 |
| Aims | Recent Activities | Partners | |
Context To date, little attention has been given to wetlands and their management in Ethiopia. The most recent major initiative on wetland issues has been undertaken by the Ethiopian Wetlands Research Programme (EWRP) in Southwest Ethiopia, particularly in Illubabor Zone, Oromia Regional State. EWRP's work has clearly shown that wetlands are vital natural resources that have contributed a wide range of benefits to many communities in Illubabor Zone for decades. Critically these include "hungry season" food suppies, domestic water and materials for income diversification. The actual value of these resources is shown to be considerable when economic valuation is undertaken. EWRP research has shown, however, that many wetlands have been severely degraded and destroyed as a result of mismanagement. Clearly there is a need for better management of wetlands to ensure that their economic benefits can be sustained along with their environmental functioning for current and future generations. This requires a number of activities including - raising awareness of the importance of wetlands and their contributions to poverty reduction and food security, - developing sustainable use regimes based on the use of indigenous knowledge and scientific studies, - building of local institutional capacity to manage wetlands and their catchments, and - supporting the development of appropriate policies towards wetlands and related natural resources at the community level and in the various government organisations.. Formation of EWNRA EWNRA was formed in 2000 at the termination of the EWRP in order to take the lessons from that programme and apply them both in the south-west and more widely in the country. As a result it concentrates on awareness raising, the provision of technical guidance, support to institutional capacity development - both in communities and government agencies, and policy development. EWNRA was formed by a range of experts who share particular interests and concerns over the future of wetlands in Ethiopia. EWNRA founding members come from various backgrounds and institutions including the Ministry of Agriculture, National Environmental Protection Authority, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organisation, Coffee Authority, an international NGO, the Woody Biomass Project and a private consultancy company. The majority have worked in different government and non-government institutions for many years and have extensive experience of natural resource management issues. For further details contact:
| |||
& COPY; University of Huddersfield. All rights reserved.
Maintained by Adrian Wood
Last update 17/03/05
Back to University Home Page