Environmental problems in Ethiopia

Going bare

Massive population pressure and a lack of alternatives are fast shrinking Ethiopia’s limited forest resources, while waste flows freely. What price are people paying?

Deforestation

Deforestation of Ethiopia’s limited and quickly dwindling wood resources is a major problem. This is usually followed by soil erosion, loss of nutrients in the soil, loss of animal habitat and reduction in biodiversity.

Deforestation is being accelerated because of a large population that is almost completely dependent on forests for personal needs, such as for fuel, hunting, agriculture, and housing construction.



Pollution

Ethiopia’s industrial and domestic waste is causing water pollution, putting people – and especially children - at risk.

Industries which are located in urban centres such as Addis Ababa, Mojoo and Debre Zeit, are filling rivers with high levels of toxic substances. Particularly to blame are sugar, textile and tannery factories. Often, cattle and human organic waste also contaminate water supplies.

Ethiopians pay the price of water pollution with diarrhoea and dysentery, water-based diseases such as schistosomiasis, and water-related insect vectors including malaria.