S I D A M O , E T H I O P I A A photo story from Christian Lamontagne

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

The Southern Region of

Ethiopia (SNNPR),

formerly called Sidamo,

is the one in most need

for trees in Ethiopia.

Canopy coverage is very

limited, and the hilly

setup of the area leads

to severe erosion and

land degradation.

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

In the surroundings of

Bokasso, almost 100%

of the farmers’ land is

planted with coffee.

Unfortunately, climate

change badly affects the

coffee production with

prolonged droughts and

heavy rains, especially

during the harvest

period, when cherries

are ripe and fall on the

floor.

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

The Bokasso coope-

rative produces one of

the best coffee in East

Africa. The premium

quality of the coffee

beans is world

recognized, but still

productivity is low. The

cooperative is already

engaged in sustainable

activities and willing to

improve the conditions of

coffee farming for their

members.

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

A majority of farmers

mainly rely upon coffee

production for their

subsistence. But limited

resources and low coffee

prices do not encourage

farmers to invest in their

coffee fields. Enhancing

the coffee production

resilience in yields and

quality constitute the

best strategy to support

economically the

populations.

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

The agroforestry

program launched in

2014 with Pur Projet

supports the coffee

farmers to plant trees in

and around their farms,

to create the best

conditions for coffee

farming. Native tree

species are thoughtfully

intercropped with

coffee, and/or on the

perimeter of the farms

along roads, rivers, etc.

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

Restoring a more

diversified tree cover will

add important

ecosystemic services for

coffee: shade, soil

enrichment, reduced

erosion, enhanced

pollination, pest

control… This will

contribute to boost the

productivity and maintain

a high quality of coffee.

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

In addition to coffee

shade, selected tree

species are planted to

enrich soils (legumi-

nosis) and provide

timber and fruits. The

diversification of

revenues and improved

food sovereignty are

important benefits for

local communities.

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

« Existing trees have

been destroyed by this

generation, and climate

change is now affecting

our farms. I planted

trees such as Corsia,

Albizia and Mellizia to

restore good farming

conditions for coffee.

Besides, my plan is to

produce vegetables to

have sufficient food for

my familiy. I hope we will

inspire other farmers to

be strong.»

Dubale Didamo, coffee

farmer

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

“ The trees give shade

for coffee, they enrich

soils, they protect from

run off. They help us to

improve our production. I

hope this program will

benefit many farmers,

because if I have

enough food for my

family, it does not make

any sense if my village’s

community doesn’t have

even something to eat.”

Mamud Dawassa, coffee

farmer

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

Farmers are strongly

mobilized as trees are

badly needed. They all

refer to climate change

and how it threatens the

sustainability of coffee

farming. The plantation

of trees will help them

both to adapt and

mitigate climate change.

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

Coffee trees are growing

on sloping terrain, where

soil erosion, due to wind

and severe drought

episodes, threatens both

the quantity and quality

of coffee yields. Regular

landslides degrade

cultivation lands and

even destroy houses.

Trees will form an

erosion barrier and help

to fix the soils and

protect the coffee fields

and houses below.

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

Pur Projet closely

supports the Bokasso

cooperative to improve

the farmers’ knowledge

on agroforestry systems,

planting techniques,

maintenance techniques

for timber or fruit trees.

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

Seedlings are produced

in local tree nurseries.

They include timber

(cordia, podocarpus,

melizia, albizia) and fruit

trees (avocado, apple).

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

The local ecosystem is

relatively temperate, to

the edge of the desert.

At landscape level, its

preservation is vital as it

protects fertile lowlands

which benefit many

families, and a unique

biodiversity.

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

Farmers expressed their

will to plant the first trees

on Hamoumou and Rako

Mountains, which are

sacred for them. Trees

are purely symbolic

there and the program

makes much sense for

local communities.

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

Natural sites are of great

importance as there are

many sacred places with

trees. In this region,

justice remains largely

tribal. The tribal council

in charge of judging

contentious cases is

located in an antique

forest with gigantic

trunks.

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

“ Our fathers have

indigenous knowledge

and they are used to say

that coffee likes shade

and that trees have to be

planted inside the coffee

parcels. This

agroforestry project will

have positive impacts on

coffee production and

more largely on our

environment, especially

climate change.”

Kefala Ugamo, in charge

of Bokasso cooperative

S I D A M O ,

E T H I O P I A

Around 80,000 trees will

be planted in 2015,

benefiting 600 coffee

farmers and their

families. Agroforestry

benefits will last over the

long-term. It is a one-

time investment for

benefits over dozens or

hundreds of year.