WHEREAS, its varied geographic and climatic conditions has endowed Ethiopia with a wide range of Biodiversity and it is one of the few regions of the world having biological potential;

WHEREAS, these biological resources which include plants, animals and microorganisms, have immense contribution to the development of the country’s agriculture, industry and health sectors as well as to various other development endeavors;

WHEREAS, climatic change, frequent occurrence of drought, desertification, population growth that does not keep pace with development and implementation of industrial and agricultural technologies which do not take conservation of biodiversity into consideration contribute to the irreversible loss of the biological resources and this situation has become an increasing concern;

WHEREAS, exploring, collecting, conserving and utilizing the biodiversity of the country is one of the priority areas which are necessary for sustainable development activities;

WHEREAS, in line with protecting its sovereign rights over its biodiversity at international level and the potential contributions of this resource to the welfare of the Ethiopian people and the people of the world as a whole, Ethiopia has agreed to respect various international conventions in conserving and properly utilizing its biological resources;

WHEREAS, it has become necessary to establish an institute which is responsible for undertaking, directing and
coordinating biodiversity conservation, research and proper utilization endeavors at national level;

NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with Article 55(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, it is hereby proclaimed as follows: