Church Forests of Ethiopia

Saving the Forests of Ethiopia - One Church at a Time

TREE Foundation’s efforts to save the “church forests” of Ethiopia were highlighted in the above short film published by The New York Times as part of its award-winning Op-Docs (opinion documentary) series. The work of independent filmmaker Jeremy Seifert, the film was published on the Times’ website on Dec. 3, 2019. The film was narrated by Dr. Alemayehu Wassie Eshete of Ethiopia, an active board member of TREE Foundation.

TREE Foundation is a global force in the conservation of the last remaining forests of northern Ethiopia.

Because these church forests of Ethiopia house water supplies, biodiversity (including pollinators of local crops), conserve soil, store carbon, as well as the local churches which represent important spiritual centers, these forests are an important legacy to the health of the Ethiopian people.

TREE’s Ethiopia project represents a win/win/win in the world of conservation biology:

To help TREE Foundation’s efforts to save these critical church forests, consider supporting us with a contribution

Church Forests of Ethiopia

ForestYear EstablishedRemaining HectaresRemaining Woody SpeciesCattle TrailsCut TreesWall Completed (%)
Abegeldi173514.0194.1910%
Alember170214.5372.31410%
Amstya126022.8571.3530%
Ascha19401.6223.21280%
Asolit19847.7361.3140%
Debresena157011.5401.3119100%
Deder169014.4223.4880%
Dengolt130025.0503.3410%
Emashenkor16593.4280.013100%
Enshet Kuskuam14106.3261.2520%
Gedamselase101115.0992.4740%
Gibstawit16208.7522.31300%
Gunaguna12606.9341.11380%
Hiruy3604.0320.229100%
Mantogera12755.0594.41490%
Mekedesemariam14304.7330.933100%
Mosha132013.0530.042100%
Quar14803.0343.3690%
Shamo127010.0583.71290%
Woji169522.5464.214470%
Wonberoch174035.0153.21170%
Wuahir13608.4622.4860%
Zagua14506.8331.1940%
Zhara15508.0462.241100%
Geregera5.0350.00100%
Wonchet6.5270.0070%
Zegura Mehanialem12.0380.00100%
Goha Mariam3.5300.0060%
Bata Mariam7.000.00100%
Giorgis6.1360.0090%
Robit Bata5.0340.0060%
Gombat8.0480.000%
Kulala3.0320.00100%
Mesi32.0440.0070%
Simet13.0530.000%
West Gojam Diocese1.000.00100%
Zajor8.0420.0090%
Bata_BahirDar0.000.00100%
West Gojam Diocese office Yard forest0.000.00100%
Abune Aregawi Mitsily0.000.00100%
Debresan Arbaytu Ensisa0.000.00100%
Debresina Maryam0.000.00100%
Dibeso Abune G_kidus0.000.00100%
Ema Shenkor Kidus Giorigis0.000.00100%
Enbossa Maseriya bata0.000.00100%
Fisash Be ata0.000.00100%
Fissa Michael0.000.00100%
Gedame Eyesus0.000.00100%
Geregera Michael0.000.00100%
Gibstawit Maryam0.000.00100%
Gindatemem Michael0.000.00100%
Goha Silase0.000.00100%
Goha Tsion0.000.00100%
Kedemit Michael0.000.00100%
Marwuha Bata0.000.00100%
M erafe Maryam0.000.00100%
Qola Kirkos0.000.00100%
Qulala Meseqel0.000.00100%
Remma Yohannes0.000.00100%
Sene Maryam0.000.00100%
Tebabari Michael0.000.00100%
Wagira Maryam0.000.00100%
Wanzaye Chirqos0.000.00100%
Wegdame Kidanemihret0.000.00100%
Wendiye Tsion0.000.00100%
Weybilla Kidanemihiret0.000.00100%
Wonchet Michael0.000.00100%
Zajor Michael0.000.00100%
Zhara Michael0.000.00100%
Chebre Michael0.000.00100%
Selamye Meskel0.000.00100%
ZegboTsion0.000.00100%
Debresena Maryam0.000.00100%
Hiruy Giworgis0.000.00100%
Abunayob Gebriel0.000.00100%
Asaba Gebriel0.000.00100%
Atsede Mariam0.000.00100%
Denguasat Medihanialem0.000.00100%
Dereba merkoriors0.000.00100%
Egiziaber Ab0.000.00100%
Emejir Gebriel0.000.00100%
Genete Mariam0.000.00100%
Genta Gebriel0.000.00100%
Gimb Giorgis0.000.00100%
Gishena Teklehaymanot0.000.00100%
Mehaligie Mariam0.000.00100%
Merge Balegiziaber0.000.00100%
Mezebit mariam0.000.00100%
Miirafe Mariam Lideta0.000.00100%
Misirkana Mariam0.000.00100%
Mosha Mariam0.000.00100%
Mukech Hana0.000.00100%
Qota Gebriel0.000.00100%
Sebeta Giorgis0.000.00100%
Shime Giorgis0.000.00100%
Shime Kidist Arsema0.000.00100%
Simet Giorgis0.000.00100%
Weleke Mikael0.000.00100%
Weybeyign mariam0.000.00100%
Wofhchame Giorgis0.000.00100%
Zata Guaza Kidanemihiret0.000.00100%
Zeboye Mikael0.000.00100%

Wall Construction at Zhara Church Forest, Ethiopia

Video by Greg Vander Veer Dr. Meg Lowman and Dr. Alemayehu Wassie Eshete discuss the environmental and social value of the stone wall constructed around the Zhara church forest, Ethiopia.

Please support these church forest communities and help save the remaining biodiversity by donating today. Thank you.

National Geographic Project: What Lives in Ethiopian Church Forest Walls? A Herpetofaunal Survey

Assessing the church forests of Ethiopia as critical reservoirs of herpetofaunal diversity​
Human land-use change is the most pervasive threat to biodiversity generally, but it’s possible for altered landscapes to both maintain biodiversity and support human welfare. In the northern highlands of Ethiopia, the vast majority of natural land cover has been converted for agricultural production. The only remnant natural ecosystems left in this region consist of small Afromontane dry forest fragments surrounding local churches. These church forests provide a unique opportunity to study how species are able to survive in forest islands over the long-term, as these fragments have been maintained for hundreds of years. We aim to survey the abundance and diversity of herpetofauna (specifically frogs and lizards) in church forest fragments across the South Gondar region. The long-term history of these fragments will provide key insights into how patch and landscape characteristics facilitate the long-term persistence, colonization, or extinction of amphibian and reptile species. Furthermore, the unique cultural element of the church forests provides an opportunity to build scientific capacity in a region with low development but high levels of biodiversity and endemism by engaging youth in Sunday School programs in identifying and monitoring herpetofauna. By highlighting the diversity of frogs and lizards in church forests to villagers by creating visual guides we hope to generate interest, and therefore value, in the biodiversity of these critical habitat elements. Results of our surveys and programs can be used to guide direct conservation management in the region, study key aspects of long-term fragmentation effects on herpetofaunal biodiversity, and encourage local participation in scientific efforts.
At Wonchet church forest, the local priests and disciples all are excited to find herps in the stones!

REU Ethiopia

REU Site: Undergraduate Research into the Cultural, Economic and Ecological Roles of Church Forests in South Gondar, Ethiopia
A collaborative effort by the Colby College Environmental Studies Program, the Colby College Biology Department, the TREE Foundation, and Ethiopia’s Debre Tabor University, the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site program Undergraduate Research into the Cultural, Economic and Ecological Roles of Church Forests in South Gondar, Ethiopia provides American undergraduate students from diverse academic backgrounds an opportunity to conduct pathbreaking interdisciplinary research in Ethiopian Orthodox church forests. Under the eight-week summer REU program eight students from across the U.S. come to Colby College in Waterville, Maine to receive training in social survey research, spatial analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), ecological field methods, and written and oral communication. They then travel to South Gondar, Ethiopia where they work with local collaborators and mentors from Colby College, the California Academy of Sciences and Ethiopian academic and government institutions to study church forests’ many cultural, economic and ecological values. The 2015 REU Site team benefited greatly from working closely with our Ethiopian partners including Endale Adamu of Debre Tabor University, Tizezew Shimekach Sisay of the University of Maine, and the TREE Foundation’s own Dr. Alemayehu Wassie. And our work in church forests would not be possible without Canopy Meg’s longstanding relationship and Memorandum of Understanding with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Thank you!
Recommended Publication list for Ethiopia Projects
LoTemplio, S., Reynolds, T., Wassie, A., Abrahams, M., Bruesewitz, D, & Wall, J. (2016). Ethiopian Orthodox church forests provide regulating and habitat services: evidence from stream sediment and aquatic insect analyses. African Journal of Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/aje.12329 (Article Access) Liang, J., Reynolds, T., Wassie, A., Collins, C., & Wubalem, A. (2016). Effects of exotic Eucalyptus spp. plantations on soil properties in and around sacred natural sites in the northern Ethiopian Highlands. AIMS Agriculture and Food. 1(2): 175-193 (Article Access)

Recent Articles