Church Forests

• Africa

• Sub-Saharan Africa

• Ethiopia

• Christianity

Ethiopian Orthodox Churches are protected by three-foot stone walls and a small ring of forest. Now with a population of more than 1 million, Ethiopia’s land has been overtaken by agriculture and cattle grazing. Forest ecologists and church priests are working together to protect the remaining forest oases by providing education on the importance of forest biodiversity alongside efforts to grow and secure food.

There are more than 1000 Church Forests and as of 2020, more than 40 have relocated their stone walls to include and protect the forest encircling the church. A short documentary (9:22) on the Church Forest protection and recovery effort may be found on YouTube.

• Forests

• Conservation

• Emergence Magazine: "The Church Forests of Ethiopia"