Seminar on EIA for sustainable development, Ethiopia

 The Biology Department of Ambo University conducted a one-day seminar on EIA for Sustainable Development on March 20, 2015 . The programme was supported by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, India, by providing two of their resource persons for lectures. The programme was attended by over 100 participants.   

The seminar was inaugurated by Dr. Mitiku Tesso, President of the Ambo University. Dr. Mitiku added “while looking at the issue from Ethiopia that has been scaling heights of progress and development for the last two decades, there is a huge need for advocacy and planning required in the areas of EIA.”  While mentioning about the prestigious Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the President said that the country’s experts were pledged to ensure that the dam becomes a reality at an extraordinary pace, sustaining itself and its natural surrounding without taxing much on the Mother Earth. In his presidential address, Academic and Research Vice President, Dr. Lakew Wondimu recollected that those countries that have rightly implemented the EIA, continue enjoying the developmental activities, costing the least to the natural environment.

Resource persons from CSE, India, Mr. Nivit Kumar Yadav and Mr. Sujit Kumar Singh took sessions on the following topics- ‘Strategic Environmental Assessment: Need of the hour’ and ‘EIA Process in India’ respectively. Organizing Secretary of the seminar and Asst. Professor in Environmental Science, Dr. Akhila S. Nair, gave an introduction to the subject through her presentation titled, ‘An overview of the EIA process.’  The sessions were chaired by Prof. P. Natarajan, Prof. M.I. Zuberi and Dr. Asefa Keneni. 

Following the technical sessions, the experts joined for a panel discussion on ‘Comparison of EIA process in India, Ethiopia and Bangladesh’. West Shoa Zone’s environmental expert, Mr. Merera Fana talked about the EIA concerns of Ethiopia.  Dr. P. Sekhar, Associate Professor, Department of Biology was the moderator.

At the valedictory session, Dr. Lakew Wondimu issued Certificate of Honour to the presenters and experts who chaired each session. Traditional paintings of Ethiopia were presented to Mr. Nivit Kumar Yadav and Mr. Sujit Kumar Singh. All registered participants were provided Certificate of Participation. Dr. Akhila S. Nair proposed the vote of thanks.