Our Community – Led Forestry Programme

Restoring Life to the Land In Ethiopia

In Southern Ethiopia, deforestation has stripped hillsides bare, leaving families and farmland exposed to erosion, failed crops and harsher climate shocks. Forests are the foundation of rural life — they protect soil, regulate water, provide food and fuel and store carbon.

Vita Impact’s Community-Led Forestry Programme is restoring these vital ecosystems through small, locally managed woodlots. Unlike large plantations, these forests are planted on degraded land, owned by communities and cared for by the families who depend on them.

How It Works

  • Locally Owned – communities decide how trees are planted, managed and protected.
  • Biodiversity Restored – fruit, nut and honey production supports nutrition and new incomes.
  • Carbon Locked – degraded land is reforested, absorbing emissions and protecting soils.
  • Women Empowered – reduced need for firewood collection means more time for family, health, and leadership opportunities.

Our Impact to Date

By December 2025, the programme had already achieved:

  • 1.6 million seedlings raised in 19 local nurseries
  • 247 hectares of degraded land prepared for planting
  • Community Forestry Committees established to manage and protect every site

This community-driven approach not only restores forests but strengthens every part of Vita’s work:

  • Restored forests protect springs and rivers
  • Water points reduce the need to boil unsafe water
  • Fuel-efficient cookstoves cut firewood use by 50%, allowing young trees to grow
  • Shade and healthier soils improve climate-smart farming, boosting harvests and food security

Looking Ahead

Our goal is ambitious yet achievable: 20 million trees planted by 2028.

This is climate action from the ground up — aligning Ethiopia’s National Forest Development Strategy with local community ownership. With the right support, this model can scale even further, reviving fragile ecosystems, planting millions of trees and creating greener, healthier, more resilient futures for families — especially women.

Partner with Vita Impact to support community-led forestry and make your business part of the solution.