Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forested Landscapes (CSMFL) Project is a three-year initiative funded by the Swedish Embassy in Ethiopia and implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in partnership with the Ethiopian Coffee Forest Forum (ECFF), International Development Enterprises (iDE), and the Ethiopian government. Working across six zones in the Oromia and Southwest Regions, the project supports both new and existing participatory forest management groups and community-based livelihood organizations. Its multifaceted approach aims to improve the management and conservation of forested landscapes, protect biodiversity, promote climate-smart agricultural practices, and enhance community livelihoods. A key component of the project is building a robust governance system and strengthening the resilience of target communities to the impacts of climate change. Essentially, CSMFL is working to empower local communities to sustainably manage their forest resources, improve their livelihoods, and adapt to a changing climate.

The project’s overall goal is to contribute to the sustainable management of biodiversity-rich natural forests of Southwest Ethiopia to enhance ecosystem services and contribute to improving livelihoods for communities living in and around the forest. It aims to achieve the following objectives:

– To strengthen mainstreaming and integration of biodiversity conservation interventions into local development programs
– To enhance sustainable forest management in selected woredas and zones in Oromia and SWEP Regional States
– To improve gender equality and livelihoods of forest dependent communities, including women and youth; and
– To build the capacity of Government stakeholders and local community groups at various levels.

The Southwestern region of Ethiopia, encompassing parts of Oromia and Southwestern regional states, is home to extensive natural forests rich in biodiversity and providing vital ecosystem services to local communities. However, these forests face significant threats from agricultural expansion, fuelwood collection, and other pressures, resulting in widespread deforestation and forest degradation. This project adopts an integrated and sustainable forest management approach to address these challenges.

The project anticipates improving the livelihoods of communities who depend on the forests, thereby reducing the pressures that lead to deforestation and biodiversity loss. Specifically, the project aims to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), conserving Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), improving the sustainable production of non-timber forest products like forest coffee, honey, and spices, increasing access to markets for these products, and building the capacity of local institutions and practitioners to manage forests effectively. In short, the project seeks to balance conservation with sustainable development, empowering communities and improving their livelihoods while protecting vital forest ecosystems.

This project is designed to achieve four interconnected outcomes:

– Improved Biodiversity Conservation: enhance the conservation of biodiversity within the targeted forested landscape.

– Improved Multi-Functional Forest Management: promote better management of forest resources, recognizing the multiple functions forests serve, including sustainable timber harvesting (where appropriate), watershed protection, carbon sequestration, and the provision of non-timber forest products.

– Improved Gender Equality and Livelihoods: The project aims to enhance gender equality and improve the livelihoods of communities living in and around the forests.

– Strengthened Capacity and Coordination: strengthen institutional, human, and system capacity, as well as multi-stakeholder coordination.