During a half day workshop organized by EEPFE/EDRI (EfD in Ethiopia) and the Forum for Environment, Ato Alemnew Getnet, member of the Natural Resources & Environmental Protection Standing Committee of the House of Representative of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia said:
"Thank you and very well done to EEPFE/EDRI for the groundbreaking research you have conducted towards accounting of natural resources in Ethiopia" . He also added "the efforts of EEPFE and Forum for Environment in publicizing this issue by organizing this workshop, should be praised and encouraged".
The workshop on the “Value of Natural Resources of Ethiopia”, held on Tuesday 8th September 2009, in Axum Hotel, Addis Ababa brought together experts and civil servants from governmental ministries, such as the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) and from non governmental organizations. The participants were mostly experts in economics, forestry, soil sciences, ecology and related fields.Findings from the study conducted under the Natural Resource Accounting in Eastern and Southern Africa project coordinated by the Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa (CEEPA) of the University of Pretoria and funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) were presented in the form of three papers by Dr Menale Kassie and Dr Abayneh Essayas. It was noted that due to this type of research being the first of it’s kind in Ethiopia, further research and more reliable data and information, in addition to networking amongst experts on the issue was vital. There was in depth discussion on the importance of accounting for natural resources, particularly in regards to its contribution towards the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As findings of such research could potentially influence policy making and design, the workshop concluded by agreeing, the need for further research, networking and a consensus meeting on policy implications of accounting for natural resources.