Kafa Biosphere Reserve
Kafa Biosphere Reserve | |
---|---|
UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve | |
Designated | 2010 |
Governing body | Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI) |
The Kafa Biosphere Reserve is located in the Kafa Zone of Ethiopia approximately 460 km southwest of Addis Ababa. The Bonga National Forest Priority Area partly forms the southern boundary of the Biosphere Reserve, whilst the eastern boundary follows the Adiyo Woreda with the Gojeb River and Gewata-Yeba (Boginda) National Forest Priority Area forming the northern boundary.
It was declared in 2010 and has a surface area of 760,114.1 hectares. It has a population of 608 227 people.
Ecological characteristics
The Kafa Biosphere Reserve is located in the Kafa Zone of Ethiopia approximately 460 km southwest of Addis Ababa.
The Bonga National Forest Priority Area partly forms the southern boundary of the Biosphere Reserve, whilst the eastern boundary follows the Adiyo Woredawith the Gojeb River and Gewata-Yeba (Boginda) National Forest Priority Area forms the northern boundary.
The Saylem Woreda forms the northern part of the Biosphere Reserve and the western boundary constitutes the Gesha National Forest Priority Area. The Kafa Zone contains more than 50% of the remaining montane forests in Ethiopia and it is the center of origin and genetic diversity of wild Coffea arabica.
Flora
Kafa Biosphere Reserve contains 244 plant species that are vascular plants such as trees, shrubs, and wild coffees. Some plant species that are recorded as 110 are commonly endemic throughout the forested area. The vegetation of the reserve is covered with
Wildlife
Mammals
Kafa Biosphere Reserve is home to 300 species of mammals consisting of
Small mammals such as
Avifauna
Kafa Biosphere Reserve is also home to 178 species of birds that are endemic, endangered, near-threatened, or restricted. Some bird species are restricted to 27 species from the Afro-tropical highlands and the Somali-Masai biome.
Herpetofauna
17 species of Amphibians are recorded in the Kafa Biosphere Reserve along with 5 species of reptiles. The reptiles species such as
Human activities
The Biosphere Reserve includes the East Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot and other endemic crops such as
Furthermore, it includes a unique coffee culture that is deeply ingrained in the Ethiopian economy and history.
The area includes an array of rural settlements, traditional land-use patterns, and sites of cultural and natural significance, which are home to approximately 608 227 people.
Main economic activities in the area are dominated by agriculture which contributes approximately 41% to the GDP, 80% of exports, and 80% of the labor force. Other sectors include services and tourism, manufacturing, and trade. Agriculture forms the backbone of the economy with most of the other sectors (i.e. trade and tourism) being dependent on its strong backward and forward linkages.
The key management focal areas of the Biosphere Reserve include coordination of conservation initiatives with the focus on the protection of the endemic and global important genetic resources of Coffea arabica and its associated ecosystems, provision of a sustained flow of high-quality water to adjoining regions, and the promotion of sustainable development to alleviate poverty and inequality.
Sources
This article incorporates text from a free content work. Licensed under CC BY-SA IGO 3.0 (license statement/permission). Text taken from UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory, UNESCO, UNESCO.
References
- ^ UNEP-WCMC (2022). Protected Area Profile for Kafa from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 2 March 2022. [1]
- ^ "Kafa Biosphere Reserve, Ethiopia". 22 October 2018.
- ^ Leßmeister, Anna & Kidane, Kifle & Woldegebriel, Terefe & Hundera, Kitessa & Hunde, Debela & Montero, Juan. (2017). Vascular plants at the Kafa Biosphere Reserve.
- ^ a b c Montero, Juan & Abebe, Yilma & Bauer, Hans & Beisenherz, Wolfgang & Clausnitzer, Viola & Flügel, Hans-Joachim & Geertz, Thies & Gminder, Andreas & Hermes, Nicole & Hunde, Debela & Hundera, Kitessa & Kaipf, Ingrid & Kirschey, Tom & Kohlmorgen, Nina & Leßmeister, Anna & Meinig, Holger & Rudolphi, Hartmut & Ryslavy, Torsten & Schell, Andrea & Koch, Olef. (2017). Biodiversity Assessment at the Kafa Biosphere Reserve.