Rose Mestika
20 April 2008
Addis Ababa — Development projects in the country must be before they were implemented to ensure they do not go against the natural environment, a workshop urged on Wednesday.
Members Sheka Forest Alliance, a consortium of 13 NGO's working on environment called for an urgent implementation of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) to salvage the ever deteriorating environment in the country.
Participants of the workshop said implementing impact assessment was a matter of urgency, and therefore of concern to the country at a time when several development projects are underway.
During the one-day workshop held at the Hilton, experts in the field presented studies revolving around EIA's vision and mission, including its significance obstacles that stand on its proper implementation.
The country adapted an environmental policy in 1997 followed by a number of proclamations on environment, one of those being the EIA.
But environment activists say the Environmental Impact Assessment, meant to play a significant role in protecting the environment and ensure its wellbeing was virtually ineffective.
One expert described the EIA proclamation as "toothless." That the country's environmental agencies lack the much-needed executive power to implement EIA, or have a misconception about the issue, the workshop pointed out.
Besides, most decision makers at various levels in the government hierarchy either indifferent or are unaware of the need for implementing EIA, participants lamented.
Neither does the recently revised investment proclamation recognize EIA as a precondition for starting development projects, another expert observed.
The one-day workshop at the Hilton was organized by the Melca-Mahiber.
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