Simien Mountains National Park
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Simien Mountains National Park | |
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Location | Amhara Region, Ethiopia |
Nearest city | Debarq and Mekane Berhan |
Coordinates | 13°11′N 38°4′E / 13.183°N 38.067°E |
Area | 220 km2 (85 sq mi) |
Established | 1969 |
Visitors | 26,000[1] (in 2016) |
Official name | Simien National Park |
Type | Natural |
Criteria | vii, x |
Designated | 1978 (2nd session) |
Reference no. | 9 |
Region | Africa |
Endangered | 1996–2017[2] |
Simien Mountains National Park is the largest
It is home to a number of endangered species, including the
The park is crossed by an unpaved road which runs from Debarq, where the administrative headquarters of the park is located, east through a number of villages to the 4,430 metres (14,530 ft) Buahit Pass, where the road turns south to end at Mekane Berhan, 10 kilometres (6 mi) beyond the park boundary.[4]
History
The park was established in 1969, having been set up by
The Simien region has been inhabited and cultivated for at least 2,000 years. Initially, erosion began to reveal that the clearing began at the gentle slope of the highland valley but later expanded to a steep slope.[clarification needed]
The national park was one of the first sites to be made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, inscribed in 1978 because of its outstanding biodiversity and spectacular landscape.[5] Due to serious population declines of some of its characteristic native species, in 1996 it was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger. With the stabilization of those species' populations, this listing was removed in 2017.[2]
Geography
Simien Mountains National Park is located on the western side of the
The Simien area is rich in perforated basalt, and serves as an ideal catchment basin. Water is conserved by the Mayshasha River, which runs through the two rainy days[clarification needed] and the national park from north to south. As a result, national parks are abundant with wildlife and plants.
Wildlife
Flora
The vegetation is mixed with African alpine forests, wilderness forests and alpine vegetation. High altitude areas include montane savannah and tree heath ( spp.) Forests grew from 3,000 m to 3,800 m above sea level, but now it is almost gone. The exact number is not known.
Fauna
The park is populated with a total of 21 large mammal species live within the park boundaries[5] such as gelada baboon (Theropithecus gelada), Ethiopian wolf (also called Simen fox, Canis simensis), Walia ibex (Capra walie), and
In an expedition in 2015, 11 species of rodents and two shrew species were recorded, all of which are
The park provides a home to 400 species of bird species that thrived throughout the mountainous ecoregion, which includes
Conservation
Simien Mountains National Park was established in 1969 and is protected under the National Reserve Act. The management of national parks effectively protects the representative species of parks and works closely with local residents to reduce the pressure on park resources by expanding arable land, overfishing livestock, and overcapacity of natural resources.
Sufficient financial support is needed for park management and livelihood alternative development of local residents. It is necessary to prepare, implement, review and monitor the management plan, to revise and expand the boundary of the park, and to participate fully in the local residents. Local cooperation is particularly important to prevent sustainable use of national park resources and to develop sustainable livelihoods. Adequate financial support for resettlement of inhabitants in the heritage area and the introduction of effective livestock management are essential to reduce the severe stress on wildlife.
In order to maintain excellent universal values, environmental education and training programs of residents living in and out of the heritage are needed as well as obtaining the cooperation and support of local residents in heritage management.
Controversy
The resettlement of inhabitants was criticized as a case of
Gallery
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Simien Mountains
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Bushbuck
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Lobelia rhynchopetalum
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Cliff in the National Park
See also
- National parks in Ethiopia
- List of World Heritage Sites in Ethiopia
References
- ^ The characteristics, length of stay and motivation of foreign tourists who visit Simien Mountains National Park, World Heritage Site, Ethiopia
- ^ a b "Ethiopian World Heritage site, Simien National Park no longer in danger". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ WordTravels Ethiopia Travel Guide, Retrieved on June 22, 2008
- ^ Philip Briggs, Ethiopia: The Bradt Travel Guide, 5th edition (Chalfont St Peters: Bradt, 2009), p. 240
- ^ a b c d "Simien National Park". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ hdl:10593/3553.
- ^ "Simien plants".
- ^ "Relationship between Topographic Variables and Land Cover in the Simien Mountains National Park, a World Heritage Site in Northern Ethiopia".
- ^ .
- ^ A Glimpse at Biodiversity Hotspots of Ethiopia (PDF). Ethiopian Wildlife & Natural History Society. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2012.
- ISSN 0002-0206.
External links
- UNESCO World Heritage profile of Simien National Park
- Explore Simien National Park in the UNESCO collection on Google Arts and Culture
- United Nations Environment Programme: World Conservation Monitoring Centre: Simien National Park
- The National Parks of Ethiopia: Simien Mountain Adventure - Part I (Addis Tribune)
- The National Parks of Ethiopia: Simien Mountain Adventure - Part II (Addis Tribune)
- The National Parks of Ethiopia: Simien Mountain Adventure - Part III (Addis Tribune)