admin | March 30, 2026
News Brief
In Ethiopia’s Abijata-Shalla National Park, youth are leading efforts to restore degraded hills and wetlands. Working with Wetlands International and local associations, they dig terraces, plant trees, and manage soil and water to combat erosion and revive ecosystems. Grass, acacia trees, and even fish are returning while wildlife like greater kudu and migratory birds are rebounding. The project also supports livelihoods by offering small cash payments, loans, and training in sustainable businesses. For these young people, restoration is more than conservation. It is a path to hope, income, and a healthier environment.
On the scorching hills above Ethiopia’s Abijata-Shalla National Park, young men and women work to heal the land. Shoveling soil, filling sandbags, and digging terraces, they repair gullies carved by years of erosion and deforestation.
Hamid Belo is the chairman of the Mekane Fike Forest Conservation Association, He says, “The land is healing, and so are we.”
Once covered in acacia woodlands and fed by steady streams, the hills around Lake Abijata and Lake Shalla have been stripped bare. Over the years, people have cleared trees for firewood, farmland, and charcoal production. A soda ash plant near Lake Abijata and withdrawals by farms and households have further reduced water levels. Wildlife that once thrived here, including flamingos, fish, and migratory birds, has suffered.
For five years, local youth groups have worked with Simeneh Shiferaw, country program coordinator at Wetlands International, he says, “We involve everyone, farmers, pastoralists, women, the elderly, and youth, to make sure the solutions work for the community.”
The training teaches young people how to restore degraded hillsides and wetlands, manage soil and water, and encourage natural regeneration of vegetation. Local authorities also reinforce bylaws to protect restored sites, ensuring the work is sustainable.
Many youth rely on the park’s resources for survival. With limited land and few job opportunities, some harvest firewood, produce charcoal, or mine sand. To address this, the project offers small cash payments and a collective fund that youth can use for loans to start small businesses.
Mr. Belo adds, “Thanks to the support we’ve received, we’ve broken free from dependence. We’re now entrepreneurs, building our own success from the ground up.”
Youth associations like Fike Lelisa are digging terraces, constructing canals, and creating planting pits to capture water and protect the soil. These efforts have allowed grass and acacia trees to return, slowed erosion, and raised water levels in Lake Abijata. Even fish species that had disappeared for decades are starting to come back.
Gutema Mieso, the chairman of the Fike Lelisa youth association, says, “When we first started, the land was so degraded that we doubted it could recover. But now, we see grass growing, trees returning, and water flowing again. It gives us hope for the future.”
Wildlife is also rebounding. Aschalew Tsegaye, park warden, says, “Even species thought to be lost have returned. The number of greater kudu alone has grown from 50 to over 200. Most bird species are now seen in greater numbers than before.”
The project’s success comes from coordinated action. Government bodies, community members, and organizations involved in development, agriculture, and wildlife protection now work together.
Redwan Mohamed, project leader for Wetlands International, says, “The project shows that even heavily degraded land can heal if the right approach is used. And when communities benefit, they take ownership, ensuring the land stays healthy for future generations.”
Communities are already seeing benefits: improved soil fertility, reduced erosion, more fish for livelihoods, and the return of birds and other wildlife. Some youth have started beekeeping, while others use restored grasslands to fatten livestock for sale.”
For the youth of Abijata-Shalla, restoration is more than an environmental project. It is a chance to protect their home, earn a livelihood, and ensure the next generation inherits a living landscape.
Photo: Women play an active role in restoration efforts, contributing across various tasks and associations to support the recovery of the landscape. Image by Solomon Yimer for Mongabay.
This story is based on an article written by Solomon Yimer for Mongabay, titled “Ethiopian youth groups restore Rift valley lake & livelihoods” To read the full story, go to :https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/ethiopian-youth-groups-restore-rift-valley-lake-livelihoods/