Addis Ababa, July 21, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative demonstrates how large-scale, participatory restoration efforts can deliver major benefits for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Astrid Schomaker said.
Schomaker made the remarks in a video message delivered during the 60th anniversary celebration of the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA), congratulating the authority and the people of Ethiopia for six decades of commitment to protecting the country’s remarkable natural heritage.
She said Ethiopia is globally recognized for its extraordinary and diverse natural habitats, serving as a center of origin and diversity for plant and animal species, including many found nowhere else on Earth.
The CBD Executive Secretary commended EWCA’s efforts in establishing and managing protected areas, coordinating national conservation initiatives for endangered species and managing human-wildlife interactions, saying these achievements have created a strong foundation for biodiversity action.
She noted that Ethiopia’s conservation efforts are contributing to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and its targets, while stressing the need for accelerated global action to protect nature.
Schomaker said Ethiopia is “taking action for nature,” citing the Green Legacy Initiative as an example of how community-based restoration programs can generate wide-ranging benefits across the Sustainable Development Goals.
She added that the initiative illustrates the potential of large-scale environmental restoration to strengthen ecosystem protection while supporting the livelihoods and well-being of communities.
The UN biodiversity chief reaffirmed the CBD Secretariat’s commitment to working with Ethiopian partners to advance shared biodiversity conservation goals and congratulated EWCA on its 60th anniversary.