The Contribution of Ethiopian Wetland Resources to Economic Growth and Biodiversity Conservation of the Country

Abstract

Ethiopia has more than 58 different types of natural and manmade wetland lake resources which provide enormous socio-economic and environmental values. However, nowadays these Ethiopian wetland lake resources are under severe problems such as population pressure, aquatic biodiversity loss; drying up, pollution, and degradation. These severe problems are created due to improper extraction, over use, weak management, improper policy and misconceptions forward to wetlands. Consequently the health of the wetland lake resources of the country is continuously decreasing from year to year and from time to time. Therefore, the objective of the study was aimed: 1) to appreciate the wet land lake resources of Ethiopia for their unlimited benefit to local communities and National GDP growth 2) to identify the major threats and challenges of the country’ wetland lake resources and 3) forward the possible correction measures to tackle their problems. Regarding methodology to collect the relevant data, qualitative (descriptive) research methods were used. The data were obtained through interview, field survey, observation, reviewing relevant secondary sources and organized using tables, Graphs, charts then analyzed qualitatively. Among the 100,000 total populations of the wetland lake resource users only 200 sample respondents were selected and interviewed to collect the relevant information regarding the benefit of wetland resources, conservation practices, their attitude towards them and the challenges they faced. The results of this study was expected to have a positive impacts on wetland conservation, to local users, national level, in identifying the challenges and point out the remedial correction measures to solve the problems. The study will have significance in solving problems through realizing the collaboration of relevant stockholders from policy maker’s level to grassroots communities and it is the best opportunity to increase the conservation methods of Ethiopian wetland lake resources.