Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot Program

Since 2016, WeForest has been part of the Great Green Wall, a landmark global initiative to restore 100 million hectares across 11 countries in the Sahel, capturing carbon, boosting food security, creating green jobs, and building resilience for millions of people.

Our contribution began in Ethiopia, where we worked with 23,000 farmers from 13 villages in Tigray to restore 38,000 ha of dry afromontane forest, bringing water back to the highlands, reversing soil erosion, and strengthening farmer livelihoods. Over time, we expanded to the Amhara region and launched a silvo-pasture pilot project in Ferlo, northern Senegal.

The Ferlo project concluded in 2025, and its results speak for themselves: 267,855 native trees planted, 1,071 ha of assisted natural regeneration, and 2,995 households supported. Working alongside local communities, the project helped protect ecosystems, diversify incomes, and build lasting stewardship of the land. We are deeply grateful to the communities and partners who made this possible.

During the next five years, we are sharpening our focus in Ethiopia. We have brought our three projects there - Desa'a Forest, Wof Washa Forest, and Gewocha Forest-  together under a single name: the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot Program.

This region is one of the world's most biodiverse, yet it faces mounting pressure from land degradation and poverty. Its mosaic of forests and grasslands regulates climate, secures freshwater, and sustains fertile soils for tens of millions of people. By concentrating our efforts here, we can deepen our impact for the landscape and for the communities who depend on it.

Our work in Senegal continues, with a focus on mangrove restoration in Casamance and Sine Saloum. After decades of overexploitation, much of the Casamance's mangrove cover has been lost, but the conditions for recovery are now in place, and the opportunity to restore these vital coastal ecosystems is real.