MELCA-Ethiopia Collaborating with Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute and Farm Africa Conduct Validation Workshop on Draft National Biosphere Reserve Policy

To date exist five biosphere reserves in Ethiopia: Kafa (2010), Yayu (2010), Sheka Forest (2012) and Lake Tana (2015), and Majang Forest (2017) registered by the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). MELCA-Ethiopia collaborating with federal and regional governments and with the financial support of Norwegian People´s Aid (NPA) and Sida facilitating, nominating and adopting the Sheka and Majang forest biosphere reserves.
MELCA-Ethiopia with financial support from Sida and in collaboration with Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute and Farm Africa has conducted a validation workshop on the Draft National Biosphere Reserve Policy on July 15, 2022, at Addis Ababa.
In the Validation workshop Dr. Mellese Mariyo Director General of Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI), Ato Asaye Asnake from Farm Africa and Ato Solomon Kebede Executive Director of MELCA-Ethiopia opened the forum with their opening speech.

By focusing on policy background and justification the draft Ethiopian Biosphere Reserve Policy has been presented by some of the study team Dr. Feleke Woldeyes Deputy Director General, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI) Dr. Girma Eshetu Director, Ecosystem directorate, EBI, and Ato Fikremariam G/Melaku Associate researcher and Senior legal expert.
In the validation workshop, various stakeholders from government institutions, civic society organizations, and universities participated in the workshop. In the presented papers and the draft national biosphere reserve policy workshop participants discussed with the group and reflect on their perspectives and give constructive comments.
Additionally, the participant remarks the draft policy should present to the policy makers’ government bodies to approve the following draft policy and that it is important to focus on the implementation of the policy.