TBNClimate
UN recognizes ongoing restoration work inside Ethiopia’s Desa’a forest amid conflict
Publication: Conservation news
Authors: Malavikavyawahare, Elodie Toto
Source published: 03/11/2026, 15:28:24 UTC
Briefing created: 08/11/2026, 01:27:29 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 04/11/2026, 16:24:25 UTC.
Briefings
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and FAO recognized the Desa’a forest restoration initiative in Ethiopia as a World Restoration Flagship at CBD COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia, on October 29, 2026. This recognition aims to inspire action and provide technical, monitoring, and advocacy support to stakeholders working to revive the Afromontane forests in the Tigray region, which face severe degradation and are home to endangered species like the Ethiopian wolf and gelada monkey.
Key points
- UNEP and FAO officially recognized the Desa’a project as a World Restoration Flagship at CBD COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia on October 29, 2026.
- The initiative targets the Tigray region's Afromontane forests, which cover approximately 70% of the remaining degraded forest area in the Great Rift Valley.
Context
The Desa’a project, officially titled 'Restoring Desa’a landscape: Bringing the Great Rift Valley Back to Life,' is located in the Tigray region of Ethiopia's Afromontane forests. These dryland forests, situated above 1,500 meters elevation, are critical for carbon storage but face severe degradation. The recognition aims to support stakeholders in reviving this ecosystem, which is home to endangered species such as the Ethiopian wolf and gelada monkey.
Limitations
Evidence covers only the recognition event at CBD COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia on October 29, 2026. It does not include details on the project's current operational status, specific restoration progress metrics, or long-term outcomes beyond the initial recognition.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 08/11/2026, 01:27:29 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
View archived briefing on IPFS
bafybeiasaqyi33aggu6zzdimje35wq7ffe4llq2z3of6322t7nwpzamr3i