Munisa Usman and Tahir Malim Saliya, in Dello Mena, Ethiopia, make a living by cultivating coffee on the edges of the rainforest in the Bale Mountains, in Ethiopia. The exclusive Arabica coffee from Ethiopia is threatened by deforestation. A hundred years ago, one-third of Ethiopia was covered by forest. Now most of the forest is gone. In 2013, only 15 percent remained. This poses a threat to both wildlife and plants that grow in the Ethiopian forests. Arabica beans grow in the shade under trees in the forest. And the shade plays an important role. Without shade, it gets too hot for the coffee plants.
Good news!
In the past ten years, many efforts have contributed to bringing new hope for Ethiopia's precious rainforest. Through a large effort, supported by, among others, Norway, Ethiopians have planted millions of trees, and the forest cover is increasing. The goal is for the forest to cover 30% of Ethiopia again by 2030.
Did you know that:
- Ethiopia is Africa's largest coffee producer. 4 million small farmers grow coffee beans. Half is for the national market, while half is exported. Coffee is Ethiopia's largest export commodity.
- Ethiopia aims to plant forests to cover as much of the country as it did a hundred years ago. This means they must plant forests on 170,000 km². Eventually, the forest in Ethiopia will cover over 340,000 km² - an area almost the size of Germany.
- Poverty is the main reason the forest is being cut down. Small farmers clear forests to cultivate the land and provide food for their families. Trees are also cut down to be used as firewood for cooking. At the same time, cattle and other grazing animals roam freely and eat the small plants, preventing the forest from regrowing.
- Norway has collaborated with Ethiopia on forest conservation and restoration for more than ten years, and Ethiopia is now well on its way to reaching the goal of 30% forest cover in the country.