ADDIS ABABA – The ongoing National Greening Program, an initiative of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, will hugely reward lower riparian countries of Nile, Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office (ENTRO) said.
ENTRO’s Executive Director Fekeahmed Negash told The Ethiopian Herald that Ethiopia is now actively putting various efforts in green economic development planting billions of seedlings, this, in turn, benefits the lower riparian countries of Nile – Sudan, South Sudan, and Egypt.
Among Nile basin countries, Ethiopia contributes the largest share of water, over 86 percent, and the current effort, when it comes to fruition, is likely to increase the volume of water along the River Nile, he said.
“The sediment from Ethiopia has the potential to fill the dams of lower Nile basin countries. This reduces the water holding capacity of the dams; causes water pollution and they spend much money to clean the water; and also it decreases their fish resources,” he stated.
Environmental degradation in Ethiopia not only affects the volume of waters of the Nile, but it also cuts the service lives of dams at downstream, he said, adding that the greening program tackles these and other challenges.
According to him, Ethiopia’s efforts towards environmental protection will have social and economic benefits as it controls flooding, reduces sedimentation, regulates the flow of the water, uplifts energy production in addition to encouraging navigation and fishery.
He insisted that there is, relatively, high level of soil erosion in Ethiopia. And the responsibility of protecting the erosion is mainly left to Ethiopia. But, the lower Nile basin countries should support Ethiopia’s environmental protection works, he added.
The premier’s initiative of the National Greening Program was launched by the end of last May and the program aims at planting four billion seedlings in this rainy season. Members of the diplomatic corps and various segments of the society have already participated in planting the seedlings.
Meanwhile, the premier as well as announced a day-long plan of planting 200 million tree seedlings which are in addition to the four billion seedlings.
The Ethiopian Herald July 5/2019
BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
