When the United Nations Environment Programme named Desa’a a World Restoration Flagship, it was a moment of global recognition for a forest that has been nurtured for years by local communities in Ethiopia’s Tigray and Afar regions. We talked with our Ethiopia Country Director, Aklilu Negussie Mekuria, to understand what this award means for him, for the team, and for restoration in Ethiopia.
Why do you think Desa'a was chosen as a World Restoration Flagship project?
Known as Desa’a in Tigray and Dat’ Garab in Afar, it was selected because it demonstrates how community-led restoration, strong partnerships, and long-term commitment can restore ecosystems while improving livelihoods. The project protects globally important biodiversity hotspots and provides an inspiring model of how people and nature can flourish together.
Importantly, the achievements in Desa’a have been realized under challenging environmental, socioeconomic, and political conditions. This demonstrates resilience, local ownership, and long-term commitment. The results provide a practical and scalable model for landscape restoration that can inspire similar efforts in Ethiopia, across Africa, and around the world.
Is it a competitive award?
Absolutely. It is a highly competitive award. I fully realized this when I received the notification that Ethiopia’s Great Rift Valley Renaissance had been selected as a UN World Restoration Flagship and emerged as one of only eight flagship initiatives recognized globally in 2026 from hundreds of submissions.
To apply, we needed to present clear evidence of the project’s impact across multiple dimensions. The selection process involved rigorous evaluation by a multidisciplinary panel of experts and senior leaders from UNEP and FAO. This made the recognition even more meaningful. We are deeply honored that our collective efforts, together with local communities and partners, have passed this rigorous evaluation and are recognized among the world’s leading restoration initiatives.
Tell us about your experience at the CBD COP17. How was the event and the award ceremony?
This was my first time participating in a CBD COP, and I found it a truly inspiring and memorable experience. The award ceremony was a particularly proud and emotional moment for me, as Desa’a was recognized among a select group of flagship restoration initiatives from around the world.
Receiving this recognition on behalf of the local communities, government partners, donors, researchers, and all those who have contributed to the restoration journey was both humbling and rewarding. The messages at the ceremony were a powerful reminder that local actions can create global impact.
What does it mean for you and the Ethiopia team to receive this acknowledgement?
For me, this is the culmination of a ten-year journey. Having led the project from the very beginning and now seeing the results after a decade is deeply emotional. This recognition brings back memories of all the challenges and successes we experienced along the way, and of every good and difficult moment I passed with my team.
For the whole WeForest Ethiopia team, this recognition is both an honor and a validation of years of hard work, dedication, strong leadership, and collaboration. It is especially meaningful because it comes after working through very challenging circumstances, including the war, frequent droughts, and periods when many people had lost hope for the future.
I am particularly proud that we were able to provide hope to local communities, government institutions, and other stakeholders during these difficult times, when many people were focused on basic survival and only very few could think about the future of the forest. Together, we demonstrated that even under the most challenging conditions, positive change is possible when people unite around a common purpose.
This recognition motivates us to continue and scale up our restoration efforts while sharing the lessons and successes from Desa’a with other restoration initiatives in Ethiopia and beyond.
Have you noticed changes during all the years of work in Desa'a? What are the highlights?
Yes, the changes over the last eight years have been remarkable. The most visible highlight is the recovery of the forest itself, with improved vegetation cover, natural regeneration, and increased biodiversity. We have seen previously degraded areas come back to life, and wildlife that had disappeared from the landscape, such as the African leopard, return in search of shelter and food. We have also recorded an increase in the number of tree and shrub species, from 84 to 104.
In addition, soil erosion has been significantly reduced, and water availability has improved. One striking example is that soil infiltration rates increased by 26% in restored areas, while it declined by more than 30% in non-restored adjacent areas, resulting in greater runoff and land degradation outside the restoration sites.
Equally important are the social changes. Local communities have become active stewards of the landscape, and restoration has created livelihood opportunities while renewing hope for the future. What makes me most proud is seeing people who once viewed the forest as a declining resource now recognize it as a valuable asset worth protecting for future generations.
What is one thing about Desa'a and Ethiopia's Great Rift Valley that you would like the world to know?
One thing I would like the world to know about Desa’a and Ethiopia’s Great Rift Valley is that it is far more than just landscapes. It is a globally important biodiversity treasure and lifeline for millions of people. Desa’a lies within the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot, one of the world’s most important and threatened biodiversity regions, home to unique plant and animal species found nowhere else or within a very limited ecological range, such as the Nubian dragon tree.
At the same time, Desa’a serves as a critical barrier against desertification. As one of the last remaining dry Afromontane forests in northern Ethiopia, it protects soils, conserves water, regulates the local climate, and supports the livelihoods of millions of people living in and around the landscape. For many communities, this forest is a source of water, food, income, and hope.
Do you have anything to add?
I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to UNEP, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and FAO for their vision and leadership in promoting ecosystem restoration globally. By recognizing successful restoration initiatives, they are giving hope, inspiring action, and encouraging the replication of good practices at scale. This kind of recognition is truly important for motivating communities, practitioners, and governments to continue investing in restoration. Thank you.
