Eminent Professor of Plant Science from Addis Ababa University, Prof. Ensermu Kelbessa, while gracing the two-day national symposium ‘Science for sustainable development’ unraveled some startling facts about Ethiopian flora; following is the full text of his interview.

‘‘Of 6027 plant species recorded in Ethiopian and Eritrean flora, 5757 belonged to Ethiopia and 2157 to Eritrea; while Ethiopia has 4000 and Eritrea 270 species of their own, it’s found 543 species endemic to Ethiopia of which both Ethiopia and Eritrea share 89 of them and Eritrea has 15 species to its own in the world.’’

On the present scenario, he said, ‘‘There are two processes i.e. natural and anthropogenic through which plant species either decline or increase; natural process is less fast than the latter. But, the fact is forest in Ethiopia is threateningly decreasing in coverage and quality that has put survival of present population in utter peril.’’

He calls it frightening because many factors making it happen, like unregulated expansion, population growth, degraded land devoid of fertility and cultivation in wetlands are major causes. Moreover, interference with wetland is hazardous; cultivation makes it lose capacity to absorb the run-off. The highland is highly diversified in species that is inhabited by 90% of population.

On region with high density of plant species, he replied, ‘‘Semien and Bale mountains have high density of plant species, birds and mammals; Ogaden has shrub and grass lands while South West has substantial forest cover and genetic diversity.’’

On Ethiopian forest cover, he revealed, ‘‘Keeping in view the mushrooming population, he said, 56 years ago, Ethiopia had just 22 million which has now touched 101 million mark. Then the forest and woodland cover was 66% that included 40% high forest. Today high forest has shrunken to 1.8% while woodland and forest is mere 12% in that woodland is slightly better off for being located in the low land, but high forest in particular is threatened by population and agriculture expansion, wood for fuel etc.’’

Terming the situation alarming, he said, ‘‘If we can’t reverse, we have to at least reduce the rate of destruction of forest. The government is encouraging investment so that trend can be reversed, but it needs to be regulated. We need a strong institution that can control investment through pre-environmental assessment; otherwise, it will make life difficult. Awareness has to be created and people’s livelihood needs to be diversified.’’

Spelling out governmental efforts, he informs, ‘‘Government is making efforts but they are not adequate, there is a need of full political commitment backed-up by the scientific knowledge, otherwise, if two don’t go together, it will be difficult.’’

On whether 1000 identified medicinal plants in Ethiopia are being utilized to make medicine, he said, ‘‘Very few are being used, but there are some which are effective and have great curative efficacy, if consumed in the raw form.’’

Further, he adds with fast dwindling forest, ‘‘Medicinal species are also on the decline; earlier traditional healers would have to walk five to seven minutes to get them; now they have to walk for days, months or even buy from the market. If government won’t act faster, some of them might get extinct and we have to go to South Sudan or Kenya to get them,’’ he sums up.

(By Philips Joseph: Corporate Communication Directorate)