The strategy and action plan states that Ethiopia’s population of world rarest animals is gradually on the decline due to overuse and loss of natural habitats, due to the ever growing human population. Deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, and desertification thus threatens the biodiversity and natural resources base of the country. The strategy and action plan addresses interrelated issues ranging from biodiversity protection and management for food security, to improving the livelihood of the populace, especially the rural population.

“The National Strategy and Action Plan for the Implementation of the Great Green Wall highlights the evolution of the Great Green Wall for the Sahel and Sahara Initiative (GGWSSI); presents assessment of Ethiopia’s biophysical, socio-economic and policy, legislation and institutional aspects as they relate to the initiative and potential areas across the GGWSSI development. The strategy consists of six pillars namely: sustainable management of natural resources and improved production systems, development of basic socio-economic infrastructures, development of income generating activities, promotion of good local governance, capacity building of stakeholders, and research and knowledge management. The overall goal of the GGWSSI is to improve the resilience of human and natural systems in the Sahel-Saharan zone against climate changes”.

The policy ackowledges the non realization of the potential benefits inherent in the country’s wildlife and forestry sector. It states that the threats face by the sector arise from illegal and impromper land use ranging from illegal encroachment, poaching, and settlement. The strategy and policy follows from existing international natural resources and development principles in seeking to arrest the rapid decline in the numbers of wildlives, and realization of the potential in the sector in form of tourism, sports, and trade. The major objective of the policy is to create a conducive environment whereby the
country’s wildlife and their habitats are protected and developed in a sustainable manner.

“The objective of this Proclamation is to protect human and animal health, biological diversity and in general, the environment , local communities and the country at large by preventing or at least managing down to levels of insignificance the adverse effects of modified organisms”. The Proclamation provides rules for the handling and use of Genetically Modified Organisms for the general protection of the environment

The Proclamation provides for the ratification of the International Convention in the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling, adopted by the International Maritime Organization. It authorizes the Ministry of Transport and Communications to undertake in cooperation with the concerned governmental organs all acts necessary for the implementation of the Convention.

The national biodiversity strategy and action plan represents Ethiopia’s 5-year plan to attain the targets for the biodiversity sector. It was prepared to guide national efforts in the conservation, sustainable utilization and equitable benefit sharing in the country. It provides important information on the biodiversity resource base, its values, and ecosystem services. The action plan is the response to the environmental challenges being faced in the country as a result of natural and artificial conditions and activities. The action plan is a multi sectoral one, and seeks to ensure the sustainability and conservation of Ethiopia’s ecosystem and biodiversity as a tool for improved food security, poverty eradication, and general living condition of the populace.

The national adaptation plan builds on existing national plans like the growth and transformation plan (GTP II), and the climate resilient green economy (CRGE) in their strive to address climate change issues in the country. It seeks to increase the country’s resilience to climate change through building adaptive capacities. The adaptation plan focuses on sectors identified as most vulnerable; agriculture, forestry, health, transport, power, industry, water, and urban. Subsequently, 18 adaptation options and 5 strategic priorities were identified to address the vulnerabilities.

“The Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) is a nationwide sectoral document charged at laying out the adaptation initiatives, addressing both climate change adaptation and mitigation objectives that Ethiopia intends to undertake in order to limit its net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. The INDC is in line with the Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy (CRGE), integrated into the Second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II)”.

“The National Policy on Natural Resources and the Environment is an overall comprehensive cross-sectoral and sectoral policy framework developed by the Transitional Government to guide natural resources and environment sustainable development, use and management. The overall policy goal is to improve and enhance the health and quality of life of all Ethiopians and to promote sustainable social and economic development through the sound management and use of natural, human-made and cultural resources and the environment as a whole so as to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

The national REDD+ strategy (NRS) is primarily developed to complement other climate resilient green economy (CRGE) efforts, particularly in the forestry and wildlife sector. Its primary goal is reduce deforestation, and forest degradation, while promoting afforestation, reforestation, and sustainable management of forest resources. It also places importance on strengthening the relevant institutions charged with leading the vision for a green economy, as enshrined in the CRGE vision and goals.

A proclamation to ratify the international convention on civil liability for bunker oil pollution damage as adopted by the International Maritime Organization in
2001. The ministry of transportation and communications is authorized to carry out implementation processses.

The proclamation ratifies the Agreement for the Conservation of African Eurasian Migratory Water Bird Agreement signed in Haig Netherlands on June 16th 1995. The Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority is saddled with the power of implementation.

The Authority is established as an autonomous federal government public institution, accountable to the office of the prime minister, and with powers and duties clearly spelt out in this proclamation. The objective of the Authority is to “formulate policies, strategies, laws and standards, which foster social and economic development in a manner that enhance the welfare of humans and the safety of the environment sustainable, and to spearhead in ensuring the effectiveness of the process of their implementation”.

The proclamation to ratify the convention on migratory species of wild animals, adopted in Bonn, Germany, on 23 June 1979. The Ethiopian wildlife development and conservation authority is granted powers of implementation.

The proclamation to ratify the Convention on the Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, as adopted by the international maritime organization in 1996. The Ministry of Transport and Communications is hereby authorized to undertake all acts necessary for the implementation of the convention.

The proclamation establishes the Ethiopian valleys development studies authority as an autonomous public authority with its own juridical personality. The authority shall be accountable to the chairman of the council of ministers. The authority is charged with conducting research and surveys on natural resources of the country, prepare development master plans, as well as carrying out surveys on transboundary rivers and on the general environment.

The Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Research is established as an autonomous body of the Federal Government having its own juridical personality. The Institute shall be accountable to the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization. The institute shall be responsible for the conservation, research, development, and sustainable utilization of the country’s biodiversity. The proclamation details the powers and duties of the institute, the organization structure, and books of account, amount others.

This Proclamation provides for the necessary framework to implement the Montreal Protocol with respect to a system for licensing the import and export of controlled substances listed in the Annexes to the Protocol. “The Proclamation specifies powers and duties of the Authority and requires federal or regional government organ empowered by law to issue business license or to control imports to refuse, grant, renew, suspend or cancel trade licenses in tandem with the decision of the Authority to refuse, grant, renew, suspend or cancel authorization”.

This Regulation of the Council of Ministers establishes the Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute as an autonomous federal government office having its own legal personality. The Institute shall be accountable to the ministry of environment and forest. It shall, among other things: Identify, import, adapt, utilize, and generate technologies that significantly contribute to forest development; coordinate the environment and forest research activities carried out by environment and forest research centers or higher education institutes. The institute shall also work towards mitigating environmental degradation, desertification, and extinction of species, among other things.

A proclamation to ratify the kyoto protocol on the reduction of greenhouse gases.The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change, adopted and ratified by the house of peoples’ representatives of Ethiopia.