QUICK FACTS
Location
AMHARA REGION, CENTRAL ETHIOPIAAnkober-Zego, near Wof-Washa National Forest
Restoration Activities
NATIVE FOREST REGENERATIONIndigenous tree planting and forest restoration
Landscape Works
PROTECTED FOREST RESTORATION1 km² allocated for ecological recovery
Lead Partner
LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION PARTNEREthiopian Heritage Trust
Impact Focus
FOREST CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY LIVELIHOODSBiodiversity restoration, habitat recovery and sustainable local development
Project Timeline
COMPLETED PROJECT2022-2024
Amhara Region, Central Ethiopia
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PROJECT OVERVIEWThe Ankober-Zego Forest Restoration Project marks the Ethiopian Heritage Trust's first conservation initiative outside Addis Ababa.
Located approximately 170 kilometres north-east of the capital, the project protects part of one of Ethiopia's last remaining dry Afromontane forest ecosystems, a habitat of significant ecological importance.
Through indigenous tree planting, habitat restoration and collaboration with local communities, the initiative aims to restore degraded forest landscapes while supporting sustainable livelihoods and long-term environmental stewardship.
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Why this matters
Dry Afromontane forests are among Ethiopia's most threatened ecosystems.
Years of degradation, land-use pressure and loss of native vegetation have reduced biodiversity and weakened the ecological resilience of these unique landscapes.
Without intervention, remaining forest fragments face continued decline, threatening both wildlife habitats and the environmental services they provide to local communities.
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Restoring native forest ecosystems
A dedicated one-square-kilometre restoration area has been allocated under a 99-year conservation lease granted by the Amhara Regional Authorities.
The project focuses on reintroducing indigenous forest species, establishing a tree nursery, and supporting natural regeneration processes that strengthen biodiversity and ecosystem health.
These efforts are designed to create the foundations for long-term forest recovery.
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Working alongside local farmers
Restoration activities include the planting of community fruit trees and collaboration with local farmers.
By linking conservation goals with sustainable livelihoods, the project seeks to ensure that environmental protection creates tangible benefits for neighbouring communities.
This approach helps build local stewardship and supports the long-term success of the restoration effort.
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Building the foundations for recovery
The Ankober-Zego initiative established a long-term framework for the restoration of one of Ethiopia's remaining dry Afromontane forest landscapes.
Through the creation of a dedicated restoration area, the establishment of a tree nursery, and the reintroduction of indigenous forest species, the project laid important foundations for ecological recovery and long-term conservation stewardship.
Its collaborative approach, combining habitat restoration with community engagement and sustainable livelihoods, continues to demonstrate how conservation can support both biodiversity and local communities.
The Ethiopian Heritage Trust was founded in Addis Ababa in 1993, working in environmental restoration and heritage conservation.
Its long-term stewardship of Entoto Natural Park helped transform a once-degraded landscape into one of the country's most successful examples of ecological restoration.
The Ethiopian Conservation Trust has proudly supported this work for more than eight years, helping contribute to the park's continued growth and impact.
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