Addis Ababa, November 17, 2023 (FBC) – The REDD+ Investment Program phase II which is part of Ethiopia’s forestry Development has been launched in the presence of high level government officials, members of the diplomatic community and representatives of partner organizations.
During the launching program, the Agriculture Minister of Ethiopia, Girma Amente (PhD) stated that forests are source of food, wood, fodder and herbal medicine among the community.
Ethiopia is one of the five countries in Africa and among the 25 countries in the world known for their biological diversity and the country’s forest resources are home to diverse plants and wildlife, he said.
“Our forest ecosystems are the sources of freshwater that they control floods, prevent soil erosion and reduce sedimentation on dams and regulate climatic condition,” he said.
The minister added that Ethiopia is protecting biodiversity-rich forests, restoring degraded lands and introducing innovations and best practices aimed at transforming the forestry sector.
“Norway’s support is aligned to Ethiopia’s policy aimed at increasing the resilience of vulnerable communities to the negative effects of climate change, reducing carbon emissions and addressing deforestation and forest degradation.
Mubarek Eliyas, member of the House of Peoples Representatives and Chairperson of the Agriculture Standing Committee of the parliament, on his part said that the government of Ethiopia has shown its determination to mitigate climate change and control environmental degradations.
He added that Ethiopia has put in place policies and strategies to maintain forests with the help of sustainable management and restore degraded landscapes and the ecosystem.
On the launching program, achievements on the first phase of the REDD+ investment program were appraised.