Kindeya Gebrehiwot

Kindeya Gebrehiwot (born 1973) is an Ethiopian academic and politician serving as State Minister, Advisor to the Ministry of Education. He was a professor of Forestry at Mekelle University (Ethiopia), researching forest regeneration, particularly frankincense trees. He studies the threats to this flagship species, particularly in relation to regrowth and tapping. He was also President of Mekelle University.

Career

1996: MSc Environmental Forestry at University of Wales (Bangor) Head of the Department of General Agriculture: May 1997 – October, 1999. 2003: PhD at University of Göttingen, Germany Mekelle University President - May 2013 – September 2020 2017: Full Professor at Mekelle University

Sustainable forest management that meets social, economic and environmental objectives requires an in-depth knowledge of how this type of forest ecosystem works. Studies have focused on resilience to withstand the pressures of exploitation, and regeneration capabilities. Kindeya's research makes an important contribution to improving this knowledge. It is this knowledge that allows the Tigray society to tackle the problem of maintaining forest resources (especially Boswellia papyrifera incense species) in relation to their vulnerability (hydrological stress, grazing, and overexploitation, mainly). The economic importance of products from this species, particularly incense, must also be taken into account. Kindeya's research has identified a number of needs, not only in terms of future research, but also in terms of management plans and legal framework.

Community service Board Chairman of the Tigrai Development Association Board Member of the Relief Society of Tigray Board member of Mekelle 70 Enderta F.C. Actively supported the Tigray Defense Forces in the Tigray War Ethiopian Soil Science Association, Ethiopia. Ethiopian Forestry Association, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Rural Development Forestry Network, London, United Kingdom. Forest, Trees and People Network, Sweden. International Society of Tropical Foresters. Secretary of the Board of Directors of Tigray Cultural Association.

Recognitions and awards Gold medal of the Haromaya University (Ethiopia) as an outstanding student of the year 1993. DAAD (the German Academic Exchange Services) Scholarship Award - 1999 2004: Prize of the Belgian Development Cooperation