The conference, organized by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission (EOTC-DICAC), brought together development partners, environmental specialists, and representatives from various partner organizations to strengthen collaboration on forest conservation and climate action.

Speaking at the forum, Commissioner Yilikal Shiferaw emphasized that the gathering aimed to showcase the Church’s long-standing tradition of conserving forests surrounding monasteries and churches often referred to as “sacred forests.” He noted that these efforts, preserved for generations, are now gaining renewed importance in the global fight against climate change.

Discussions further stressed the critical contribution of church forests to carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and national forest cover. Participants called for strengthened partnerships with government institutions, increased financial and technical support, and deeper community engagement.

Speakers noted that the Church’s spiritual commitment to safeguarding creation has long guided its conservation efforts. When combined with modern environmental approaches and partnerships, this faith-based stewardship is proving to be a powerful force in addressing ecological challenges.

The conference concluded with a shared commitment to expand joint initiatives and scale up efforts to protect Ethiopia’s unique forest