attachment 1650 EWNHS Newsletter April June 2013

ETHIOPIAN WILDLIFE & NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY April – June 2013 Inside this issue       Exhibitions Farewell of ...

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ETHIOPIAN WILDLIFE & NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY April – June 2013 Inside this issue  

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Exhibitions Farewell of Volunteer Ingrid le Ru World Environment Day BirdLife World Congress, 18-22 June Field Trip to Yabello/Neghelle World Migratory Bird Day

Environmental protection: Full speed ahead! 5th National Ethiopian Earth day

From the 20th -22nd April 2013, the 5th Ethiopian Earth day took place in the Ghion Hotel, Meskel Square. It was an eventful and fulfilling occasion, where defender and fighter for Ethiopia’s nature and biodiversity came together with the objective of sharing and exchanging their experiences and ideas for nature’s well-being. The beautiful garden of Ghion Hotel illustrated the perfect place for a three day exhibition. At more than 50 booths one could inform, inspire and exchange himself by ambitious NGOs and commercial companies that eagerly pursue their goal and vision of a “greener” Ethiopia. Companies offered information about their green technology products ranging from fuel saving stoves, over organic fertilizer, eco friendly bird watching tours, hand-made fabric bags, books made of recycled paper, as well as environment friendly cosmetics. Local organizations introduced their projects, covering biodiversity conservation, wildlife management and soil management. At such an event EWNHS, of course, is not missing. We used our presence to bring our vision closer and explained our working programme to Our staff member Fitsum presenting EWNHS to a visitor. potential members. Many introductions of our organization ended in very fruitfully and nice conversations with both current members and new people. Next to it, we distributed free copies of our brochures widely as well as our scientific and researched-based publications that could be purchased. Our staff members also took the opportunity to visit other stands and come into contact with interesting organizations, having the same visions as we do: protecting Ethiopia’s varying and diverse nature.

Furthermore, on Monday the final day the panel on “Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy, its current status and the way forward in view of the Growth and Transformation Plan” has been organized. Leading figures of Ethiopia’s politics like from the Climate Change Forum Ethiopia, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Federal Environmental Protection Authority, the Ministry of Trade and Industry as well as the Ministry of Water and Energy hold informative speeches. They all referred to and underlined the importance protecting Mother Earth otherwise we run the risk of facing a collapse. Simultaneously, The event was rounded off by performances of the they concluded that Ethiopia is getting the chance of building organizer and schools. up a sustainable economy. However, statistics show that Ethiopia’s carbon emission rose from 50 million tons per year to 65. This statistics illustrates the importance of supplying the rural areas with fuel saving stoves and

to electrify urban areas with biogas. Concerning this the audition was informed that the government is planning to raise the number of fuel saving stoves by four folds in 2015. Furthermore it was stated that the cement, textile, leather and the chemical industry inhabit the biggest carbon emissions. The cement industry thereby contributes 50% of all Ethiopian carbon emissions. It was advised to replace clinker by the highly microvesicular glass pyroclastic pumice. As well as the chemical industry, which is focused on fertilizer, should step over comprehensively to organic fertilizer. Environmental Engagement in Schools Celebration of World Environment Day

In the same development EWNHS was represented at the “Ethiopian Wildlife Exhibition Festival” with the theme “Conserving the Simien Mountains” taking place from the 29th to 30th June at the Exhibition Centre of Addis Abeba. It was an eventful occasion with plenty of informative discussions and knowledge exchanges.

Volunteer Maren at the Exhibition

At the 5th of June our Project Coordinator Ato Geremew Selassie attended the celebration of World Environment Day in the elementary school “Battu No. 1” primary school. The event was celebrated with plenty of activities by students, such as drama performances about nature conservation as well as songs and poems. Our leaflets about the need of conserving acacia trees in the Central Rift Valley were distributed freely. Additionally, the event was attended by many relevant stakeholders from the area, like government offices, local people, and religious institutions. Further, Battu/Ziway Town Administration played a central role in the organization of the event.

Au revoir! Farewell of our volunteer Ingrid Le Ru In the middle of May we had to say “au revoir” to our highly appreciated volunteer Ingrid Le Ru. Ingrid was not only the first volunteer from abroad in our society, but she also set a remarkable milestone in supporting our society voluntarily. During her three months stay she offered daily her full commitment in the CEPF programme. Ingrid has started a new permanent vacation in Paris in June. She is leaving us with a lasting impression due to her efficient and professional way of working, her constant motivation and vigor and due to her lovely and warm-hearted personality. With a crying and smiling eye we wish her all the best for her future!

International Meeting It is BirdLife characterized a series of montane Worldby Congress, 18-22 June “islands” and high plateaus. Because of its geographical position, range of altitude, rainfall pattern and soil In average every 18 months the BirdLife World Congress takes place in various places. In 2013 Canada was the host. In the framework of the congress one day earlier, on the 17th June, the Council for African Partnership meeting took place. The congress foresaw various side events, in which our Executive Director, Mengistu Wondafrash participated. The Secretariat of CEPF, a global leader in enabling civil society to participate in and benefit from conserving some of the world’s most critical ecosystems, organized in cooperation with BirdLife a side event. A series of presentations and case studies highlighted the work carried out in each of the key areas, followed by a question and answer session. Ato Mengistu informed the participants within a presentation about the Eastern Afromontane’s geography, its conservation outcomes, investment strategies, regional implementation teams and the achievements in the area so far. The workshop “Local to Global: Mobilizing grassroots for effective conservation action” dealt with improving the effectiveness of BirdLife’s local to global approach. Therefore, it was elaborated on   



how local data and information has been used in national and international policy how the Partnership has helped local voices to be heard by decision-makers at district or national level how networks have communicated international legislation and obligations to local stakeholders, and raised awareness of international values of biodiversity at the local level and how the partnership has mobilised international resources and expertise to support local action

In order to best answer and elaborate on these questions experiences of good practice and knowledge among the participants were shared. In a third side event called “Migratory Soaring Birds Project (MSB)”, the role of birdlife Partners in the MSB project 2013 and beyond was dealt with. In the consultative meeting on the African Eurasian Waterbird agreement participants talked about Single Species Action Plan, which foresees amongst others to protect the Ethiopian “White-winged Flufftail”, a bird who is critically endangered.

Ato Mengistu with CEPF’S Executive Director Patricia Zurita at BirdLife International World Congress.

Wildlife Sanctuary and Liben Lark Field Trip Yabello and Neghelle From June 21 to July 6 our Project Leader Ato Yilma Abebe conducted a 17 day trip. It was divided to visiting the project in Yabello and Neghelle. Most of the trip's time was devoted to Yabello this time and technical assistance was given to the Wildlife Sanctuary. Time in Neghelle had a focus of discussing future conservation remedies and action for the Liben Lark with relevant governmental bodies. Ato Yilma used the opportunity to provide technical backup to the Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary and Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprise in its move to redemarcate the wildlife areas in the region. This consisted of assisting in the organization of a one-day workshop. In this context, he presented two power p point presentations on the "value of wildlife to society" and "pastoralism and conservation" in front of over 100 participants.

Meeting and discussion on the demarcation on the wildlife areas.

Further, he met new Government appointees namely a new Woreda administrator for Liben Woreda in Neghelle. This provided an opportunity to explain the project to some detail. The Birdlife project has obtained assurances of continued support from the new Woreda administration.

Within a meeting with the Director of PEDI (Pastoralist and Environmental Development Initiative) the potential and possibilities of working together with the EWNHS were discussed. PEDI is a new local NGO which has been recently registered with the Charities and Societies Agency to carry out livelihood and conservation and environmental awareness work on the Didaliben plains. PEDI's initiation and strength comes from the years of advocacy and lobbying work that EWNHS has been carrying out with its partners on the conservation of the Liben Lark and its habitat at Didaliben plains. PEDI owns a 10 ha grassland area on the periphery of the Liben plains which it intends to use for conservation action with possibilities of experimenting on conversion to good grasslands for the Liben Lark. As part of the field trip site visits to Didaliben were conducted to see PEDI's 10 ha protected site and also visit LPDA's (Liben Pastoralsit Development Association) 120 ha grassland enclosure site at Siminto PA. These visits especially LPDA's grasslands enclosure gave us insights of the possibilities of what the traditional "Kello" can provide by the way of good habitat for wildlife and livelihoods of pastoralists. The site visit to LPDA's grassland enclosure on 03/072013 gave away a pair of the endemic White-tailed Swallows. The trip also provided time to decide on the employment of two project officers (POs) for Yabello and Neghelle.

Celebration of Migratory/Soaring Birds

World Migratory Bird Day, Ethiopia Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society (EWNHS) and Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) jointly organized the celebration of the World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) on 17-18 May 2013 at Kaleb Hotel and Lake Zway, respectively. The major objective of the workshop was to sensitize the challenges that migratory

The project has for the last month and a half been going through a selection process to identify an appropriate person for the job of project officer at Yabello and Neghelle. Birdfair project is being implemented at two sites. The former PO at Neghelle had left and it has not been possible to recruit an appropriate person for Yabello upto now due to a number of reasons.

birds are facing in agricultural sector through addressing the problem areas and giving practical explanations to the stakeholders and to exchange views and opinions to act together for the conservation of birds in general and migrant birds in particular. The celebration of the event comprised two parts. The first was a workshop held in Kaleb Hotel, Addis Ababa. The entire attendance underlined the need to bring the conservation of migratory/soaring birds (MSB) into focus: “Birds are good indicators of biodiversity “. The workshop commenced with an opening speech made by a representative of the Director of Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority who pointed out the journey of migrant birds, which is a dangerous and arduous exercise exposing them to lack of adequate food supplies, bad weather, and predators. Following presentations dealt with Bird migration and needs, threats and significance, agrochemicals in Ethiopia, the impacts of agrochemicals on Migratory Birds, migratory Birds and Networking as well as ***(e). Group Picture in front of Kebele Hotel, Addis Abeba

The meeting agreed that identifying proper stakeholders – with particular emphasis to actors in the central rift valley of Ethiopia – for conservation of birds is vital to establish partnership/network through which transfer of knowledge is accentuated in the protection of our environment. In view of this, the meeting urged EWCA and EWNHS, leading organizations on conservation of birds, to collaborate with individuals or other environmental organizations including universities to generate and gather information and exchange the same with decision makers. The second part foresaw a field trip to Lake Zway the next day. Ornithologists from EWCA and EWNHS gave detailed briefings to the group about the site which receives congregator species of migrant birds and the significance of the site as one of Ethiopia’s Important Bird Areas. The experts also explained the importance Ato Mehret from EWCA provides information on MSBs at Lake Zway of wetlands as being bird habitats and the ecosystem service they provide to natural habitat. The explanations also include major threats to wetlands referred

to in relation to Lake Zway. Agriculture pesticide use by the near-by flower farm and the un-treated effluents that come out from the same and directed to the lake and its negative impacts on the lake was one of the discussion points that held the attention of the group. Currently, the lake is reported to be diluted by the effluents which endangered the life forms found in the same. The group came to realize that there is little or no awareness of the status and the importance of wetlands. Although there are research outputs on lakes and wetlands, the group generally agreed that it was necessary to disseminate the same at a wider scale to create awareness.

We wish you a pleasant day! Best regards, EWNHS