This follows the launch of the English version in December 2024, which enabled Ethiopia to begin implementing the standard to protect its forests, covering over 17 million hectares and home to two-thirds of Africa’s bamboo. These forests are vital to both the nation’s environment and its economy.
Effective since December 2024, the FSC Interim Forest Stewardship Standard for Ethiopia supports the country’s Green Legacy initiative, one of the world’s largest reforestation efforts, which has planted over 50 billion seedlings since 2019. The standard equally aligns with Ethiopia’s commitment to the Bonn Challenge under the AFR100 initiative to restore 15 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. These efforts ensure that forests remain a cornerstone of sustainable development in the country.
“Translating this standard into Amharic, Ethiopia’s official language, is a game-changer. It promotes responsible forest management that benefits both nature and communities,” says Annah Agasha, Deputy Director, Africa. She adds that this version of the standard will empower not only stakeholders in the forest sector but also the broader Ethiopian community to engage with and apply it.
FSC invites forest managers, cooperatives, NGOs, and businesses to explore and use both the English and Amharic versions of the standard. For questions or support, please contact the FSC Country Requirements Team at country_requirements@fsc.org.