Choke mountains (6247)
Ethiopia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Choke mountains
Central coordinates: Latitude: 10.7140, Longitude: 37.7300
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 2800 to 4070
Area of KBA (km2): 1085.34904
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Choke mountains are to the south of Lake Tana in the centre of Gojam. The nearest large towns are Bahir Dar to the north and Debre Markos to the south. The small towns of Bichena and Mota lie to the east. This large mountain block rises gradually from the surrounding plateau to around 2,800 m, with the highest peak, Mt Choke, at 4,070 m. The Abbay river has cut a deep valley that defines the eastern limits of the area. The area has an inactive volcanic centre composed of basalt with a very thin cover of pyroclastic materials (volcanic ashes). Erosion has resulted in numerous, deeply incised valleys, which were covered with glaciers during the last ice-age. Many small streams originate in the mountains. The most remarkable feature of these mountains is the virtual absence of forest. The major natural habitats are moist moorland with giant Lobelia spp., Alchemilla spp., sedges and tussocks of Festuca spp. and other grasses, montane grasslands and meadows, cliffs and rocky areas. Woody plants, Erica spp., Hypericum revolutum and Arundinaria alpina are only found in patches. Agricultural activity is extensive, with cultivation up to 3,000 m.
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 October 1995 recorded 49 species. Species of particular note (and characteristic of open highland habitats) are Bostrychia carunculata, Vanellus melanocephalus, Columba albitorques, Macronyx flavicollis (uncommon), Corvus crassirostris and Serinus nigriceps. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Delineation rationale: 2010-02-03 (BL Secretariat): site area was not defined in the original IBA publication/inventory; here, it has been derived by GIS from the draft polygon.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The mountains are totally unprotected and are severely threatened by the rapid agricultural expansion, overgrazing and excessive soil erosion.