He urged policymakers to integrate the Green Legacy Initiative into Ethiopia’s national water governance systems so that restoration becomes a core part of river basin management and climate adaptation planning
KRC TIMES Desk
Addis Ababa :At the 2nd Ethiopian Water and Energy Week held at the Addis Ababa Science Museum, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bakimchandra Oinam delivered a compelling address during the Grand Panel Discussion on “The Contribution of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) to Water Resources Management, Food Security, and Climate Resilience.”
Prof. Oinam highlighted that Ethiopia’s nationwide tree-planting movement is not just an environmental campaign but a strategic tool for water and ecosystem restoration.
He explained that large-scale afforestation can restore degraded watersheds, improve soil infiltration, reduce sedimentation, and stabilize streamflows—essential elements for long-term water security.
“Trees function as natural infrastructure for managing water,” he said, adding that they regulate flow patterns, reduce floods, and help sustain groundwater recharge.
Drawing on examples such as India’s Namami Gange river restoration programme and urban micro-forest initiatives, he showed how targeted ecosystem restoration can rejuvenate entire river basins.
He urged policymakers to integrate the Green Legacy Initiative into Ethiopia’s national water governance systems so that restoration becomes a core part of river basin management and climate adaptation planning.
Addressing the technical challenges, Prof. Oinam noted the difficulty of measuring hydrological benefits such as infiltration rates, runoff reduction, and groundwater recharge due to limited data, natural variability, and overlapping institutional mandates. Strengthening monitoring systems and inter-agency coordination, he said, is crucial for translating restoration outcomes into measurable water security gains.
The week-long event, held from October 27 to 31 under the theme “Harnessing Water and Clean Energy for Sustainable Growth,” brought together ministers, scientists, and development partners from across Africa and beyond.
The Grand Panel on the Green Legacy Initiative underscored Ethiopia’s growing role in linking ecological restoration with water resilience and sustainable development.
Promotional | North East Integration Rally
