4.1. National forest policy
4.2. Laws and others rules
4.3. Institutions involved in forest genetic resources management activities
Past efforts toward the conservation, utilization and management of forest genetic resources reveal the absence of forest policies and strategies are one of the major constraints that need to be tackled. Both Forestry and Wildlife Policies remain in the draft stage and have yet to be accepted by the government. There is lack of legal status and gazettement of the protected forest areas and human encroachment into protected area
The main laws and rules upon which the forest genetic resources (FGR) conservation and utilization are based are listed as follow: Convention on biological diversity, Convention on CITES, National forest policy, National Forestry Law (Act), National Environment Law (act).
Until recently forest genetic resource conservation related development activities have been organized under different ministries. As a result, the limited conservation related activities in the country were without definite policy, linkage and coordination. The broader responsibility of private, community and state forest protection and exploitation, the establishment and protection of national parks, forest and wildlife conservation and development and forestry training, research and utilization was given to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and then to Ministry of Agriculture.
Currently the Natural Resources Management and Regulatory Department of the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for the formulation of forest policy and strategies and for the conservation, development and utilization of forest resources. On the other hand, the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Organization (EWCO) jointly with Regional Agricultural Bureaux is responsible for 10 wildlife reserves, 4 sanctuaries and 18 controlled hunting areas.
Linkages among institutions dealing with forest genetic resource conservation related activities are non-existent.
The absence of comprehensive policy guidelines on the importation, exportation and exchange activities has resulted in the movement and over exploitation of the forest resources in uncoordinated and unregulated manner.
Responsibility for the conservation, management and utilization of forest genetic resources lies with a number of different organization within the government. The activities are not integrated and coordinated which result to the over exploitation of the forest resources. There is also a conflict between the conservation and development objectives of the different institutions of the government. Among the government organizations, which in one way or another have a responsibility to conserve, develop and utilize forest genetic resources include the Environmental Protection Authority, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization and the Regional Bureaux of Agriculture.
