German’s century-old environmental protection institute, NABU, has recently inaugurated its African office in Ethiopia, a significant milestone for the renowned German Institute for Nature and Biodiversity Conservation (NABU), which was founded 125 years ago.
The decision to establish this office in Addis Ababa reflects NABU’s recognition of Ethiopia’s exceptional biodiversity and its pivotal role as a gateway to Africa.
Jörg Andreas Kruger, the president of NABU, emphasized that Ethiopia stands out as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, making it an ideal location to foster relationships and expand conservation efforts across the continent.
The establishment of the Addis Ababa office underscores NABU’s commitment to collaborate with African countries and institutions to spearhead nature and biodiversity conservation initiatives.
NABU’s longstanding commitment to environmental conservation spans across Europe, Asia, and now Africa.
With ongoing projects in seven African countries, including Ethiopia, NABU has invested over 1 million euros since 2006 to support various conservation endeavors.
In Ethiopia, NABU’s projects are diverse and impactful. They include safeguarding the Kafa biosphere ecosystem in the southwest, protecting the Sheka forest, conserving the Yayu ecosystem in the Oromia region, and overseeing biodiversity preservation efforts around Lake Tana in the Amhara region.
Svane Bender, the head of NABU Africa, affirmed that the organization’s presence in Ethiopia marks the beginning of an ambitious expansion of nature and biodiversity conservation activities throughout the continent.
Central to NABU’s approach is the integration of society, investors, and government officials and experts at all levels to ensure sustainable conservation practices.
NABU’s reach extends beyond Ethiopia, with ongoing projects in Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Madagascar, and Côte d’Ivoire.
By collaborating with local stakeholders and leveraging its expertise, NABU is poised to make substantial contributions towards preserving Ethiopia’s natural heritage and safeguarding biodiversity across Africa.
As the oldest non-governmental organization in Europe and Germany, founded in 1899 in Berlin, NABU boasts a network of 900,000 volunteers dedicated to environmental stewardship and biodiversity preservation.
According to Ethiopia Biodiversity Institute, Ethiopia’s ecological diversity is unparalleled, owing to its unique topography, varied altitude, rainfall patterns, and soil composition.
With an estimated 6,000 species of higher plants, 284 species of wild mammals, and 861 species of birds, Ethiopia harbors a rich tapestry of biodiversity, including numerous endemic species.
However, Ethiopia’s biodiversity faces formidable threats, including habitat conversion, unsustainable resource utilization, invasive species, climate change, and pollution.
