MELCA means ford both in Amharic and Oromo language, two of the widely spoken languages of Ethiopia. It means a crossing point on a river, which is symbolically used to indicate the need to take people away from their misconception about local people and culture to an understanding and appreciation of traditional ecological knowledge. A river also signifies linkage with a source. If the source dries, the river also dries. MELCA emphasises that culture is the source of identity and wisdom, and that the destruction or degradation of culture will result lose of a vast amount of knowledge and identity.

MELCA main areas of focus are on environmental education, agro ecology and ecological governance.

For more information about MELCA, please visit their website www.melcaethiopia.org