Fighting for a sacred forest

Project aim: Protecting the Sheka forest and its biodiversity
Project type: The project currently supports 37 cooperatives, which provide sustainable new sources of income for local farmers through beekeeping or steer fattening to prevent the population from moving further into the Sheka forest for their livelihoods.
Project budget: 212,000 euros per year, supported by the International Climate Initiative
Biodiversity: The Sheka forest is rich in biodiversity and is full of unique flora and fauna, including ten bird and 55 plant species endemic to Ethiopia.

For the Shekacho peoples of Ethiopia, the forest is sacred. It is their life, soul and lungs, says Dakito Atestata, leader of the Shekacho clan. The Sheka forest of which Atestat speaks is located in south-west Ethiopia and is one of the last tracts of tropical forest in the country. Uniquely rich in biodiversity, leopards, lions, antelopes and 55 rare plant species share the space with a myriad of other flora and fauna.The song of countless birds - ten of which are endemic - is the soundtrack of the forest. Many of the trees are holy sites for the Shekacho. But ever-encroaching human settlements are threatening the forest's survival. Now the Ethiopian NGO Melca is providing the local population with alternative sustainable livelihood solutions.With funding from the International Climate Initiative (ICI), the NGO enables people to earn additional income through beekeeping or steer fattening to keep them from exploiting the unique ecosystem that is the Sheka forest.

A film by Wolf Gebhardt