Arba Minch University’s post-graduate student, Mr Biruk Emiru, is among 16 young participants from Ethiopia and United Arab Emirates selected for UNESCO Biosphere Reserves excursion beginning from 6th to 21st April, 2016 in UAE. 

The first leg of excursion was held at Kafa and Lake Tana Biosphere Reserves at Bahir Dar, Ethiopia in November 2015; its second leg is underway from 6th to 21st April in UAE. Eight Ethiopian participants are from Arba Minch, Bahir Dar, Addis Ababa, Jimma and Mekelle universities.

This excursion is a unique platform for environmental education and cultural exchange; it offers a true understanding about the challenges and solutions of environmental management through first-hand experiences to the participating youths.

In Dubai, youths were taken to Fujairah Biosphere Reserve and other wetlands. Thereafter participants are expected to present their respective studies on the chosen topics. AMU’s Biruk will be presenting a brief history of Kafa Biosphere Reserve and marketing plans on biosphere.

Similarly, brief research assignments in groups on different topics are aimed at establishing close interaction with communities in each biosphere reserve. In a daylong cultural program participants would be exchanging the diverse ethos of their respective nations.

Adama-based Biruk in his MSc final year in Environmental Sciences with College of Natural Science is examining ‘The assessment of impact of deforestation and forest degradation on carbon soaking biodiversity in Geza forest, Bonke woreda,’ as a part of his academic research.

 

(By Corporate Communication Directorate: Philips Joseph)