Biodiversity encompasses life on Earth as it’s the combination of vital process like evolutionary, ecological and cultural that sustain life. It includes rare species, humans and human cultural diversity where social and biological dimensions are interlinked; and to study such massive system, we need undying passion, perseverance and advanced knowhow. Having urge to contribute in this regard, AMU took the challenge!
In southern Ethiopia, AMU, in its own way, is striving to preserve its rich biodiversity for it is nestled in the heart of diversified flora and fauna that offers whole array of research to be carried to preserve rare and endangered species. And AMU’s Biodiversity Research and Conservation Centre (BRCC) has come into being is engaged in identifying, investigating and conserving indigenous plant species and tapping their microbial, medicinal and overall therapeutic potential that would benefit wider community.

BRCC director, Associate Prof. Seifu Fetena, took charge a year ago, in the beginning had no office, all employees had to cram in a small room, now they had spacious office, a motor-bike, seven researchers at disposal of which five are on study leave, a herbarium laboratory, botanical garden at Main Campus, research sites near Shara and Dorze village are assets to carry out huge research mandate, he emphasized.

Further, he said, presently, BRCC is researching medicinal plants, assessing wildlife-human conflicts, fauna and microbial aspects. Till date, we have completed five researches in animal biodiversity, barley and medicinal plants and findings have been submitted to Research Directorate. And 15 ongoing projects’ focus are wildlife conflicts in Maze, Nechsar and Mago national parks, identifying microbial organism that will hasten fermentation of local drinks and forest carbon stocks in Mirab Abaya, he informed.

BRCC, identifying medicinal and therapeutic worth of indigenous plants is involved in investigating hundreds of such plants; some of the species being studied are: Justicia schimperiana, Justicia ladanoides, Allium sativum, Sarcostemma insigne, Ageratum conyzoides, Echinops kebercho, Parthenium hysterophorus, Spilanthus mauritiana, Tagetes minuta, Vernonia amygdalina, Balanites aegyptiaca, etc.

Similarly, he said, recent decaying agro-ecological study on Chamo and Abaya Lakes scenario by Dr Fasil Eshetu was done under BRCC. After a year, he said, now we have infrastructure that needs to be strengthened, our research sites are throbbing with different kinds of researches, Main Campus-based botanical garden is being revived and herbarium has quite a good collection of various plant species.

That apart, he is engaged in identifying Anchote’s (Coccinia abyssinica) adaptation potential, which is local food for pregnant woman, mostly popular in Oromia, has high calcium content. This is an endemic plant to the western parts of Ethiopia, mainly in Wollega; it’s called as Ancootee in Oromo, Ushushu (Welayta), Shushe (Dawuro) and Ajjo (Kafigna).  

Seifu further adds, Anchote has ten accessions, which are being investigated and trial in Arba Minch and around is on; once they get acclimatized in this agro-ecology, findings will be shared with the community. Thereafter, we can even develop its seed as it will be great source of food for locals.

BRCC, looking for structural reforms, has now submitted a new plan for restructuring, wherein it will have adequate researchers, better administrative set-up with transport facility, own exclusive official space, well-equipped laboratory to conduct phytochemical tests for medicinal plants and other investigations. And from next year, it will be hosting annual ‘Field Day’ program, he added.

Unraveling limitations, he said, BRCC doesn’t have a car as researchers use public transport that often tardy the process of investigation and has dampening impact on researchers’ motivation; inadequate researchers, ill-equipped laboratory are another constraints need to be addressed, he stressed.

Revealing proposed plans, he said, BRCC is urging authority for ‘deep fridge’ needed for preservation of different specimens. We need financial provision so that fencing around research sites can be done to secure plant species and other vegetation that are being studied and a house for guard. Hope by next year, we might have required things in place; but despite challenges we will carry out our mandate, he averred.
(Corporate Communication Directorate)