Webinar Series 2025

Our upcoming webinar features Dr. Desalegn Chala. Dr. Chala, in his presentation, titled “Water Hyacinth in Lake Tana and its implications for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD): genesis, risks, management, and policy options”, will share how the long-term sustainability of the GERD could be undermined by the spread of water hyacinth. He will elucidate on the genesis and drivers of water hyacinth in Lake Tana and the implications for GERD; the biology of the plant and the serious risks it poses to large reservoirs; the role of declining water quality and nutrient enrichment in fuelling its expansion; and on proactive policy and management strategies, with catchment management as the most sustainable response. By linking evidence with policy, he will contend that investing in integrated catchment management is the most cost-effective way to protect GERD from the potentially devastating impacts of water hyacinth.

Dr. Chala is a multidisciplinary researcher at the Natural History Museum, University of Oslo. He specializes in ecology and evolution, with extensive experience in the biodiversity of African high mountains. Trained as a botanist and geo-informatician, he employs GIS, remote sensing, and ecological modeling to develop decision-support tools for conservation. His current research centers on biodiversity digital twins, aiming to integrate ecological data into dynamic, data-driven models for biodiversity monitoring and management.

The webinar will be held on October 4, 2025, from 8:00-9:00 AM PST (11:00 AM -12:00 PM EST, 10:00-11:00 am Central, and 6:00-7:00 PM Ethiopian Time).