Ethiopian montane forests

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Ethiopian montane forests
Ecoregion AT0112.png
Location of the Ethiopian montane forests ecoregion
Ecology
Realm Afrotropical
Biome tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Borders
Geography
Area249,302 km2 (96,256 sq mi)
Countries
Conservation
Conservation status Critical/endangered [1]
Protected7.43% [2]

The Ethiopian montane forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in eastern Africa. It covers the middle elevations of the Ethiopian Highlands in Ethiopia and extends into neighboring Eritrea, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somaliland. The ecoregion includes distinctive Afromontane forests, woodlands, grasslands, and shrublands. The ecoregion's biodiversity is threatened by deforestation, conversion to agriculture, and overgrazing.

Contents

Geography

The Ethiopian montane forests lie between 1,100 and 1,800 meters elevation. They extend throughout the middle elevations of the Ethiopian Highlands, which are mostly in Ethiopia and reach into neighboring Eritrea and Somaliland. The ecoregion also includes several outlying mountains, including Jebel Elba, Jebel Hadai Aweb, and Jebel Ower in eastern Sudan, and the Goda and Mabla mountains in Djibouti. The montane forests are bounded at lower elevations by tropical grasslands and savannas on the west and southwest, and deserts and dry shrublands on the east and southeast. [1]

Above 1800 meters, the montane forests transition to the Ethiopian montane grasslands and woodlands, which are home to distinct higher-elevation forests, woodlands, and grasslands. [1]

Climate

Moisture-bearing winds from the Red Sea provide rainfall throughout the year. The highlands generate orographic precipitation, and are generally cooler and more humid than the lower-elevation deserts and dry shrublands that bound the highlands on the east and south. Orographic effects create fog and cloud cover which keep humidity high and help sustain forests. Southwesterly winds bring rainfall from May to October. Average annual rainfall varies with location, from 600 to 1500 mm. The southern and southwestern portions of the ecoregion generally have higher rainfall. [1]

Flora

The montane forest belt has several natural plant communities, including closed-canopy forests and open-canopied woodlands interspersed with grassland, savanna, and shrubland. The ecoregion's Afromontane flora includes species distinct to Africa's highland regions, often mixed with typical lowland species. In most of the ecoregion the natural vegetation has been heavily altered by livestock grazing, conversion to agriculture, and plantations of exotic trees. [1]

Kolla is an open woodland found at lower elevations. Characteristic trees are species of Terminalia, Commiphora, Boswellia , and Acacia . [1]

Areas of the south and west with higher rainfall are home to Afromontane rain forests and Afromontane moist transitional forests. Characteristic trees of the highlands' Afromontane rain forests include Diospyros abyssinica , Mitragyna rubrostipulata , Macaranga capensis , Ochna holstii , Olea capensis , Aningeria adolfi-friederici , Prunus africana , and Syzygium guineense , along with the tree ferns Cyathea dregei and Cyathea manniana . [3]

The lower portions of the Harenna Forest in the southern highlands includes a distinct woodland community, with an open canopy of Warburgia ugandensis, Croton macrostachyus, Syzygium guineense , and Afrocarpus gracilior , and wild coffee (Coffea arabica) as the dominant understory shrub. [1]

Fauna

Native birds include Harwood's spurfowl (Pternistis harwoodi), Ruspoli's turaco (Menelikornis ruspolii), and yellow-throated seedeater (Crithagra flavigula), which are endemic to the Ethiopian Highlands. [1]

Protected areas

7.43% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. These include portions of several of Ethiopia's national parks – Arsi Mountains, Awash, Nechisar, Omo, Chebera Churhura, Borena, and Maze. Two UNESCO-designated biosphere reserves, Kafa and Yayu, cover portions of the western highlands. Eritrea's Yob Wildlife Reserve and Erkawit Wildlife Sanctuary also protect portions of the ecoregion. [2]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethiopian Highlands</span> Mountain range in northern Ethiopia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Malawi montane forest–grassland mosaic</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Zanzibar–Inhambane coastal forest mosaic</span> Tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of eastern Africa

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethiopian montane grasslands and woodlands</span>

The Ethiopian montane grasslands and woodlands is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion in Ethiopia. It occupies the middle elevations of the Ethiopian Highlands, between the high-altitude Ethiopian montane moorlands and the lower-elevation Ethiopian montane forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethiopian montane moorlands</span>

The Ethiopian montane moorlands is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion in Ethiopia. It lies above 3,000 meters elevation in the Ethiopian Highlands, the largest Afroalpine region in Africa. The montane moorlands lie above the tree line, and consist of grassland and moorland with abundant herbs and shrubs adapted to the high elevation conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethiopian xeric grasslands and shrublands</span> Ecoregion in northeastern Africa

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Range sub-alpine grasslands</span> Ecoregion in New Guinea

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Zanzibar–Inhambane coastal forest mosaic</span> Tropical forest ecoregion of East Africa

Northern Zanzibar–Inhambane coastal forest mosaic, also known as the Northern Swahili coastal forests and woodlands, is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of coastal East Africa. The ecoregion includes a variety of habitats, including forest, savanna and swamps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chimanimani Mountains</span> Mountain range in Mozambique and Zimbabwe

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nimba Range</span> Southern extent of the Guinea highlands

The Nimba Range forms part of the southern extent of the Guinea Highlands. The highest peak is Mount Richard-Molard on the border of Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea, at 1,752 m (5,748 ft). "Mount Nimba" may refer either to Mount Richard-Molard or to the entire range. Other peaks include Grand Rochers at 1,694 m (5,558 ft), Mont Sempéré at 1,682 m (5,518 ft), Mont Piérré Richaud at 1,670 m (5,480 ft), Mont Tô at 1,675 m (5,495 ft), and Mont LeClerc 1,577 m (5,174 ft), all of them are located in Guinea. Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve of Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire covers significant portions of the Nimba Range.

Somali <i>Acacia</i>–<i>Commiphora</i> bushlands and thickets

The Somali AcaciaCommiphora bushlands and thickets is a semi-arid tropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands ecoregion in the Horn of Africa. It is home to diverse communities of plants and animals, including several endemic species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Basin forest–savanna mosaic</span>

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Ethiopian montane forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  2. 1 2 "Ethiopian montane forests". DOPA Explorer. Accessed 1 March 2022.
  3. Kindt R, van Breugel P, Orwa C, Lillesø JPB, Jamnadass R and Graudal L (2015) Useful tree species for Eastern Africa: a species selection tool based on the VECEA map. Version 2.0. World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and Forest & Landscape Denmark. //vegetationmap4africa.org