Yegof forest (6243)
Ethiopia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Yegof forest
Central coordinates: Latitude: 11.0290, Longitude: 39.6900
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 2000 to 3000
Area of KBA (km2): 183.43975
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Yegof forest is in South Welo Zone, on a steep mountain ridge overlooking Kombolcha town, 395 km north of Addis Ababa. It is composed of natural highland forest and plantations of fast-growing exotic trees. The natural forest, which once covered Mt Yegof, comprised dry evergreen, and mixed conifer and broadleaved trees. It is dominated by Juniperus procera. Other characteristic tree species are Olea europaea cuspidata, Erica arborea and Hypericum revolutum, with H. quartinianum at the higher altitudes. Lower down are various Acacia spp., Bersama abyssinica, Croton macrostachyus, Syzygium guineense, Rhus vulgaris, tree Euphorbia spp., Albizia spp. and (even lower) Cordia africana.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) KBA identified in the process of compiling the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the East Afromontane Hotspot. Species taxonomy and threat category was based on IUCN Red List 2010-4.
Additional biodiversity: See Box and Table 3 for key species. A survey in April 1996 recorded 62 species at the site. Parophasma galinieri was particularly numerous. Dendropicos abyssinicus was found nesting and Laniarius aethiopicus was seen collecting nesting material. Other species of interest include Columba arquatrix and Centropus monachus. The Phoeniculus purpureus seen here have entirely red bills. Non-bird biodiversity: The endemic subspecies Tragelaphus scriptus meneliki occurs.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Natural forest returned after the 1973–1974 famine when the mountain was protected. This could form an exciting precedent for the protection and subsequent regeneration of other highland areas that have lost all their natural vegetation. Human encroachment into Yegof forest has started again, with farmers residing inside the forest boundaries. This is the major threat to the natural forest. In spite of the presence of guards, extraction of wood for construction and fuel still occurs. The plantation of exotic species was started in 1973. The plantation is thinned on an irregular basis, and several firebreaks have been established. Grazing and illegal cutting do occur within the plantation, but encroachment has been controlled.
Additional information
References: Ministry of Agriculture (1980).