Faculty Requests Return Of Plant Species In Foreign Countries

Addis Ababa, January 09, 2003 (WIC)- The Faculty of Natural Science, Addis Ababa University has called for the return of the country's plant species taken by foreign researchers since the middle of the 19^th century.

National Plant Museum Head with the Faculity, Dr. Sebsebe Demisew told WIC that 20 percent of the country's 6,500-plant specimen have been taken to Europe mainly for research purposes.

Dr. Sebsebe said the Belgium government has retuned 350 of Ethiopia's 1,850 plant specimen kept in that country while the UK, Germany, Italy and France have also shown willingness to return the specimen in their possessions.

He said in addition to the five volumes published earlier, a three-volume document containing the country's plant species found both at home and abroad will be published this year.