Ethiopia's Wildlife Conservation Efforts Drive Eco-Tourism Growth
Ethiopia's Ministry of Tourism has highlighted the role of wildlife and natural resource conservation in strengthening the country's position as a competitive eco-tourism destination. Speaking at the 60th anniversary of the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) on 12 March, Tourism State Minister Sileshi Girma credited the authority's decades-long work in protecting biodiversity as a key driver of tourism growth. Ethiopia's endemic species - including the Ethiopian wolf, Walia ibex, and Gelada - continue to attract international visitors, while national parks such as Omo, Mago, Chebera Churchura, Nechisar, Borena, and Gambella are being developed in partnership with conservation organisations to expand eco-tourism offerings.
EWCA Director-General Kumera Wakjira noted that the authority has identified 87 conservation areas across the country based on scientific research, marking significant progress over six decades of wildlife protection. Environmental programmes such as the Green Legacy Initiative are further supporting ecosystem restoration, forest expansion, and biodiversity enhancement - underpinning activities including wildlife viewing, trekking, and bird-watching. Despite these advances, the sector continues to face challenges including illegal hunting, wildlife trafficking, and climate change, with officials calling on communities, international partners, and industry stakeholders to sustain and build on conservation achievements.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
