On November 2, 2024, Dr. Gete Zeleke delivered a comprehensive presentation at the Ethiopian 1st Hydromet International Conference, organized by MOWE and attended by high-level national and international dignitaries. His presentation, titled “Watershed Management for Reduction of Sedimentation and Protection of Water Bodies and Infrastructures: Experiences from Learning Watersheds and Observatories,” showcased WLRC’s extensive experience in watershed management, emphasizing the practical knowledge and insights gained over the past 15 years. This presentation was particularly relevant to the conference’s theme, “Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative: The Imperative for Sustainable Water Resources Management in the Region.”
Dr. Gete detailed the critical issue of natural resource degradation, highlighting both on-site and off-site impacts. He outlined the essential technical, institutional, and policy interventions required to mitigate land and water degradation in Ethiopia. Given the significant threat of sedimentation to water bodies such lakes and water storage dam reservoirs, he emphasized the imperative of reducing soil erosion. To address this challenge and prolong the lifespan of this water bodies, Dr. Gete used the opportunity to introduced WLRC high level study on role of investing in watershed services or implementing payment for ecosystem services (PES) schemes.
Several inquiries were directed towards Dr Gete, specifically concerning the scalability of WLRC’s successful practices. He highlighted the significance of initiatives such as the Green Legacy Initiative and the implementation of robust land policies in realizing this objective.
