Protecting the species-rich forests of south-west Ethiopia d12538b8-f108-4d35-a390-486b8a2a6798 There it is, I told you, the small-holder whispered triumphantly to the project ranger as a Yellow-fronted Parrot poked its head out of its nest cavity in a large tree. This was doubly good news: firstly because the parrots were breeding, and secondly because this modest farmer was responding to the project s conservation message within the local communities.
This was happening in the Kafa Biosphere Reserve (KBR) in south-west Ethiopia, home to one of the country s last natural highland forest areas, a habitat rich in wildlife. Its species diversity includes 300 mammals, 260 birds and almost 5,000 varieties of plants including wild Arabica coffee. As well as being a UNESCO biosphere reserve, the area has been recognised as part of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot, a Key Biodiversity Area and an Important Bird Area (IBA). In addition to its forests, the area also has w