Biodiversity conservation for sustainable development in the South Ethiopian Rift Valley

Biodiversity is crucial as insurance for sustainable development and human wellbeing. In 2030 SDGs agenda, the role of biodiversity and healthy ecosystems is clearly reflected in SDG 14 (life below water) and SDG 15 (life on land). Moreover, many other goals and targets like SDG 2 (no hunger) and target 2.3 (increasing the agricultural productivity) are also reflected on biodiversity and healthy ecosystem of the SGDs. Life on land and life below water are all about the human life and wellbeing as the human enjoy fully from these ecosystem services. Yet, biodiversity is under the constant threat due to the human influence, and the right of the human to enjoy healthy environment and ecosystem services will be threatened. The loss of biodiversity-dependent ecosystem services however disproportionately affects the poorest people who are vulnerable for other reasons.

The two Southern Rift Valley Lakes and Nech Sar National Park are home for below water and on land biodiversity. Rapidly increasing human population and unsustainable agricultural practices are putting strong pressure on the Lakes, the NP and the remaining upland forests, and damaging the biodiversity, from which the local communities enjoying healthy ecosystem services. The loss of biodiversity in upper catchment is favoring erosion, which in turn damaging the below water life by sedimentation, and affecting the fish productivity by affecting the food chain of the Lakes and which will further cascade to the terrestrial biodiversity. Nech Sar National Park is home for terrestrial biodiversity. The Park biodiversity is, however, under strong threat because of the human encroachment and competition with the increasing numbers of livestock. The encroachment of the alien invasive species (plant and animal) is threatening biodiversity in the park by damaging the grass land habitat and wild animal health. The reforestation of the watersheds, promotion of sustainable agroforestry practices, and restoration of wetlands of the Lakes improve the fish productivity of the Lakes by reducing sedimentation. Conserving the biodiversity of Nech Sar National Park and restoring the lakes by controlling the invasive species, reducing human and domestic animals encroachment and restoring lake shores contribute to sustainable use of the biodiversity.