The security situation in Amhara remains uncertain, making it difficult to organise meetings on a large scale, but the project has nonetheless been able to carry out several Focus Group Discussions in 11 kebeles for the socio-economic survey, attended by around ten community members each.

In the discussion pictured here, the participants were unanimous that Wof Washa Forest is a ‘’place to escape difficult times’’: drought, seasonal climate variability, and sometimes even internal conflict. As well as the fundamental ecological services such as rain, moisture, clean air, and soil and water conservation the forest provides to the surrounding communities, the people look to it for timber and grass for thatching, livestock fodder, water for both livestock and people, beekeeping, farm tools (from Olea spp.), medicinal plants and wild fruits. They said they are less dependent on the forest for firewood because they had sufficient access to wood in the nearby eucalyptus plantation, from which wood less than 6 cm in diameter and leftover branches and leaves are given directly to the local communities.

Above all, the villagers emphasised the importance of the natural forest for water and forage for their livestock during drought and dry periods, saying it is crucial to ‘’escape the harsh days of the year’’. They're fully behind restoring and conserving this essential asset in their landscape.