Designation of Anywaa Biosphere Reserve Ethiopia’s Success in Biodiversity Protection: Experts

Addis Ababa, October 31, 2025 (ENA) – The designation of the Anywaa Biosphere Reserve as a UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve demonstrates Ethiopia’s success in biodiversity protection and green economy strategy, experts said.

The Anywaa Biosphere Reserve, located in the Gambella Regional State of Ethiopia, was officially designated as a UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve on September 27, 2025.

The Anywaa Biosphere Reserve encompasses six major ecosystems which are Moist Afromontane Forests, Transitional Rainforests, Combretum-Terminalia Woodlands, Riverine Forests/Vegetation, Wetlands, and Wooded Grasslands/Savannahs.

Forestry and wildlife experts told ENA that the biosphere reserve designation will increase the country's protected area coverage and enable it to share its natural resource conservation and development efforts to the rest of the world.

Lead Executive Officer for Forest and Rangeland Plants Biodiversity Research at the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI), Abera Seyoum, said the biosphere has a significant role for natural resource conservation and is beneficial for the community by conserving biodiversity, ensuring sustainable development and to conduct research.

EBI has carried out activities for the designation of the Anywaa Biosphere by UNESCO during the past two years, he recalled, adding that the biosphere was finally designated by UNESCO in Hangzhou, China, as the World Network of Biosphere Reserve in September, 2025.

The reserve spans approximately over 1.8 million hectares and is recognized for its unique ecosystems, rich biodiversity, and cultural heritage.

For the Lead Executive Officer, the designation of the Anywaa Biosphere Reserve will help achieve the global goal through increasing the country's protected areas from the current 12 percent to 30 percent. 

Accordingly, the designation of the biosphere will showcase Ethiopia's rich assets to the world and will massively contribute to image building.

Furthermore, Anywaa Biosphere Reserve is instrumental in sharing the nation’s rich experience to the world in conserving natural resources to ensure sustainable development by integrating its favorable policy, biodiversity, and community knowledge.

Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) Director-General, Kumera Wakjira, said the Anywaa Biosphere Reserve, which is Ethiopia’s sixth biosphere reserve, is crucial to increase Ethiopia’s reserved areas.

Ethiopia's other UNESCO-designated biosphere reserves are Sheka forest biosphere reserve, Majang forest biosphere reserve, Yayo coffee biosphere reserve, Kafa biosphere reserve, and Lake Tana biosphere reserve.