Church forests of Ethiopia

Aerial photographs of church forests show them as small verdant islands surrounded by vast areas of tilled lands and pasture.

If reforestation would ever be likely in the future, they needed to help conserve and increase these last remaining forests which are the natural seed banks for local genetic diversity of tree species.

"[9] Working with the religious leaders, it was decided to exclude cattle by building dry stone walls around the forests.

These sacred oases raise water tables, lower temperature, block destructive winds and are home to yield-boosting pollinators essential to surrounding agriculture.

[11] Birds, bees, monkeys, caracals and other wildlife were found to have returned to the church forests.