Message from the Head of Parks Development and Wildlife Conservation and Management Sector
The Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Development and Management Sector focuses on identifying, studying, protecting, preserving, caring for and developing national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the region; promoting eco-tourism sites and community-based tourism developments; increasing the awareness of communities living in the area and other stakeholders and enhancing their participation; establishing a system for studying, protecting, developing and using the sector; monitoring, supporting and strengthening its performance; and ensuring the safety of the attractions and ensuring the equitable use of the communities in the region.
Our region is home to several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, the main ones being Omo, Bechisar, Mago and Maze National Parks, Tama Community Conservation Area, Murle Controlled Hunting Kebele, and Arbaminch Crocodile Ranch. Currently, these national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are facing various natural and man-made problems. These problems include climate change, population growth, environmental pollution, illegal hunting, illegal agricultural expansion, uncontrolled livestock breeding, illegal deforestation, illegal land encroachment, etc.
As the buffer zones of our region’s lakes (Chamo and Abaya Lakes) have been converted to agriculture and due to lack of soil conservation work, the lakes are being filled with silt and the biodiversity resources within them are being lost. Therefore, the Parks Development and Wildlife Conservation, Development and Management Sector will continue to work with various stakeholders and local communities to study these invaluable natural resources and, based on the results of the study, work to protect and develop them so that the community can benefit fairly from the resources. Therefore, I would like to convey my message to the lower structures in our region to contribute to the sector by targeting potential wildlife conservation areas.
Ato Gelgelo Gelsho
Head of Parks Development and Wildlife Conservation and Development Administration Sector
Major Services Provided by the Sector
- Services related to researching, conserving, managing, developing, and promoting tourist destinations.
- Monitoring and support services for tourist destination sites.
- Training and awareness-raising services for stakeholders in the sector.
- Provision of support letters and endorsements for investors involved in the sector.
- Establishment, expansion, and organization of tourist destinations.
- Provision of information about tourist destination sites.
- Expansion and completion of basic infrastructure for tourist destination areas.
- Services related to the sale of wildlife eggs, juveniles, meat, and hides.