Boyo wetland (6283)
Ethiopia, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2011

National site name: Boyo wetland

Central coordinates: Latitude: 7.5030, Longitude: 38.0190

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 1880 to 1880

Area of KBA (km²): 125.01149

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Boyo Wetland is 26 km north of Alaba Kulito, Hadiya Zone. It is in the Bilate river basin that drains from the Gurage highlands south into Lake Abaya. The two main tributaries of the Bilate river, the Guder (which originates in the mountains near the zonal capital Hosana) and the Weira, merge at Boyo wetland. The vegetation of this wetland has not been studied. The site is within one of the most intensely cultivated areas in the country. It is self-supporting in food crops and many other items, and produces much for Addis Ababa.

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 for key species. Small numbers of Falco naumanni appear to pass through the site on spring and autumn passage and a few may overwinter. Circus macrourus is fairly common on spring and autumn passage, with small numbers overwintering. Boyo wetland supports a high concentration of waterbirds. During a one-day survey in April 1996, 62 Grus carunculatus and three Balearica pavonina were recorded. During the same survey, other waterbird counts included Ardeola ralloides (40+), Bubulcus ibis (3,000+), Mesophoyx intermedia (300+), Mycteria ibis (80+), Plegadis falcinellus (1,200+), Threskiornis aethiopicus (150+), Plectropterus gambensis (75+) and several thousand Palearctic waders of various species. Counts covered a maximum of 10% of the total area, and the total number of waterbirds was thus estimated to exceed 20,000. 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 | hunting

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The Boyo wetland is listed as a Controlled Hunting Area for Hippopotamus amphibius. The area around the wetland, especially the western side, is being used as range- and farmland, and the hills are denuded of trees and grass cover. As a consequence, the land is severely eroded and the lake is silting up. Other threats include human settlement and the introduction of exotic tree species. Silt deposits have attracted people to expand cultivation in the area, and farmers are planting Eucalyptus globulus, an exotic tree species well known for drying out soils. Birds face disturbance from people and domestic stock.

Additional information