|
|
|
Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Research Biological resources
are fundamental to human well being: in agriculture, livestock, logging,
export earning, economic output and for their ecological services and functions.
Ethiopia, because of its geographical position, range of altitude, rainfall
pattern and soil variability has an immense ecological As a result, Ethiopia is known as one of twelve Vavilov centres of primary plant domestication in the world. Furthermore, due to its geographical position and socio-economic diversity, numerous crop plants that are known to have originated elsewhere have developed an enormous secondary diversification in the Ethiopian region. The flora of Ethiopia is very heterogeneous and has endemic elements. The Semien and Bale Mountains have been identified as areas of plant endemism of continental importance. Their flora is diverse and the afromontane representative show affinities to South African, Eurasian and Himalayan elements. The Southwestern broad-leaved evergreen forests show affinities to the Congolian forests of western Africa. Vegetation types in Ethiopia are highly diverse ranging from afro-alpine to desert vegetation. It has a large number of plant species and a recent work indicated that the number of higher plants was over 7000 species from which ca. 12 % are probably endemic. Likewise, Ethiopia is also unquestionably a critical region for faunistic diversity. With the limited studies that have been undertaken in the country, numerous categories of terrestrial and aquatic resources such as mammals (277 spp.), birds (861 spp.), reptiles (78 spp.), amphibians (54 spp.) and fishes (101 spp.) out of which 22, 27, 3, 17, and 4, endemic species are recorded respectively. Domestic animal species that are known to have originated elsewhere have also developed secondary diversification in Ethiopia. Although there is no substantial studies on microbial resources, preliminary assessments demonstrate the existence of various types and species of microbes in the country. This diversity of biological resources is a clear demonstration of ecosystem diversity and biological wealth existing in the country.
Globally, the value of biodiversity as a key component of the environment was recognized during the build-up to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio in 1992. During this occasion, Ethiopia endorsed and signed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Rio Earth Summit was a global meeting mandated to design integrated strategies that would stop and reverse the negative impact of human behavior on the physical environment and biodiversity and promote environmentally sustainable economic development in all countries. Threats to biological resources Unfortunately, human
activities have greatly reduced biodiversity around the world. The greatest
threat to Ethiopia: Center of origin and/or diversity Ethiopia is considered as one of the richest genetic resources centres in the world in terms of crop diversity ever since the expedition and plant collector N.I Vavilov in the 1920s. This is principally attributed to socio-economic, cultural diversity and complex topography. Crop plants such as coffee, Coffea abyssinica, Safflower, Carthamus tinctorius, ‘tef,’ Eragrostis tef, ‘noog’, Guizotia abyssinica, ‘anchote’, Coccinia abyssinica, etc. are known to have originated in Ethiopia. Local cultivars/farmers’ varieties of several major crops viz. wheat, barley, sorghum, and field pea, faba bean, relatives of some of the world's important crops with enormous genetic diversity are abundant in the Ethiopian region. This potentially useful resource is under constant threat of genetic depletion. Recognising the importance of conserving plant genetic resources and in order to avert the danger of genetic erosion, the former Plant Genetic Resources Centre/Ethiopia (PGRC/E) was established in 1976 to collect, conserve, evaluate, document and promote the utilisation of crop plant germplasm occurring in Ethiopia. Collection and Conservation The genebank, since its establishment, has mounted a series of plant exploration and collection expeditions to collect and conserve the diversity in crop plants occurring in Ethiopia. In general, currently the Institute holds ca 60,000 accessions of some 104 plant species obtained through collection, repatriation and donation. A great portion of the material has been evaluated for various characteristics at appropriate agro-ecological sites. The material collected over the years is being conserved using appropriate conservation practices depending on the storage behaviour, type and the nature of the species. The bulk of the collected material is principally cereals and pulses, among others. In the past, conservation efforts have tended to emphasise the international scientific values of biological diversity and focus on high value and internationally important crop types. Priorities were given to those crop types that face immediate danger of erosion and whose socio-economic importance was great. Recently appropriate emphasis is being placed on the conservation and sustainable utilisation of all forms of biological resources. Cognisant of the importance of conservation and sustainable utilisation of biological resources and the gaps that exist in the national conservation efforts, the government has taken a commendable action with regard to the conservation of the country’s biological resources. It has legally established an institute through a proclamation that provided for the establishment of the Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Research (IBCR) in 1998 with the following general objective. Objective The general objective of the Institute is undertake conservation, study, research and promote the development and sustainable utilisation of the country’s biodiversity. The specific objectives, power and duties of the Institute are indicated elsewhere. Mandate and duties Ethiopia has set a
clear national policy directives on conservation of biological resources
in this country. As of June 1998, the mandate of the Institute has been
expanded to cater not only for plant genetic resources but also for animal
and microbial genetic resources. Ecosystem management is also recognised
as one of areas to be given top priority. Given the importance of biodiversity
and our dependence on biological resources, these biological conservation
efforts give emphasis to local and national needs and values. The Institute
has power and duties related to the conservation, research and utilisation
of biodiversity including maintaining and developing international relations
with bilateral and multilateral bodies having the potential to providing
technical assistance for the support of biodiversity conservation and development.
The Institute on the basis of its national legislation, has the responsibility
and duty to implement international conventions, agreements and obligations
on biodiversity to which Ethiopia is a party.
Contact InformationGeneral Manager of the Institute: Abebe Demissie (Ph.D.)Deputy General Manger
of the Institute:
Girma
Balcha (Ph.D.)
Web Site Developer:
Melaku Kebede(MSc.)
Webmaster: mel_keb@yahoo.com |
|
Send
mail to mel_keb@yahoo.com with questions
or comments about this web site.
|
diversity
and a huge wealth of biological resources. This complex topography coupled
with environmental heterogeneity offers suitable environments for a wide
range of life-forms.
The
diversity of organisms in an ecosystem provides essential foods, medicines,
and industrial materials. As many as 40 percent of modern pharmaceutical
medicines in the developed world are derived from plants or animals. In
Ethiopia, no less than 80 percent of the rural community and a significant
proportion of the urban dwellers depend on herbal medicines for their primary
health care delivery system. In addition to foods, medicine, fuel wood,
and construction materials, biological resource especially forests provide
wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities, prevent soil erosion and
flooding, help provide clean air and water. Biological resources are also
important biotic checks to pests and diseases and serve as defense line
against global climate change.
biodiversity
is loss of habitat as humans develop land for agriculture, grazing livestock,
and unsustainable use such as draining wetlands and clear-cutting forests
for agricultural land and polluting the air, soil, and water through unwise
use of chemical compounds such as herbicide, insecticides, etc. As human
populations increase and their encroachment on natural habitats expands,
humans are having detrimental effects on the very ecosystems on which they
depend. In the Ethiopian context, the most drastic damage has occurred
in the natural high forests and their biological resources that have once
covered more than 42 million ha (35% of total land area) of the land in
the country.
