የብዝሀ ሕይወት ማዕከል ወደ ሆነችው ኢትዮጵያ እንኳን በደህና መጡ!

Message from the Director General

Dear Visitors, Partners, and Fellow Ethiopians,

Ethiopia is recognized as one of the world’s most biodiverse nations.  Our rugged highlands, vast lowlands, and the rift valley lakes hold the genetic codes of the wild relatives of our staple food, and the endemic wildlife that defines our national identity. The Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute bears the profound responsibility of being the steward of these natural assets since its establishment in the 1970s.

We envision beyond conservation. We are tasked with the dynamic challenge of ensuring that Ethiopia’s genetic resources contribute to the prosperity of our people while remaining protected for the future. Our motto is ‘Conservation PLUS’. It is about unlocking the hidden value of our genetic resources to enrich the people and nature of Ethiopia.

One of our focuses is inventory and research for enhanced conservation and sustainable utilization of our genetic resources and associated indigenous knowledges. We cannot protect what we do not know. Our researchers are continuously working to discover, document, and map the incredible diversity of our genetic resources. We will continue to uncover, identify, and understand Ethiopia’s genetic resource potential through the implementation of digital tools.

In terms of conservation and security, the EBI, through its network of in-situ and gene bank facilities, is securing the biological foundation of Ethiopia’s food sovereignty and ecosystem health. In addition to the gene bank facility at the headquarters in Addis Ababa, we are in the final stages of launching a state-of-the-art duplicate gene bank facility in Fiche, North Shewa. Our gene bank facilities have the capability to conserve the genetic resources of plants, animals, and microorganisms. Expansion of safety duplicate gene banks will continue to ensure agricultural resilience to climate change while protecting indigenous genetic heritage. The expansion and strengthening of in-situ conservation mechanisms, such as community seed banks and biosphere reserves, should also receive due attention.

We are also committed to the principles of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS). We believe that the communities and the nation that preserve our genetic resources must be the primary beneficiaries when they are used for commercial or scientific purposes. The negotiation tables are aligned with national interests and community benefits. Notable recent actions may include, but are not limited to, the collaborations established with Docomo Oils PLC on Osyris quadripartite, CGS Sementi on Eragrostis tef, and Etcare on Spirulina.

There is a real challenge of climate change, habitat loss, and invasive alien species.  We cannot succeed alone. Whether you are a student seeking knowledge, a researcher looking for collaboration, or a citizen wanting to contribute, your engagement is vital.

Dr. Karta K. Kalsa
ዋና ዳይሬክተር
Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute
አዲስ አበባ