The Ethiopian Civil Service College External, Public Relations and Marketing Department organized a half day public lecture on " Landscape Restoration and Integrated Poverty Eradication " on October 8, 2009.Mr. John Liu, Founder and Leader of the Environmental Education Media in China and Consultant for the World Bank and International Union for the Conservation of Nature gave the lecture on the issue. The session was moderated by Professor Legesse Negash, Founder and Leader of the Center for Indigenous Trees Propagation and Biodiversity Development in Ethiopia. The College president, institute directors, department heads, academic staff members, administration support staffs and graduate program students attended the lecture.

Mr. John Liu said in his presentation that nearly all echo systems in the world are threatened to collapse. He added, if our echo system is degraded, it is telling us that we did something wrong to it. He said there are, however, ways to rehabilitate the degraded lands by referring examples from china Loess plateau, and from Ethiopia parts of Tigray Region. According to Mr. John these two areas were once dry and arid and ploughed for long time; but they are changed due to positive interventions made by people. He expressed his belief that if people are committed to environment protection, it is possible to change the environment for good.

After the presentation, the participants raised questions like how Chinese experience can be applied in Ethiopia, and how china cope up with population growth pressure in trying to retain its echo system and many more. Mr. John reflects his idea on the questions and suggestions.

Dr.Haile-Michael Abera President of the Ethiopian Civil Service College thanked Mr. John Liu for inspiring speech and Professor Legese Negsh for effectively moderating the session. He added the lecture mounts up our understanding of the importance of environment protection and the fact that we can change the environment.