Ethiopia: How a Brewery in Ethiopia Is Restoring a Watershed

The community in Enda-Mokoni Woreda in Tigray Regional State in Ethiopia, has long relied on natural spring water from the May-Muk micro watershed for daily water needs and to irrigate crops. But since the 1970s, increased demand for farmland, firewood and other natural resources degraded the watershed, threatening livelihoods and the community's water supply, said farmer Hailu Birhanu.

Help came for farmers like Mr. Birhanu via a partnership with a local brewery. The Raya Brewery is working with the local community and using its resources to help restore the watershed while also ensuring there is enough water to brew its beer. The partnership with Raya, which is owned by the brewing company BGI Ethiopia, is an example of how paying for environmental services can be a win-win both for the private sector and for local communities.

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