Menagesha, May 23, 2002 (WIC)- The Institute
of Bio-Diversity Conservation and Research
(IBDC) said the
depletion of the forest genetic resources of the country has reached such a
level that it
would make life impossible.
In a study paper
he presented at the International Biodiversity Day celebrated at Suba State
Forest yesterday,
Deputy Director of ICBR, Dr Girma Balcha said the country’s forest coverage
has reached 2.7
per cent now from 40 per cent eighty years ago, thus putting the forest
biodiversity at
stake.
He said life would
be extremely difficult if the level of biodiversity of the country was to go
any
lower but declined
to mention that level that would constitute life threatening.
He said conserving
the forest biodiversity should be top priority for both the public and the
government as
sustainable biodiversity resource was guarantee to life.
He said much of
the country’s forest resource has been cleared due to mainly the need for
agricultural land.
He said it was the
responsibility of the society and the government to conserve, make
sustainable use of
the biodiversity and bequeath it to the posterity.
Speaking or his
part public relations head of the IBCR, Taye Bekele said traditional
environmental
conservation practices should be considered and enhanced while taking
biodiversity
restoration measures.
Apart from
socio-economic benefits, the major environmental functions of forests, are
among
others, eco-system
stability, (Particularly at a time of climatic change) climate amelioration
(shade, soil
improvement, etc), soil and water conservation and mitigation of global
warming.
This year’s International biodiversity day was observed under the theme “Forest Biodiversity”.