The Bureau of Environmental Protection and Rural Land Administration is mandated, in accordance with Proclamation No. 185/2011 E.C., to plan, coordinate, regulate, and oversee activities related to environmental protection, forest development, wildlife conservation, climate change response, and rural land administration across the Somali Region.

In fulfilling its mandate, the Bureau shall coordinate and ensure the realization of environmental objectives enshrined in the Constitution and the Environmental Policy of the Region, and promote sustainable development that balances social, economic, and environmental interests.

The Bureau is responsible for establishing and enforcing systems for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for policies, strategies, laws, programs, and development projects initiated by public and private actors, prior to their approval and implementation, in order to prevent or mitigate adverse environmental and social impacts.

It shall develop environmental policies, strategies, guidelines, and regulatory frameworks, and ensure compliance through monitoring, inspection, and enforcement mechanisms, including environmental audits, pollution control, and waste management systems aimed at protecting public health, ecosystems, and natural resources.

The Bureau shall coordinate actions to build a Climate-Resilient Green Economy, mobilize and manage resources, and provide capacity-building and advisory support at regional, zonal, and local levels. It shall also promote mechanisms that enhance social, economic, and environmental justice, ensuring that benefits derived from environmental and forest resources are equitably shared with affected communities.

Furthermore, the Bureau shall coordinate the implementation of national, regional, and international environmental and climate change agreements ratified by Ethiopia, participate in negotiations, and lead the coordination of responses to such agreements to avoid overlaps, resource wastage, and institutional gaps.

The Bureau shall undertake and coordinate research, data management, public awareness, and technology transfer activities that promote environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management, and green job creation.

In addition, it shall establish systems for the development, utilization, and rehabilitation of forest resources, including small- and large-scale forests and bamboo, on private, communal, and watershed areas, and implement programs to rehabilitate degraded and deforested lands in order to enhance their environmental and economic benefits.