JOINT ETHIO-RUSSIAN BIOLOGICAL EXPEDITION
(JERBE)
Information brochure
Background
Ethiopia's biological resources, especially fauna resources are not very well known and the country is attempting to manage natural resources without knowing what it actually has. Identification of the diversity of the biological resources is useful to sustainable manage and utilize the country's biological resource.
The Expedition was established in 1987 as Joint Ethio-Soviet Biological Expedition (JESBE) based on the Agreement signed between the Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission and the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. However, it has been renamed as the Joint Ethio-Russian Biological Expedition (JERBE) following the change in the former Soviet Union.
The JERBE has been organized for the purpose of carrying out scientific studies and research in the principal types of Ethiopia's ecosystems and conduct biological investigation that would allow the formulation of scientific guidelines for the rational utilization and conservation of the biological resources of the country.
Objectives
The main objectives of the JERBE are:
- study the major types of ecosystems of Ethiopia and determine the diversity of biological resources;
- formulate scientific guidelines for the sustainable utilization and conservation of biological resources;
- contribute to biological research capability building of Ethiopia.
Major activities of the JERBE:
- to analyze the status of the typical ecological systems and study the biology and/or ecology of animals and plants;
- to identify promising plant and animal species for economic utilization;
- to identify problem areas of the country in terms of biological diversity and/or environmental quality;
- to seek solutions to biological and/or environmental problems;
- to formulate scientific guidelines for national conservation programs;
- to recommend on the establishment of wildlife reserves and other protected natural areas.
The Research Program Areas of the JERBE
The JERBE research program areas include: Agriculture, Botany, Epidemiology, Fresh Water Biology, Genetic Resources, Entomology, Plant Protection, Terrestrial Vertebrates, Soil Biology. Currently, JERBE focused only on three areas of biological studies namely, terrestrial vertebrates, fresh water biology and soil zoology.
Organization of the JERBE
The scientific activities of the JERBE are undertaken by the Research Groups which composes scientists both from Ethiopia and Russia.
These activities are coordinated by two Project Coordinators. The overall guidance and support of the scientific and administrative activities of JERBE is the responsibility of both the Ethiopian Science and Technology Agency and the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Research output
The JERBE has generated considerable biological information that is useful to the conservation and sustainable utilization of Ethiopia's biological resources (plants, mammals, fish, birds, soil organisms and nematodes) of selected regions of Ethiopia such as (Gambella, Nechesar, Bale Mountains, Simen Mountains and Awash) National Parks, Omo-Gibe Basin, the Blue Nile Basin, and the Rift Valley Lakes region, etc. This includes identification of new and endemic species and new records for the country or for specific regions in Ethiopia.
Most of this information has been published in international journals, totally more that 160 papers. The permanently updated list of publications of the JERBE is presented at the website: http://www.sevin.ru/expeditions_eng/ethiopian.html
The Expedition has published books on:
- 'The Skin of Some Ethiopian Ungulates' - 1994;
- 'An Artificial Key to Fish Species of the Gambella Region' - 1995;
- 'Theriological Investigations in Ethiopia' - 1995;
- 'Ecological and Faunistic Studies in Ethiopia (part 1) - Fauna, Ecology and Systematics of Vertebrates - 1997;
- 'Ecological and Faunistic Studies in Ethiopia (part 2) - Fauna, Ecology and Systematics of Invertebrates -2000.
Research Capability Building
Strengthening of the scientific manpower, research infrastructure and the overall biological research capability of Ethiopia was the other important role played by the project.
The Expedition has so far provided scientific equipment, field and laboratory facilities worth well over 1.7 million Birr to ten Ethiopian Academic, Research and Regulatory institutions.
The Expedition's training programs includes long term training, short term training and professional visits. It has also planned to have a sandwich program with the Addis Ababa University for the training of Ethiopian members of the Expedition.
Consultancy services
The JERBE has rendered three major consultancy services, such as:
- Scientific investigation on the "Possible Causes of the Mass Death of Fishes in Lake Haike";
- "A preliminary Study on the Establishment of a Zoological Garden in Region 14";
- Ichthyological Survey for Fishery Development in the Omo-Gibe Basin;
Collaborations
The JERBE undertakes its research programs with local collaborating institutions which include research, academic and development institutions.
For further inquires to participate in any of the expedition's research programs, or for scientific and technical assistance, please contact our coordinating office by the following address.
Joint Ethio-Russian Biological Expedition (JERBE)
P. O. Box 2490
Tel. 251-911-406694 (Russian Project Coordinator)
Tel. 251-911-018115 (Ethiopian Project Coordinator)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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