Institute of Biodiversity Conservation

Convention on Biological Diversity 4th National Report

Article 26 of the Convention states that the objective of national reporting is to provide information on measures taken for the implementation of the Convention and the effectiveness of these measures. In accordance with Article 6, measures to be addressed, in light of specific national circumstances, are reflected in the national biodiversity strategy and action plan.

At its eighth meeting (Curitiba, March 2006), the Conference of the Parties considered a preliminary synthesis of information contained in the third national reports that had been received by the end of October 2005. The meeting also endorsed the guidelines for the fourth national report that had been prepared according to guidance provided by the first meeting of the Working Group on Review of Implementation (recommendation I/9). Consideration was also given to relevant views expressed by Parties at the eighth meeting and further comments submitted by some Parties. The guidelines for the fourth national reports were developed based on the experience and lessons learned from previous reporting processes under the Convention, in particular from the second and third national reports. The multiple-choice questionnaire, the main format adopted for these earlier reports, has proven less helpful than expected for review and decision-making processes under the Convention, focusing too narrowly on COP decisions addressed to Parties rather than providing a complete picture of national implementation. The fourth national report provides an important opportunity to assess progress towards the 2010 target, drawing upon an analysis of the current status and trends in biodiversity and actions taken to implement the Convention at the national level, as well as to consider what further efforts are needed.

Status: Finalized

Duration: April. 2009-Nov. 2009

Focal Person: Dr. Girma Balcha (IBC)

Coordinator: Mr Abiyot Berhanu

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Medicinal plants and traditional medicine play an important role in the health care system of most developing countries. In Ethiopia about 80% of human population and 90% of livestock rely on traditional medicine. The traditional health care practice is mainly dependent on medicinal plants collected from the wild. In spite of this, the medicinal plant biodiversity is being depleted due to man-made and natural calamities. Moreover, the indigenous knowledge associated with the conservation and use of medicinal plants is also disappearing at an alarming rate. In light of the importance of these resources that provide the health care needs for the majority of human and livestock population in Ethiopia, and also the fact that medicinal plants could be used as sources of revenue for farmers, the Institute of Biodiversity Conservation (IBC) has initiated the development of a project on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Medicinal Plants (CSMPP) in collaboration with relevant stakeholders in October 2001.

Status: Finalized

Duration: ?

Coordinator: Dr. Fassil Kibebew

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RPSUD is a project initiated to promote participatory research, development and sustainable management of dryland biodiversity. The programme was started in 1995 and is implemented by a consortium of three countries: Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania, under the leadership of: the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), Institute of Biodiversity Conservation (Ethiopia), Addis Ababa university (Ethiopia) and the Dar es Salaam University (Tanzania). The NMK is the lead institution and also hosts the secretariat. The consortium is supported by the Swedish International Development Agency and Swedish Agency for Research and Cooperation (SIDA/SAREC) and the national programmes of the four institutions.

RPSUD is working with a mission to build, promote and sustain capacity for sustainable management of biodiversity in dryland areas of eastern Africa through training, research, information packaging and dissemination, for the benefit and well being of communities in the sub-region.

Status: Ongoing

Focal Person: Feaven Workeye (IBC)

RPSUD GRANTED PROJECTS IN IBC
1. Soil seed flora regeneration and dynamics of plant species in Kelala Dalecha in Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia
Coordinator: Gemedo Dale (PhD)

2. Assessment of Elephant population, Human-Elephant conflict and vegetation in Babille Elephant Sanctuary.
Coordinator: Yirmed Demeke (MSc)

3. Biodiversity assessment and human impact in and around Yangodi Rassa National Park, North Ethiopia.

Coordinator: Abiyot Berhanu (MSc)

The Eastern Africa Plant Genetic Resources Network (EAPGREN) was initiated by a Stakeholders Meeting held in Kampala 3-5 November 1997. EAPGREN is a regional joint project of National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) of the ASARECA member countries, viz Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan and Uganda. Within these countries, there are the national focal points for the networks. This network has contributed a lot for our Institute mainly in capacity building.

Status: Ongoing

Focal Person: Dr. Kassahun Embaye (IBC)

The montane rainforests of south-eastern Ethiopia are the cradle of wild Coffea arabica, the archetype of a large proportion of modern commercial coffee breeds. Due to the dwindling size of the montane rainforests the precious resource of wild Coffea arabica has become threatened.

The overall objective of the project Conservation and use of the wild populations of Coffea arabica in the montane rainforests in Ethiopia (CoCE)is to combine

• the conservation of the genetic diversity of wild coffee with
• the conservation of the diversity of species and ecosystems within the montane rainforests.

The current second project phase running from August 2006 to July 2009 focuses on the development of implementation strategies of model character for the concurrent conservation and use of both wild Coffea arabica and its natural habitat in the center of its diversity, the montane rainforests of southwestern Ethiopia.

For more information please visit the Project Overview and Research Outline.

Find out about CoCE, the project name.