Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve in Oromia, Ethiopia, is a biodiversity hotspot, a national gene reserve for wild Arabica coffee and a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve is located in the Oromia Regional State in Southwestern Ethiopia. It is part of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot and is an Important Bird Area of international significance. It holds uni
que natural, cultural as well as historical landscapes and treasures. Thus it is of great importance to the local, national and international community. The Yayu Forest Coffee Biosphere Reserve is home to one of the few remaining areas of intact Afromontane forests in Ethiopia, with wild Arabica coffee providing home and income to numerous communities. The area has even been designated as both a national gene reserve for wild Arabica coffee and a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The NGO NABU (Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union) together with ECFF (Environment and Coffee Forest Forum) support Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve within the project „Empowering communities: coffee as model for ecosystem-friendly regional development“. The aim of the project is to support sustainable development, improved and diversified income opportunities and the conservation of natural resources. The project is implemented by NABU and ECFF (Environment and Coffee Forest Forum) in partnership with the Oromia Regional State. It is financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and NABU. Project website: https://en.nabu.de/topics/regional-development/yayu.html
