Yangudi-Rassa National Park (6244)
Ethiopia, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 1996

National site name: Yangudi-Rassa National Park

Central coordinates: Latitude: 10.8667, Longitude: 41.2500

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 400 to 1459

Area of KBA (km²): 3046.21248

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Yangudi-Rassa National Park is in the centre of the Afar Region (in the northern section of the Rift Valley) between the towns of Gewani and Mille, and 500 km from Addis Ababa. Yangudi mountain lies on its south-eastern boundary, and is surrounded by the Rassa plains. Habitats include riverine forests along the Awash river, marshes and small lakes, dry riverbeds, rocky hills, sandy semi-desert and wooded grasslands. The sandy semi-desert and wooded grassland make up the largest portion of the park. The two main ethnic groups inhabiting this area are the Afars and the Issas. Ethnic feuds have been frequent between them, but most of the park happens to be in an area where they avoid each other.

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)

Additional biodiversity: See Box and Table 3 for key species. More than 230 species have been recorded in this area. Being situated on an important migration flyway, many migratory species have been found including Falco naumanni and Circus macrourus, both of which are recorded regularly on migration and during the winter. Other species of interest include Phoenicopterus minor, Petronia brachydactyla and Ardeotis arabs (more common here than A. kori). Non-bird biodiversity: The park supports an important population of Equus africanus (CR), and at least 35 other species of mammal.

Habitats

Land use: nature conservation and research

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Terrestrial	31
Grassland	33
Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	33

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The park was proposed in 1977 specifically to protect Equus africanus. Besides the wildlife, the park is also important for safeguarding a 50-km strip of rich archaeological remains along the eroded hills near the Awash river. Active management of the park’s resources is minimal, with protection arising primarily as a result of the extremely harsh environment and its position as a no-man’s land between rival pastoralists/ethnic groups. The military has previously killed large numbers of herbivores within the park.

Additional information