Regardless of their ideological stance or political philosophy, Ethiopian administrations have always prioritized environmental conservation and management, as well as forest growth. They have been striving to rehabilitate the deteriorated land. As a result, Ethiopia has been actively involved in environmental protection measures to solve numerous environmental concerns and promote sustainable development, including reforestation and afforestation programs.
Since the country’s political change in the middle of 2018, attempts to preserve and safeguard the degraded land have also persisted. Ethiopia has thus started large-scale tree-planting initiatives, including the Green Legacy Initiative, to fight soil erosion, desertification, and deforestation. The country wants to expand the amount of forest cover and rehabilitate degraded areas by planting billions of trees.
Another historic endeavor by the country to protect the environment and the land is the use of sustainable land management. Terracing, agroforestry, and other sustainable land management techniques have been used in Ethiopia to improve soil fertility, stop erosion, and increase agricultural production. These initiatives promote the livelihoods of populations reliant on agriculture while also assisting in environmental conservation.
Due to its vulnerability to the effects of climate change, such as droughts, floods, and irregular rainfall patterns, Ethiopia is also actively supporting and putting these policies into practice. It has created programs and methods for adapting to climate change to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, support renewable energy sources, and increase community resilience.
In his 2019 academic paper titled “Efforts Initiated to Ensure Environmental Sustainability in Ethiopia,” Zewde Alemayehu, a lecturer at Kebri Dehar University, noted that Ethiopia had established an environmental policy, an environmental impact assessment, a national biodiversity conservation strategy, and legal and regulatory reforms to manage its natural resources and environment through proclamation No. 9/1995. This is vital to meet the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This will improve and enhance the health and quality of life for all Ethiopians and promote sustainable social and economic development through the wise management and use of natural, man-made, and cultural resources as well as the environment as a whole. In general, these initiatives must be incorporated into the next strategies, plans, and project development to guarantee environmental sustainability.
The country is indeed working to conserve biodiversity throughout the country. Ethiopia is home to a variety of ecosystems and wildlife, including the Simien Mountains National Park and the Bale Mountains National Park. To help local economies, conservation efforts prioritize biodiversity protection, habitat preservation, and sustainable tourism promotion.
Waste management systems are another crucial aspect of environmental protection. Ethiopia is attempting to lower plastic pollution, enhance waste management procedures, and encourage recycling and trash segregation. Among the initiatives are recycling facilities in metropolitan areas, awareness campaigns, and community-based garbage collecting systems.
Here, the most essential question here is whether Ethiopian environmental work is scientifically grounded or not. Why are scientific approaches necessary for environmental conservation in Ethiopia?
Environmental activist Dr. Mengistu Wube, who has conducted research in the fields of agriculture both inside and outside of Ethiopia as well as written books and conducted numerous studies on the subject of food security, told the local media that various forms of environmental protection work are being done in Ethiopia. These works strengthen the country’s efforts to protect its natural resources and the environment.
Furthermore, Ethiopia can feed the area through biodiversity preservation and growth. From this perspective, the development efforts made in recent years for soil and water protection, as well as green Legacy Imitative projects, have yielded significant advantages. Hence, it is imperative to intertwine the environmental protection task with scientific methods, he said.
According to him, “If the development works are not carried out scientifically and sustainably, the desired results cannot be achieved, so the protection of the environment and natural resources should be strengthened accordingly”.
Ethiopia should indeed implement scientific methods to address various environmental problems since guiding these efforts by scientific methods and research is important to inform decision-making bodies, policy development, and implementation of environmental protection measures. The government also should follow scientific methods for research and data collection, monitoring and evaluation, modeling and forecasting.
Besides, Ethiopia may benefit from scientific discoveries and technical developments to strengthen environmental protection efforts. Remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), drones, and other instruments are being used to map, monitor, and manage natural resources. Another key area for environmental activity is capacity building and education, since investing in scientific competence among government agencies, research institutions, and communities may help them better comprehend environmental challenges and support sustainable behaviors. Education and awareness-raising efforts are also important in cultivating an environmental stewardship mindset.
According to him, to scientifically support the country’s environmental protection efforts, the education system should begin teaching about environmental protection in preschool, and the role of indigenous knowledge-based institutions should be expanded. This is critical for sustainable natural resource protection, land management, and land use policy. Soil and water conservation efforts play an important part in preserving the country’s food supply.
Humans’ brutality to nature and natural resources is producing several crises and environmental issues around the world, particularly in Ethiopia. Thus, establishing scientific techniques and implementing a climate-resilient plan is critical to reversing the danger of climate change on food security and its consequences. In this context, the summer wheat development, yeLemat turfat, and Green Legacy Initiatives, which the government is focusing on, are promising, he stated.
Specifically, in the second phase of the Green Legacy Initiative, the country intends to plant 25 billion tree seedlings over four years. As a result, 60 percent of mixed forest plantations, 35 percent of forests, and 5 percent of urban beauty saplings will be planted. The project is part of Ethiopia’s attempts to achieve food security. As a result, adopting this scientifically will help the country much, he stated.
For the benefit of current and future generations, Ethiopia generally seeks to address environmental concerns, conserve natural resources, and advance sustainable development. Therefore, incorporating scientific methodologies into Ethiopia’s environmental management procedures can help the country make well-informed decisions, carry out focused actions, and succeed in resolving environmental issues. To further enhance the nation’s ability to safeguard the environment and advance sustainable development by scientific means, Ethiopia should cooperate with scientific institutions, research groups, and international partners.
BY EPHREM ANDARGACHEW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 24 MARCH 2024
