WHEREAS, it is found necessary to make the development activities underway in the country ensure environmental protection and sustainable forest management and use, to succeed in the development strategy for the planned climate change mitigation and to enable the country to get appropriate benefit from its natural resources;

WHEREAS, it is found necessary to make the research activities to be undertaken in an integrated and consistent system that ensures the highest benefit to the country by giving special attention to environment and forest research activities;

WHEREAS, it is found necessary to give due attention to activities of environmental protection and, forest development, protection and utilization activities by linking forest research with environmental protection research at an institutional level for the attainment of the objectives of the Government which initiated establishment of the Ministry of Environment and Forest;

NOW THEREFORE, this Regulation is issued by the Council of Ministers pursuant to Article 5 and 35 of the Definition of Power and Duties of the Executive Organs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Proclamation No. 691/2010 (as amended by Proclamation No. 803/2013).