The Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority, in partnership with the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), today officially launched the Promoting Integrated Conservation of Wildlife and Landscapes for Sustainable Development of Ethiopia (PICWLSDE) project during an inception workshop held in Addis Ababa.
The seven-year project (2026–2033), financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through UNDP, aims to strengthen wildlife conservation, restore degraded ecosystems, combat illegal wildlife trafficking, and promote sustainable landscape management to enhance biodiversity conservation and community resilience across Ethiopia.
The inception workshop brought participants representing federal and regional government institutions, conservation organizations, development partners, civil society organizations, academia, protected area managers, and project implementation teams.
The event marked the official launch of the project and provided a platform for stakeholders to develop a common understanding of the project’s objectives, expected results, implementation arrangements, and institutional responsibilities.
The workshop was officially opened with remarks from Mr. Kumara Wakjira, Director General of the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority, Dr. Karta Kaskie, Director General of the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, and Ms. Charu Bist, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Ethiopia.
The speakers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the project and the sustainable conservation of Ethiopia’s unique wildlife and ecosystems