Vegetation in Ethiopia

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Ethiopian Vegetation

Find All There is to Know About Ethiopian Vegetation

Ethiopia is known for having a very diverse range of topography and climatic
environments. Located in the Horn of Africa it has one of the most abundant
collections of plants on the African continent.

It is the home of various internationally important crop species, such as Coffea

Arabica (coffee).

Ethiopia also has a high diversity of tree species, most of which are restricted
to Ethiopia and its bordering countries or endemic to the country. As a result
of this diversity, almost every major type of vegetation can be found in the
country.
Conservation in Ethiopia in Urgently Needed

According to a publication by Global Trees Campaign entitled Red List of

Endemic Trees and Shrubs of Ethiopia and Eritrea; six species were attributed
as threatened, among those were the following:

* Acacia bricchettiana is assessed as Critically Endangered and reported as

known from only two type collections.
* Acacia prasinata, also assessed as Critically Endangered. Despite occurring
in a National Park, the remaining populations of this species are reported to
be threatened by overgrazing and cutting for firewood.

* Hagenia abyssinica is native to the Afromontane regions of central and

eastern Africa. Despite a fairly large range, deforestation is occurring across
these regions and this species is becoming locally rare in some areas. This
species is noted as being of serious conservation concern within Ethiopia in
the 2005 Red List publication. H. abyssinica is used locally in Ethiopia for
timber and as a source of medicine. There is a great need to increase
conservation work of this important species to support wild populations and
provide material for reintroduction and restoration projects in future.

* Juniperus procera is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due
to a current wide distribution, however the population is reported to be
declining due to continuing exploitation and deforestation. The species is
noted to be at particular risk in Ethiopia and Kenya, due to depletion of old
growth forest groves of this species. As the only juniper species occurring in
Sub-Saharan Africa, J. procera should be an important conservation priority
for countries within its range.

introduction
What is the natural vegetation?
Natural vegetation refers to a plant community which has grown
naturally without human aid. They have been left
undisturbed by humans for a long time. ... Thus, cultivated
crops and fruits, orchards form part of vegetation but
not natural vegetation.

What is natural vegetation what is its importance?

Vegetation serves several critical functions in the biosphere, at
all possible spatial scales. First, vegetation regulates the flow of
numerous biogeochemical cycles, most critically those of water,
carbon, and nitrogen; it is also of great importance inlocal and
global energy balances

Hagenia Abyssinica and Juniperus Procera

Botanical Gardens, Nurseries, Arboretums in Ethiopia

The introduction of botanical gardens, nurseries and arboretums in Ethiopia is
an important breakthrough for those hoping to conserve some of the
threatened species.

image credit: psmag.com - Gullele Botanic Garden

Projects such as the restoration of the arboretum at Wondo Genet College of

Forestry and Natural Resources and the Gullele Botanic Garden (GBG) plan
to play a vital role in the conservationism effort.
 Nursery in Wondo Genet College

GBG is already home to over 780 plant species endemic to Ethiopia, and both
projects plan to maintain a national collection of endangered and endemic tree
species for research, education, and conservation.

They have already begun to create links with international community partners
and various other botanical gardens and organizations in Ethiopia.
 image credit: globaltrees.org - Nursery in Gullele Botanic Garden

8 Classified Groups of Vegetation in Ethiopia

Desert and Semi-desert scrublands:

Represented by drought resistant woody plants - Acacia, Commiphora,

Boscia, Cadaba, Maerua, Ziyphus. Non-wooded plants - Euphorbia, Aloe.
Grasses - Dactyloctenium Aegyptium, Panicum Turgidum.

Small-leaved, deciduous woodland of Acacia-Commiphora:

The altitudinal range in which the ecosystem is found is 1000-2000 meters
above sea level. Drought-tolerant tree species and shrubs, with either small
deciduous leaves or leathery, persistent ones characterize this vegetation-
type and typical species include Acacia tortilis, A. mellifera and Balanites
aegyptiaca together with various species of Commiphora, Capparis,
Combretum and Terminalia. The ground layer includes the herbs Acalypha
and Barleria.

Moist evergreen Montane Rainforest:

The montane moist forest ecosystem encompass high forests of the country
mainly the southwest forests, which are the wettest, and also the humid forest
on the southeastern plateau known as the Harenna forest. The montane moist
forest ecosystem is distinguished by supporting abundant growing epiphytes
Canarina, Orchids, Scadoxus and fern plants such as Platycerium and
Drynaria. Mosses also crop up in the wettest part of forests coupled to major
branches and barks of trees.
 image credit: simienpark.org - Semein Mountains

Lowland semi-evergreen forest:

Distinguished by a range of mainly semi-deciduous tree and shrub species.

Woody species include the evolving trees Celtis toka, Diospyros abyssinica,
Malacantha alnifolia and Zanha golugensis, while shrubby species include
Alchornea laxiflora, Oncoba spinosa and Whitfieldiaelongata.

Broadleaved, deciduous woodland of Combretum-Terminalia and Savannah:

tree species in these woodlands are little in size with moderately large
deciduous leaves and an understory of herbs and grasses. The prevailing
trees and shrubs are Combretum and Terminalia spp., Boswellia papyrifera,
Lannea schimperi, Anogeissus leiocarpus.

Dry evergreen montane forest and grassland complex:

This type is distinguished by trees of different sizes and widespread
grasslands that are rich in legumes. General tree species include Juniperus
procera, Olea europaea, Celtis africana, Euphorbia ampliphylla, Mimusops
kummel and Ekebergia capensis. Characteristic shrubs include Dracaena
spp., Carissa edulis and Rosa abyssinica, while ordinary grass species belong
to the genera Hyparrhenia, Eragrostis, Panicum, Sporobolus, Eleusine and
Pennisetum, and the legumes include Trifolium, Eriosema and Crotalaria spp.
The forest-grassland ecotone is occupied by Acacia woodland with
abyssinica, A. negrii and A. pilispina the commonest trees.

Afro-alpine and sub-Afro-alpine vegetation:

The areas which on the average higher than 3300 meters above sea level.
This vegetation-type is distinguished by small trees, shrubs and shrubby
herbs at lower altitudes and, at higher altitudes, herbs and tuussock-forming
grasses. Common tree and shrub species include Erica arborea, E. trimera
and Hypericum revolutum. Herbs in this area are the giant lobelia Lobelia
rhynchopetalum, Kniphofia foliosa, Bartsia petitiana and various Alchemilla
species. Festuca, Poa and Agrostis spp. are common grasses.

Riparian and swamp vegetation:

Common tree species include Celtis africana, Ficus sycamorus, Mimusops

kummel, Tamarindus indica, Maytenus senegalensis, Acacia spp., Kigelia
aethiopium and Syzygium guineense. Swamps are dominated by sedges
(especially species of Eleocharis and Scirpus), grasses (particularly
Echinochloa spp.) and many herbs.

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Abstract

Natural vegetation degradation

Deforestation, accelerated soil erosion, and land degradation are serious problems in Ethiopia. To
overcome these problems, efforts have been made to launch afforestation and conservation programs;
success to date, however, has been limited. This paper will discuss agriculture and forestry practices in
the Ethiopian highlands and try to identify the causes of deforestation and land degradation there.
Agroforestry and social forestry practices, plantation forestry, and conservation of the remaining forests
are proposed as a strategy for physical recovery. Social and policy issues such as local participation in
natural resource management and the existence of clear land and tree tenure policies are critical for the
long-term sustainability and expansion of forests in Ethiopia. In general, tree planting through
agroforestry and social forestry should be an integral part of rural development programs to provide the
community with food, fuel wood, income, and environmental benefits. Increasing public awareness
through education about forestry and natural resource conservation is vital for maintaining Ethiopia's
remaining natural forestsand biodivestyNortheast African Studies © 2001 Michigan State University
Press

introduction
What is natural vegetation what is its importance?
Vegetation serves several critical functions in the biosphere, at all possible spatial
scales. First, vegetation regulates the flow of numerous biogeochemical cycles, most
critically those of water, carbon, and nitrogen; it is also of great importance inlocal and
global energy balances

Natura vegetation degradition

e major causes of land degradation in Ethiopia are the rapid population increase, severe
soil loss, deforestation, low vegetative cover and unbalanced crop and livestock
production. ... The balance between crop, livestock, and forestproduction is disturbed, and
the farmer is forced to put more land into crop production.