Short Title The law is officially cited as the Riparian Buffer Zone Management Proclamation No. 1382-2025.
Issuing Organ The proclamation was issued by the House of Peoples’ Representatives of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. It was signed into law by Taye Atske-Selassie, the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Effective Date This proclamation entered into force on June 17, 2025, which corresponds to the date of its publication in the Federal Negarit Gazette.
Implementing and Accountable Bodies The Ministry of Water and Energy is the federal organ responsible for delimiting buffer zones for trans-boundary water bodies and federally funded dams, as well as providing technical support. Regional governments are empowered to delimit other water bodies within their jurisdictions and are responsible for developing, protecting, and controlling these zones.
Main Objectives The primary purpose of the proclamation is to protect the quantity, quality, and biodiversity of water bodies by delimiting and conserving riparian buffer zones. It seeks to prevent the entry of pollutants, sediments, and chemicals into water ecosystems that often occur when these zones are converted to other land uses.
Classification of Zones The law establishes three distinct levels of riparian buffer zones: controlled, restricted, and very restricted. Each category has specific prohibited activities, ranging from restrictions on chemical storage and waste disposal in controlled zones to bans on farming and cattle rearing in very restricted zones.
Repeals This legislation specifically repeals Article 25 of the Water Resource Management Proclamation No. 197/2000.