Movement for Ecological Learning and Community Action (MELCA-Ethiopia) was established in 2004. It birthed out of the subsequent national, regional and global engagement towards the pressing need of conserving environment as the basis for development and quality life.
The term ‘MELCA’ literally connotes ‘ford’ in Amharic and Afan Oromo; the two indigenous most widely spoken languages in Ethiopia. It means ‘crossing point’, conceptually encapsulating the organizations relentless endeavor to narrow down and eventually bridge the widening gap between culture and biodiversity.
The very naming of the organization implies commitment to connect culture and environment, traditions and scientific ecological knowledge and practices towards sustaining the natural environment in Particular and the society at large. MELCA operates in four regional states of Ethiopia; Oromia, SNNPR, Amhara and Gambella.