Over the past years, CETRAD, in partnership with the Wyss Academy for Nature, has been working on a transformative mission: to protect and restore the Gambella Wetland for Wildlife and people. This ambitious project has now reached a significant milestone with the commissioning and official handover of the wetland to the local community, followed by a Coalition for Change workshop that brought together key stakeholders to forge a united path forward.
At the heart of the project lies a simple yet powerful goal, to reduce human pressure on the wetland ecosystem by facilitating alternative access to water resources to the communities, thereby allowing ecological recovery and enabling natural regeneration to take place.
Over six thousand native tree species have been planted across the wetland area, complementing the natural regeneration processes to form a dense thicket that has successfully restricted direct human access. What was once an open and degraded space is now a thriving green zone that protects biodiversity and promotes ecosystem restoration, a transformation that can only be sustained if the trend continues, with reduced or eliminated encroachment and direct extraction of wetland resources, especially pasture and water.
Photo: Nyatichi Beverline
Complementing the reforestation efforts is the construction of critical water infrastructure: a water weir to regulate water flow, water troughs (for livestock and wildlife), and water kiosks for domestic water use. These interventions ensure that community members and their livestock can access water without encroaching on the core wetland area. As a result, the wetland has been given a chance to regenerate naturally.
Additionally, the increase in vegetation density and reduced human disturbance has contributed to the re-emergence of two water springs, which had completely dried up. With a shared water access point now available, Direct Encroachment into the wetland has significantly reduced, demonstrating the far-reaching social benefits of ecosystem restoration. These ecological and social transformations demonstrate the success of an integrated approach to wetland conservation. By addressing both environmental degradation and community needs, the project has laid the groundwork for long-term sustainability.
After officially handing over the water infrastructure to the local community, we held a Coalition for Change workshop, a collaborative dialogue that brought together diverse stakeholders committed to the future of the Gambella Wetland. Participants ranging from community members, Riparian landowners to government officials, conservation experts, and local leaders. The workshop provided a rare opportunity for these diverse stakeholders to exchange, learn from each other and collectively envision.
Photo: Nyatichi Beverline
The workshop focused on strengthening the Coalition for Change by encouraging all stakeholders to affirm their membership and commitment to the future of the Gambella Wetland. At its core, the Coalition emphasized that lasting impact will only be achieved through unity of stakeholders, shared responsibility and ownership, and ongoing collaboration.
As we move forward, the Gambella Wetland stands not just as a restored landscape, but as a living symbol of what’s possible when people and nature exist in harmony. This project is a testament to the potential of nature-led solutions in addressing environmental degradation, building climate resilience, and enhancing livelihoods.
Together, we are saving wetlands for Wildlife and people, letting nature lead the way.