Ethiopia Launches Digital Wildlife Monitoring Platform Across 106 Protected Areas
Ethiopia has introduced a digital wildlife monitoring platform on a pilot basis, currently being tested across 106 protected areas nationwide. Initially deployed at Bale Mountains National Park and the Senkele Swayne's Hartebeest Sanctuary, the platform integrates satellite data, geospatial tools, and unmanned systems to analyse land-use patterns, predict potential conflicts between competing land uses, and provide early warnings of environmental changes that could affect biodiversity. The system marks a significant shift from the previously manual and fragmented approach to natural resource management, which had limited coverage across the country's protected areas.
Ethiopia's State Minister for Tourism, Seleshi Girma, highlighted the platform's dual role in conservation and tourism development, noting that up-to-date data on animal populations and natural landscapes directly supports the growth of tourist destinations. Authorities emphasised the system's contribution to scientific research, data-driven decision-making, and more effective management of protected areas - resources that form a key foundation of Ethiopia's economy and tourism sector. The project is designed to enable more systematic, long-term planning for the development and conservation of the country's natural heritage.
Source: African Times News
