Strengthening Protected Areas

January 12, 2020

UNDP has signed an agreement with the Government of Ethiopia to enhance the management and enforcement of protected areas and address the pertinent challenges of biodiversity degradation and wildlife trafficking.

The agreement builds on existing cooperation over the years on protected areas and eco system management.

The current contribution from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and UNDP will be for USD 7.5 million.

Over the past years, we have invested USD 16.8 million, with the GEF providing 12.8 million in financing while UNDP’s share of contribution to these projects amounted to USD 4 million.

This intervention is vital for a country that is one of the top 25 countries that has been endowed with vast biodiversity resources and is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. The extinction of rhinos in the country of great concern and the extinction of this precious wildlife also means that Ethiopia can no longer mention the Big Five, which would have
enhanced the country’s wildlife tourism market.

UNDP has been supporting Ethiopia’s protected areas since 2008 through its Sustainable Development of Protected Area System (SDPASE) and Mainstreaming Agro-biodiversity in the Agricultural System of Ethiopia (MAB) projects. These projects have been
helping Ethiopia to work on improving safe-guards for the country’s unique biodiversity and wildlife resources.

Previous support has focused on helping Ethiopia strengthen the wildlife sector including through the revision of its wildlife policy and strategies; gazetting of seven protected areas; and the sustainable conservation and production of four farmer variety crops.

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Previous engagement project document

Sustainable Development of the Protected Area System in Ethiopia (SDPASE)