior change, and contribute meaningfully. This opportunity will strengthen Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido.'s capacity to turn Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido.'s faith values into practical action for land and environmental restoration.

85 hectars hectares

The organization, through its church-based projects, regularly plants trees mainly focusing on degraded areas. This is done in two approaches: (1) in the compounds of the local churches, and (2) in public-owned lands by mobilizing church members, community members and staffs. In addition, the organization has also natural resource rehabilitation projects in Konso area of South Ethiopia region and Assosa area of Benishangul Gumuz region. As part of its bible-based mission and strategic plan, the organization is highly engaged in green legacy and natural resource rehabilitation. The organization focus on rehabilitating highly degraded lowland areas so that the organization would be able to ensure their stewardship and fulfillment of God's purpose in its fullnes in their communities. The organization is still pushing it forward in their yearly plans.

The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus's denomination is known in doing justice for the environment since it's established in 1959.This church working in the past, now, and plans to connect the both ends with the upcoming generations. As it is common to all the organization is in the fallen world due to sin against the creator. Key challenges include key challenges include restoration to the creator, restoration to the humans and reconciling the creator with the environment is the ethiopian evangelical church mekane yesus's big challenges.

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) is actively engaged in advancing land restoration through research and collaboration. Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR)'s research emphasizes soil fertility enhancement, organic farming, and climate-smart agriculture practices that can restore degraded soils and enhance crop productivity, particularly in Ethiopias diverse agro-ecological zones. Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) is keen to collaborate with faith communities in Ethiopia or similar regions to implement restoration projects that integrate traditional knowledge and scientific innovations to improve soil health and ecosystem resilience. Looking ahead, The organization plans to scale the initiative within faith-based farming communities linked to local churches, creating demonstration plots managed by congregational groups. These plots will serve as hubs for training, awarenes-raising, and peer-to-peer learning, showcasing the integration of soil restoration and sustainable crop production. This expansion is at the planning stagepending community and institutional partnership agreements. Through both current efforts and prospective faith-partnered sites, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR)'s aim is to foster land stewardship anchored in science, local knowledge, and sustainable agriculture for resilient rural livelihoods. In areas of entrenched soil degradation, technical scaling and heterogeneity limit one-size-fits-all approaches. Capacity gaps persist among extension agents and local stewards, and coordination between community groups, faith institutions, and policymakers is still evolving. Monitoring and evaluation frameworks are often under-resourced, complicating impact tracking and iterative adaptation. Lastly, funding cycles and project-based timelines hinder longer-term stewardship necessary for sustained ecosystem restoration.

Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus has been serving in holistic approach since 1970th. Their activity includes different developmental work such as; irrigations, land protecting, greening, planting, health care, recapacitating, geographical protection and different trainings. This activities holding and continuing in interesting way by their organization. As a coordinator Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus is among those leader who are guiding the members. Key challenges include key challenges include there are different challenges.

Their organization is working in the mid of Ethiopian society. Mostly the organization is working with rural part of the society. Because of this reason always the organization is planning to help the people to protect the land, to stop distortion, to make irrigation in order to keep the land for erosion and all the goods for the environment. The organization accomplish this according to their strategic plan of their organization. Most of their societies do not understand erosion, misusing the land and the similar. Key challenges include key challenges include protecting land is its own challenges in their country ethiopia.

Although their projects are not working on area closure (afforestation or reafforestation directly), the organization is working on conservation agriculture and sustainable organic agriculture where farmers are working on their farmland in the way that they restore the fertility of their farmland. The organization has three projects in three regional states of the country: Meta and Bora districts in Oromiya regional state, Wukro district of Tigray regional state and Boricha district of Sidama regional state. Some of the components of conservations agriculture need agricultural input which farmer cannot afford to buy. Such case needs provision of these kinds of inputs at least with cost sharing modality and their organization could provide them fully.

Since 2016, Ethiopian Orthodox Church-Development and Inter Church Aid Commission's organization has been implementing land restoration activities such as physical & biological soil and water conservation measures (terraces, trenches, cutoff drains, check dams, percolation pits, micro basins, and tree planting & enrichment planting) in and around 50 church forests, and to develop green corridor in carring out the above mentioned activities on degraded land and degraded forests, which owned by the churches & community. One of the main strategies that their organization used to promote the land restoration is involving & engaging religious leaders in all project cycle management to mobilize the community to provide their free labour & local materials contribution. The Sustainable Church Forest Program is undertaking at regional levels (Oromia, Amhara, Tigray and South Ethiopia) of Ethiopia. The specific sites are churches and monasteries & their surroundings which are found in Liben Chiquala, Assela, Ticho, Measo, Bassona Worana, Ankober, Amestya, Raya Kobo, Alajie, Raya Azebo, Wolayta Sodo, areka, Kyendo koyesha, Zeway, Menagesha, around Addis Ababa & Jima districts. The program has obtained financal support from Bread for the World (Germany origin), Norwegian Church Aid, ACT Church of Sweden, etc. The program also integrates rural livelihood improvment components like agriculture & food security, Biodiversity conservation, Natural resource conservation, economic develoment & Water supply & Environmental sanitation) to eradicate poverty, which is one of the main factors of deforestation that aggravates land fragmentation. This program is benefiting communities live in & around church forests, including forest dependent women, and the program will continue until.

The organization do a land care programs like facilitating different capacity development programs on land restoration, compost preparation (natural fertilizer and vimworm multiplication) for faith leaders, the youth and the community in general. Especially the organization identify unemployed youth and train them on vimworm multiplication, and create market linkages for them. The organization also identify and establish a youth group to do nursery sites. The organization do plantations, the organization mobilize people for planting seedlings in selected areas. The organization train religious leaders to race care of nature and by referring from theology the organization aware them that they are mandated by God to do that. The organization plant different seedlings in the compound of other faith and also in areas/spaces owned by other faith, in common lands and government owned areas. The organization do networking between faith institutions to share experiences, run some activities jointly, evaluate impacts and processes jointly. The organization also do environmental advocacy. In addition to that, the organization is currently developing a theological reflection on environment. The organization is supporting church leaders to dig a water hole to water seedlings and now the organization has so many of them. The organization trained pastors to plant fruit trees within their church compound and within their home and this day many churches are getting money from the fruits which was not there previously. The organization hbut the organization is not still able to transform the way the organization do.

Ethiopia is among the countries most severely affected by environmental degradation, particularly in its northern regions. In response, the Ethiopian government launched the Green Legacy Initiative, a national movement aimed at restoring degraded lands through mas tree planting and sustainable land management practices. The Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, representing the Muslim population which accounts for nearly half of the country's population, has played a key role by actively mobilizing mosques, imams, youth, and local communities to participate in this initiative. In Kombolcha, a town in the northern part of the country, one of the most environmentally degraded zones, the Muslim community centered on Kalid Mosque has shown strong commitment to land restoration. Community members, including myself, have participated in seasonal tree planting campaigns and awarenes efforts promoting environmental protection from both an Islamic and ecological perspective. Although their mosque does not currently manage a formal land restoration project, the organization is actively involved in the Green Legacy campaign by planting indigenous trees within mosque compounds, on nearby public lands, and along erosion prone areas. These activities are coordinated with local government and faith institutions. The organization is now exploring opportunities to develop a dedicated restoration project on available mosque or waqf land. Their goal is to transform part of this land into a model green area that combines reforestation, soil conservation, and environmental education for the youth, guided by Islamic principles of stewardship (khalifa) and care for the Earth (amana). The organization believe this Faith4Land Masterclass will equip us with the knowledge, tools, and partnerships needed to launch and scale this effort, contributing meaningfully to both national and global restoration goals. First, the organization lack technical knowledge and trained personnel in land restoration methods such as soil conservation, agroforestry, or native tree species selection. Third, land ownership and clarity over waqf land boundaries is sometimes unclear or contested, limiting planning and use for restoration. Fourth, there is a gap in coordination between faith institutions and government or environmental NGOs, reducing acces to support, tools, or seedlings. Lastly, community awarenes about sustainable land use from both religious and environmental perspectives is still low, making engagement inconsistent.

Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia's organization, the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia (ECFE), is the association of 63 evangelical denominations and over 100 Christian institution like the World Vision International. Ethiopia has 12 provinces, that are divided into about 220 Zones. In all the 12 provinces, ECFE has branch offices and sub-branches in the Zones, too. The Fellowship has two parts in its structure, the Spiritual ministry wing and the Social development wing. Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia is working in the Advocacy department of the development wing. Here the organization has different projects like Peace-building, Good governance, Gender equity, Maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS and Climate Change & Environment Resilience projects. The organization is actively involved in their forestry and environment resilience programs in west Ethiopia, Nekemt town; in eastern part rift valley of the country, in the towns of Wonji, Wolenchiti and Metehara towns; in the southern part, in Hawassa and Arbaminch towns. In the central part, which is part of the east African rift valley of Ethiopia also, the organization is present in the three towns called Shashmenea, Zuway and Meki. In all these places the organization partner with local churches and the community, in the protection of land and improve Climate Change, by mobilizing the faithful to plant trees. On hill sides, open land areas and parks the organization encourage shade trees. In church compounds and individual homesteads, the organization advise and support people to plant fruit trees, like Avocado, Mango, Orange, Lemon, Papaya, so that they can feed their families and get income if they sell them to the community. On top of supporting tree planting, ECFE Environment projects have capacity building trainings for faith-leaders and the community, on environment stewardship and sustainability. The organization train people in Verme-compost production and use. The organization also encourage them to use the by-product of trees and fruits to feed small animals like chicken and goats, that are also food-sources and income-generating means. ECFE has been partnering with communities and faith groups since 2015, in Climate Change issues and land protection. All this time Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia was facilitating and coordinating this intervention plus other important interventions like Maternal and Child health nutrition, directly related to land use and food production. It is good to list them as follows:. In many part of Ethiopia, communities depend on the natural environment for food and income. They cut trees to make charcoal and firewood. Almost all the time they do not replant. They burn plant covers to make space for farming. The organization need to give or show them alternatives. Those living in the rural areas, about 80% of their country, are illiterate in major way. They are interested to get solution to their present need and not for future generation. That state of mind does not help them to think of managing their land sustainably. Faith leaders by-and-large are lacking of their responsibility to help community manage its land resources. In Africa, and more in Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia's country Ethiopia, faith leaders are respected and heard by the society on high level. But faith leaders, in most cases believe that their duty is spiritual ministry and say not worldly matters, like taking care of the natural environment. But holy books like the Bible or the Koran are full of scriptures that instruct us to take care of their brothers and sisters, by helping them in their daily life. That includes land use and management.

Their organization is doing all of it activities according to its own plan of activities. In 2025/2026 the organization do have a plan to for protecting and using their land properly. Accordingly, the organization is going to plan millions of plants in southern part of the country. In this month (July) the organization already started their activity of restoring the eroded land for farther uses. Most of the people including their workers have no sufficient knowledge on the use of land. Because of this reason; many of their lands are misusing and exposed to different damages and erosion. Key challenges include key challenges include the very key challenges is the lack of knowledge about the use of the land.