Biodiversity In Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s biogeography is characterised by two dominant features – first, the ancient, arid areas of the Horn of Africa and the mesic highland plateau, of which the Bale Mountains are a part. Both are relatively impoverished in species number, but isolation and climatic instability have led to high levels of endemism. Of these, a number of charismatic flagship species are well recognized, most notably the gelada baboon, the mountain nyala, the Ethiopian wolf, the walia ibex and the giant lobelia – all of which are found in the Ethiopian highlands. Ethiopia’s rare and unique biodiversity is confirmed by two Conservation International Biodiversity Hotspots, namely the Horn of Africa and the Eastern Afromontane Hotspots, which together cover the majority of the country. All highland areas over 1,100 m asl in Ethiopia, including the Bale Mountains National Park, fall within the Eastern Afromontane Hotspot, a testament to the global conservation importance of these mountain ‘islands’.

Ethiopia harbors a number of charismatic flagship and keystone species: gelada baboons, the mountain nyala, the Ethiopian wolf and the walia ibex.