Lakes Alemaya and Adele (6251)
Ethiopia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1996
National site name: Lakes Alemaya and Adele
Central coordinates: Latitude: 9.4000, Longitude: 42.0000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 2000 to 2000
Area of KBA (km2): 4.43318
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Lakes Alemaya (472 ha) and Adele (300 ha) are in Haramaya Wereda, East Harerghe Zone. Alemaya is 21 km and Adele 5 km west of the city of Harar, and both are to the north of the main Harar road. Lake Alemaya is the largest in a series of shallow lakes that include Horajutu, Adele and Finkile. These lakes formed in depressions on the otherwise relatively flat plateau. Finkile overflows seasonally into Lake Alemaya whilst Lake Adele is separated by a 15-km-wide strip of cultivated land. The lakes are surrounded by small hills and derive their water directly from rainfall and from several small streams that drain catchments to the west and north; floods from adjacent watersheds also occur. The lake shores are gently sloping so that a considerable area of land can become shallowly inundated during and immediately after the rainy season. During the 1960s, the area around much of Lake Alemaya supported thick vegetation, predominantly bushes and climbers, and the lake itself had extensive beds of sedges, reeds and bulrushes. However, most of this vegetation has been lost to agricultural conversion and the sedge/reedbeds have been greatly reduced. The major habitats now comprise open water, some areas of Cyperaceaealong the shore, and extended, shallowly inundated areas that can be cultivated with vegetables. Surrounding areas have short-grass grazing-meadows and cultivated fields of sorghum. There are also some large Eucalyptus trees and clusters of palm trees. Water from Lake Alemaya is abstracted for irrigating perennial crops, particularly Catha edulis, locally distinct cultivars of Coffea arabica, and sugar-cane (the main rain-fed cereal is sorghum). The lake also supplies drinking water for the local people, their animals, the city of Harar and Alemaya University. The lake supports some local fishing and recreation.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: See Box for key species. Numbers of Fulica cristata appear to be in decline, and at least fluctuate seasonally. Up to 10,000 were recorded in September 1971, many of them on nests, but only 1,000 were found in May and August of that year. A survey in October 1995 estimated a population of 300. Other waterbirds are well represented at the site, with Phoenicopterus ruber (1,650) and P. minor (1,050), a small population of Porphyrio porphyrio and Podiceps nigricollis being seasonally common. Additional counts include Pelecanus onocrotalus (57), Alopochen aegyptiacus (350), Anas clypeata (60), Himantopus himantopus (40), Recurvirostra avosetta (120), Limosa limosa (550), Calidris minuta/temminckii (180) and Philomachus pugnax (150). The surrounding area is known for its hybrid crows Corvus edithae. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | tourism/recreation | water management
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area around the lakes has been almost totally converted to agriculture, and this has been to the detriment of the local wildlife. With no controls on the farming practices (e.g. to conserve soil or water), what little soil cover there is is being eroded, resulting in the siltation of the lake. The situation is being exacerbated by the increasing abstraction of water (over 30 pumps have been installed) for irrigation, and an apparent reduction in annual rainfall. The result is that the area of Lake Alemaya in particular is diminishing. Farmers are now using areas previously covered by water to cultivate vegetables. The area between Finkile and Alemaya is naturally a haven for waterbirds, but when the level of the water decreases, the land is used for intensive grazing and agriculture. Direct disturbance has the potential to affect some species, in particular Alopochen aegyptiacus and Fulica cristata that are considered pests by local farmers. The threats to this area have been recognized by the local authorities who have recommended controls on the activities of farmers around the lake and the instigation of environmental rehabilitation activities, particularly physical and biological measures to reduce the rate of soil erosion and siltation.