FAO says Ethiopia’s forest recovery puts country on path to carbon market access

Addis Ababa, November 11, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia is advancing toward accessing international carbon finance as its large-scale forest restoration and protection programs begin to meet global monitoring and verification standards, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa, Farayi Zimudzi, said.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 19th FAO Multidisciplinary Team Meeting in Addis Ababa, she said FAO is working closely with the Ethiopian Forestry Development to strengthen monitoring, reporting and verification systems — a requirement for countries seeking to monetize forestry conservation and afforestation investments.

“We are supporting Ethiopia to be in a position where it is able to access carbon financing,” Zimudzi said. “Once the carbon financing comes through, it will be utilized by communities and different players in the sector.”

She noted that the potential benefits extend beyond revenue, highlighting that women, children and young people — who are among the most vulnerable to climate change — stand to gain directly from improved access to resources.

According to Zimudzi, national forestry investments are already showing results. She said forest cover is improving while conservation and degradation-reduction efforts are taking hold, enabling the country to benefit both economically and environmentally.

“It is good to see the investments bearing fruit in terms of growing and managing the forestry resources of the country,” she said. “Ultimately, this means Ethiopia benefits not only from carbon finance, but also from the environmental gains of properly managed forests.”

Zimudzi added that Eastern Africa has a clear understanding of what needs to be done to build climate-resilient agricultural and environmental systems, but warned that progress depends on implementation.

“We need the political will and the community mobilization,” she said. “We now need more action and less talk.”