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To work for the revival and enhancement of bio-cultural diversity and realization of sustainable livelihoods in Ethiopia through Research, Environmental Education, Participatory Mapping, Endogenous Development and Conservation of Ecosystems. |
The Major Networks in Africa brought together in Addis Ababa from November 23-25, 2009 at Wassamar Hotel to discuss on providing a space to find common ground and developing a 
strategy for working together on issues including climate change, globalization, sustainable agriculture, indigenous peoples etc. The meeting was officially opened by Dr. Strike Mkandla the UNEP representative to the AU, ECA and Ethiopia who expressed his excitement with the new initiative to bring together the various networks and enhance each others’ work.
The meeting resolved to establish an Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), in French; APSA (ALLIANCE PANAFRICAINE POUR LA SOUVERAINETE ALIMENTAIRE). The Alliance, representing small holder farmers, pastoralists, hunter/gatherers, indigenous peoples, citizens and environmentalists from Africa, salute the strong and unified approach that African leaders have taken in the run up to the UNFCC Climate Negotiations. The AFSA team also visited the President of Ethiopia at his palace and shared the Declaration with the President. Full declaration with members’ profile
MELCA Mahiber has produced draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) proclamation to correct the major gaps and limitations of the existing EIA proclamation. This was a step forward in creating credible and functional Environmental Impact Assessment System in Ethiopia. Before drafting the proclamation MELCA, together with Sheka Forest Alliance Members, had organized series of workshops and published a research book entitled “overview of EIA in Ethiopia: Gaps and Challenges” in which one of the outcomes was to undertake a depth research to come up with a generic draft amendment of EIA Proclamation. The draft Proclamation is launched on September 1, 2009 at Hilton Addis Ababa for discussion for all relevant stakeholders. The meeting drew around 50 participants including parliamentarians, officials from five regional states, members of the civic society and concerned individuals.
The existing EIA proclamation has come into force starting from December 2002. However, it has many gaps and is inapplicable because there are no enforcement mechanisms and not strictly implemented. It is believed that the articles added in the amended bill will cover the “holes” in the existing proclamation. The proclamation will be delivered to the Federal Environmental Protection Authority and EPA will send it to the councils of Ministers and then to the parliament for approval. To see the draft law click here.
Training on improved methods of bee husbandry and handling of bee products was given for 180 beekeepers and 20 Development Agents. Of which 48 of them were female. In addition to this, 15 of the trainees were from the minority (marginalized) tribe or the Menja people. This people are mainly living in the forest and they are important actors in beekeeping and also natural resource conservation programs.
The training aims to minimize the degradation of the natural resources through creation of livelihoods options of which beekeeping is one of the potential areas to be integrated. In this aspect creation of awareness and maximizing the outputs of non timber forest products that will economically empower and convince the communities to conserve their ecosystem for economic reasons are very essential. The training is supported by SNV Ethiopia
Consultative Workshop on Biofuels with Oromia Regional Government Decision makers was held on April 28, 2009 at Ethiopia Hotel, Addis Ababa. The purpose of the workshop was to exchange information on the latest global and national issues concerning biofuels developments and challenges in actual implementation and the associated impacts on food security and the environment.
MELCA Mahiber has organized a Training workshop on the generic issues of Biodiversity, Agricultural Diversity, Industrial Agriculture, Biofuels and GMO's for print and broadcast Media Journalists on March 30, 2009, at Ethiopia Hotel, Addis Ababa. The workshop was attended by representatives of 19 print and broadcast media journalists of both the government and free press including members of the Ethiopian Environmental Journalists Association.
Training was given to 53 judges, prosecutors and justice administrations of Sheka Zone from March 25 - 27/2008 on Environmental related laws and its implementation. The purpose of the training was to follow up and share experiences they have developed after the last training among each other. The participants witnessed that after the last year training, they have started to implement environmental related laws and concern to forest and biodiversity than ever before.
The fourth Annual General Meeting of MELCA Mahiber was held on Saturday, March 21, 2009, at Axum Hotel in Addis Ababa. Dr. Tewelde-Berhan G/Egiziabiher the chairman of general assembly opened the meeting officially.
The annual activities and financial reports of 2008 are presented by Ato Million Belay the Director of MELCA and Ato Awoke G/silase from external auditors respectively. The Board Chairman, Dr. Melaku Wored presented the newly developed strategy plan for 2009-2012. Read more
MELCA Mahiber undertakes strategic planning from March 9 -11/2007 at Debreziet. All the staffs of MELCA were participated in the strategic planning process. The process was facilitated by Paulin Wilson, a volunteer from England. The initiative arose from the need for planning MELCA’s activities so as to engage in effective service delivery in the areas of advocacy, endogenous development and intergenerational learning and for improving MELCA’s programmes and activities in rtion to the changes in the political, social, and economic environments. Read the strategic document
MELCA has published a book called “a rapid assessment of biofuel developments in Ethiopia” regarding the base line study and research on the national biofuel strategy and its implementations in five regions of Ethiopia. The book also incorporates the proceedings of the national workshop on EIA and Biofuels supported by Gaia Foundation and African Biodiversity Network (ABN)
To conduct the ground survey a spot satellite image was used as a base map. Together with GPS data; information on socioeconomic activities, history of the sacred sites, the primary distributions of key plant and animal species were also identified and mapped.
