ADDIS ABABA – Bale Mountains and Abijatta Shala Lakes National Parks have set exemplary courses in boosting biodiversity and in bolstering wildlife conservation tasks as well as in improving tourists’ services.
Aschalew Begashaw Project Operation Supervisor at Frankfurt Geological Society (FGS), a NGO engaged in natural resource protection and development programs, told The Ethiopian Herald that eight scout outposts and two public camp sites had been built and inaugurated in Bale Mountains National Park recently.
Aschalew, who was also former head of the park, said the outpost centers will ease the scouts’ patrolling activities and enhance their efforts in warding off illegal settlements, poaching, deforestation and wild fire in the park. He said the park, which covers 2,150 kilo meters square land has places that are too distant from hotels and lodges. As a result, tourists used to stay in the park for several days without access to basic necessities.
Considering the situation and also in a bid to provide better tourist services, FGS in collaboration with the park management, has built two public camp sites that have fulfilled facilities of basic necessities, according to Aschalew.
He also added that joint efforts are being exerted by the park and local administrations to prevent wild fire breakouts and bring criminals, responsible for damages done, in the park to justice.
“A wide-range of awareness raising activities are being undertaken from Zone to Woreda and Kebele levels. Even if there is a laudatory effort, the support from the Federal Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) is not to the expected level,” stressed Ascahlew.
Banki Gutum, Head of the Abijata Shala Lakes National Park for his part told The Ethiopian Herald that 8,200 hectares of land in the park is under conservation and development program.
Eight unions, which have taken local youths aboard, have taken charge of the conservation and development tasks and they are planting trees posting the logo “We plant the trees by ourselves and grow them by ourselves,” up front, according to Banki.
He said the conservation is bearing fruit that the number of unique wild animals in the park is increasing. The development program at the park has created jobs for more than 200 youths, noted Banki.
Banki said that there are ongoing plans to build community lodges, technical and tourist sites including other facilities in the park. “The number of tourists has increased from 13, 800 to 15,600 in 2019. The protection and conservation activities are being undertaken with integrated efforts of organized youths and local security structures from Woreda to Kebele levels. About 60 scout members are currently on duty,” added Banki.
According to him, the Abijata Shala Lakes National Park is well known for its unique bird species. Pelicans and Flamingos are the prominent ones. Thus creating better habitable conditions for these precious bird species is one of the focal tasks being undertaken in the conservation and development program.
“With all these integrated efforts, I am certain that significant changes will crystalize. The number of tourists will increase and it will contribute to the nation’s foreign currency earning greatly,” he emphasized.
The Ethiopian Herald, Sunday Edition July 28/2019
BY HENOK TIBEBU
