Honey harvesting: Creating value from our forests
Until now, forests have often been valued mainly for their timber. Yet they provide far more than wood and carbon storage. Forests offer a wide range of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) that sustain millions of people worldwide. From medicinal plants and wild fruits to honey and natural resins, the resources sustain rural economies and cultural traditions.
We spoke with Tuamay Zenebe, a farmer and beekeeper from the village of Me’m Atal, who has been involved with our EthioTrees project for over a decade. He shares how the project has helped him expand and improve his beekeeping activities.
A core part of EthioTrees’ work is strengthening local capacity through training on a wide range of topics, from improved forest management techniques to the sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products.
In 2024, EthioTrees partnered with Oxfam to train over 200 farmers in improved honey harvesting techniques. “We received a training that lasted about seven days. It was practical, hands-on training on how to construct a beehive. We built, assembled, and worked with our own hands,” Tuamay explains
In addition, the project has provided essential materials to support over 600 farmers in their beekeeping activities. “EthioTrees provided us with honey purifiers, honeycombs, gloves, smokers, and so on,” he shares. “Before, there was a lack of materials, which prevented us from performing our activities within the required timeframe. The project helped us perform on time and improved the quality of the honey.”
As a result, many beekeepers have seen both their production and the quality of their honey improve, allowing them to sell it at better prices in local markets.
“Before, we didn’t benefit much from selling honey, we used to sell it for 350 birr per kilo. But now we produce high-quality honey, which this year sold for around 1,700 birr per kilo.”
“The profit we get from honey we always use for day-to-day necessities like food, clothing, or grain. It allows us to buy what we need and feed our family,” he tells.
This is a powerful example of creating value from forest resources through sustainable practices. By using the forest responsibly, communities benefit economically while supporting the long-term preservation of the landscape. As Tuamay puts it, “the forest cultivates our land so we can stay and keep bees to earn an income.”
Above all, these efforts foster a sense of ownership within the community, encouraging people to take responsibility for their forests and their protection. “The project helps us mobilize our own efforts and products to earn extra benefits alongside our farming income,” he explains.
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