Biodiversity in Africa
According to the forth session report of Africa on sustainable development by the United Nations Economic Commission Biological diversity, commonly reffered to as biodiversity, is "the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial,marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part: includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems"(convention on Biological Diversity(CBD). Biodiversity includes human beings and the environments they help to shape.
Although its importance has often been greatly undervalued, biodiversity plays a vital role in the wellbeing of millions of people tghrought the region. As such, loss of biodiversity has profound implications for the achivment of poverty reduction and sustainable development in Africa.According to the World Helth Organization estimation 60% children suffering from fever in Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Zambia are trethed at home with herbal mediciens which shows the role of biodiversity in the health sector.
Found in 54 countries in the wide varity of ecosystems Africa's biodiversity represent six of the 25 internationally recognized biodiversity hotspots. According to the African Environmental Outlook(AEO), about 1,000 vertebrate species occur in just four of the 119 eco-regions(covering about 8% of Africa'stotal area); one-quarter(1,229 species), of the the world's approximately 4,700 mammal species occur in Africa, including about 960 species in sub-Sharan Africa and137species in Madagascar; and more than 2,000 bird species, conistituting more than one -fifth of the approximately 10,000 bird species in the world. Africa has about 950 amphibian species(UNEP,2006).
However this biodiversity contniuos to be lost at the high rates throgh five main direct drivers, namely habitat loss, climate change, unsustainable resource use, invassive alien species and pollution.
There are currently more than 3,8oo species of threteathned(vulnurable, endangered and critically endangered) species in Africa according the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(IUCN,2011). However, this number is likely to be higher, as there is not adequate information on 1,800 species for an accurate assesment of their conservation status. There are more than 140 extnict species, which as well as 10 spicies, which are extnict in the wild.
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Ethiopia is one of naturally rich countries in the world having different climate types and diverse flora and fauna. The country natural forest cover has been degrading in alarming rates due to anthropogenic and climate change problems. The remaining limited natural forests have to be protected and wisely utilized with out compromising the needs of the coming generation. Even if Ethiopia has a good environmental policies and have signed international conventions the implementation of this binding regulations on the ground are not satisfactory compared to the impact of the problem.
Therefore Environment Protection program of our organization is working in collaboration with government and non governmental organizations and individuals focusing mainly on addressing issues like, Climate Change, Land Degradation, Sustainable Tourism, Water and Renewable Energy, Pollution, and Sustainable Livelihoods in Ethiopia. It will help the country plan of Building Climate Resilient Green Economy by 2020.
Main Activities
Environmental Education and awareness creation for all communities according to their basic gaps.
Capacity building for regional and local communities and organized actors to implement their green initiatives, projects and conservation activities.
Rehabilitating highly degraded areas with the full and active participation of the local communities.
Becoming a Green Innovation Center to enhance climate change adaptation and technological transfer capacity of the rural communities in Ethiopia.
Conducting and facilitating result oriented practical researches and publications to share information.
Improving the energy specially at the household level by promoting fire efficient stoves and renewable sources.
Networking and incapacitating School environmental clubs and out of school free youth associations.
Contact Environment Program Coordination Unit@......... peenvironment@gmail.com
