The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has endorsed the biodiversity management protocol today in Addis Ababa.
The protocol is signed during the ministerial level meeting among members of the IGAD to scale up the biodiversity, livelihood and sustainable development of the region at large.
Executive secretary of the IGAD, Ambassador, Mahboub Maalim (Eng) said that members of the IGAD should strive more and play their pivotal role to the implementation of the protocol in order to build a resilience region against climate change, desertification and economic shocks of communities.
He added that the protocol signed today is a mile stone that enhances the integration into the Pan African environment protection process as outlined by the African Union Agenda 2063 and its 10 year implementation plan as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The secretary has extended his appreciation to the European Union for financial support for the implementation of the IGAD biodiversity program and further extended his gratitude to the Ethiopian government for hosting the ministerial meeting.
Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of Ethiopia, Gemedo Dalle (PhD) on his part said that Ethiopia is optimistic to share the its comprehended experience in biodiversity to other African countries and at the same time to draw lessons from others to assure economic integration in the region.
He also said that the region is rich in biodiversity and simultaneously populated. Such protocols are valuable for the sake of livelihood, economic strength and prosperity at large.
Ministers from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda have attended the protocol endorsement program, Walta learnt.