Projects Currently Active in the Institute
National Information Sharing Mechanism
To support our many years effort regarding conservation and sustainable utilization of the country’s plant genetic resources, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) made available to our country a financial and technical contribution in support for the establishment of the National Information Sharing Mechanism (NISM) on the implementation of the Global of Action (GPA) on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA). FAO is committed to carrying out the Global Plan of Action, under the guidance of the intergovernmental Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), as part of the FAO Global System for the conservation and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources. It is strongly accepted that, plant genetic resources for food and agriculture activities involve public and private institutions and companies, non-governmental organizations, communities and individuals from the conservation, environment, and development sectors. The integration of existing activities in the framework of a unified national programme with the National Information Sharing Mechanism provides the opportunity to enhance such diverse efforts within the country.
Status: Ongoing
Duration: Sept. 2006-Sept. 2007
Focal Person: Dr. Girma Balcha (IBC)
Conservation and Sustainable Use of Medicinal Plants Project (CSMPP)
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: Ongoing
Duration: October 2001-June 2007
Coordinator: Dr. Fassil Kibebew
Research Programme on Sustainable Use of Dryland Biodiversity [RPSUD]
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)
East Africa Plant Genetic Resources Network
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)
