FOLUR | ETHIOPIA

Welcome to FOLUR | ETHIOPIA

Preventing Forest Loss, Promoting Restoration, and Integrating Sustainability into Ethiopia's Coffee Value Chains and Food Systems (FOLUR Ethiopia).

FOLUR Ethiopia is a multi-year project that promotes sustainable land management, forest conservation, landscape restoration, and sustainable coffee value chains. The project is implemented across four regions of Ethiopia: Oromia, South Ethiopia, Southwest Ethiopia, and Sidama.

Through four integrated components, the project works with government institutions, local communities, development partners, and the private sector to reduce forest loss, restore degraded landscapes, strengthen sustainable livelihoods, and build resilient food systems for present and future generations.

3 ↑

Years Implementation

Higher Official's Message

Welcome to FOLUR Ethiopia

I am honored to share a few words on the launch of the official website of the FOLUR Ethiopia Project. This platform represents more than a digital presence. It is a gateway to our collective vision of advancing sustainable land use, ecological restoration, and nature-based agriculture across Ethiopia. By bringing together knowledge, progress updates, and stakeholder engagement, the website will serve as a central hub for transparency, collaboration, and impact.

The FOLUR Ethiopia Project is one of the flagship interventions contributing to our national commitment to green development. It integrates science, policy, and practice to address pressing challenges of land degradation, biodiversity loss, restoration of old coffee landscapes, and the resilience of smallholder livelihoods against diverse shocks. Through strong partnerships with ministries, regional administrations, universities, and communities, the project is demonstrating how sustainable production systems can coexist with ecological restoration, ensuring lasting benefits for both people and nature.

This website will highlight the milestones we have achieved, the lessons we are learning, and the pathways we are charting for the future. It will showcase knowledge products, training materials, and project reports that reflect our dedication to evidence‑based decision‑making. It will also provide a platform for dialogue, enabling stakeholders at all levels to engage with the project and contribute to its success.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for their generous financial and technical support. Their commitment has been instrumental in enabling Ethiopia to advance innovative solutions, build institutional capacity, and generate knowledge that informs sustainable landscape management and green development.

As we move forward, I invite all partners and citizens to use this website as a dynamic terminal for knowledge exchange. Together, we can reinforce Ethiopia’s leadership in sustainable landscape management and ensure that our efforts under FOLUR contribute meaningfully to global goals for climate action, biodiversity conservation, and inclusive development.

Conservation

Restoration

H.E. Seyoum Mekonen

Sate Minister | MoPD

more about us

FOLUR ETHIOPIA Components

Development of integrated landscape planning (ILSP) and management systems

It is aligned to component 1 of the FOLUR Global Impact Program - Integrated Landscape Management and involves institutional systems strengthening in integrated land use planning and management, piloting of model landscape restoration schemes, and local level participatory land use planning.

Promotion of sustainable food production practices and coffee value chains

Promotion of sustainable food production practices and responsible value chains across coffee zones of Oromia, Sidama, South Ethiopia and Southwest Ethiopia is directly aligned with Component 2 of the FOLUR Impact Program - Promotion of sustainable food production practices & responsible commodity value chains. It involves old coffee rejuvenation through stumping and replacement planting, farmland restoration through nature-based schemes, production of high-value agroforestry crops, and promotion of sustainable livelihoods with a focus on women.

Conservation and restoration of natural habitats

Conservation and restoration of natural habitats through Participatory Forest Management focuses on conservation of existing natural forest ecosystems in one hand and restoring degraded forest landscapes on the other.

Knowledge Management and M&E

This component encompasses establishment of a robust M & E system, generation of knowledge and learning for replication and scaling-up.

FOLUR Ethiopia Quick Impacts

FOLUR Ethiopia is transforming coffee landscapes by promoting sustainable land use, restoring degraded ecosystems, and enhancing sustainable livelihoods across Ethiopia’s major coffee-producing regions.

20 woredas developed and adopted integrated land use plans
3,863 ha of old coffee farms rejuvenated
A total of 15,584 hectares of natural forest ecosystems, including 2,666 hectares of coffee biosphere reserves, have been brought under PFM system
7.1 million indigenous and fruit tree seedlings planted to support restoration and agroforestry integration

97

Total staff

227491

Beneficiaries reached, with 57% women

22

woredas (4 regions)

how FOLUR works

The general approach, how FOLUR Ethiopia operate on Programms

FOLUR Ethiopia implements established best practices to maximize its outreach and foster broad community participation.

01

Assessment & Planning

We analyze environmental challenges conduct research, and develop.

02

Implementation

FOLUR Ethiopia implements the identified and public oriented projects

03

Monitoring & Evaluation

FOLUR Ethiopia monitor and evaluate the project status to meet the seated target

04

Scale-up and Replication

FOLUR Ethiopia adopts proven best practices to effectively engage a wider community.

FOLUR documentary

Degraded Land Adaption and Restoration Model-DELARM

Degraded Land Restoration and Adaption Model-DELARM - one of the FOLUR Ethiopia Project and implementing by FOLUR Ethiopia in collaboration with Shagar city, Gendebel Woreda.

Watch more videos

Degraded Land Adaption and Restoration Model-DELARM thumbnail

Announcement

Call for Proposals: 2nd Round Development-Oriented PhD Research Grants (FOLUR Ethiopia)

The basic eligibility criteria for application are as follows:

Applicants must be affiliated with Jimma, Hawassa, Mettu, Bonga, Mizan-Tepi, Madawalabu, Dilla, Arsi, or Bule Hora University as either a staff member or a student. In addition, applicants must have a research title that has been formally defended and approved.

For detailed eligibility requirements and application information, please contact the Vice President for Research at the respective university.

Frequently Asked Questions about FOLUR Ethiopia Projects

It is an Ethiopia based project aiming to Preventing Forest loss, Promoting Restoration and Integrating Sustainability into Ethiopia’s Coffee Value Chains and Food Systems and support transformation towards deforestation-free coffee value chains and food systems in Oromia, Sidama, South Ethiopia, and Southwest Ethiopia.

A) Development of integrated landscape planning (ILSP) and management systems. B) Promotion of sustainable food production practices and responsible value chains. C) Conservation and restoration of natural habitats through Participatory Forest Management. D) M&E and Knowledge Management for replication and scaling-up.

The new Practice applied in the implementation of FOLUR Ethiopia is creating awareness about old coffee rejuvenation using technologies.

FOLUR Ethiopia managed low income farmers by diversify the livelihood income generations.

testimonials

What our supporters and partners say about our impact

Join and witness for our project success

Dear Colleagues, It is my great privilege to be part of this field visit. From my observation, the project is progressing on a very promising track. I would particularly like to commend the Oromia Old Coffee Rejuvenation initiative and its effective management. This effort not only preserves the cultural and economic value of coffee but also strengthens community engagement. Equally impressive is the livelihood initiative, which has inspired neighboring communities to join the cooperative, enhance their savings culture, and foster cooperative behavior. Such practices are vital for building resilience and promoting sustainable development. I strongly recommend that the successful experiences from Gommaa Woreda be scaled up to other woredas and regions.

Mr. Bonsa Merga

Planning and Strategic Affairs Executive

Dear Colleagues, ‎First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to be part of this important field mission on FOLUR and to witness the accomplishments achieved so far. For me, the stage we are in right now is not the middle nor the final, but rather the very beginning of a journey that holds immense promise. What I observed yesterday was truly impressive and encouraging, giving me confidence in the path we are taking.