Mankubsa - Welenso forest (6295)
Ethiopia, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2011

National site name: Mankubsa - Welenso forest

Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.1780, Longitude: 39.5510

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 1400 to 1650

Area of KBA (km²): 199.67212

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Mankubsa–Welenso forest is near the Negele–Arero track between 20 and 40 km south of Negele town, the capital of Borana Zone. Negele is over 310 km south-east of Awassa. The area is on a plateau at the western edge of the Liben plains (site ET062). The forest is dominated by Juniperus procera, which forms a relatively open canopy at 25 m. Juniperus procera dominated forests are more usually found at higher altitudes than at Mankubsa–Welenso. Other species that form a lower stratum include various Acacia spp., Olea europea cuspidata, Combretum spp., Maytenus sp., and Rhus sp. A ground-cover of tall grasses includes Hyparrhenia spp. and Cympopogon spp. The soils in this area are shallow sands and gravels, and as a consequence are easily eroded.

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 Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Tauraco ruspolii and Serinus xantholaema both occur, but are uncommon. Among Somali–Masai biome species known from the area are Calandrella somalica, Cisticola bodessa, Sylvia boehmi and Sylvietta isabellina. Other species of interest recorded from the site include Accipiter ovampensis and Nectarinia erythrocerca. In addition, one species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome has been recorded at this site; see Table 3. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Delineation rationale: 2013-07-10 (BL Secretariat): following CEPF East Afromontane ecosystem profiling process, the reported IBA area of 17780 ha has been changed to 20000 ha (as measured in GIS from latest boundary polygon, rounded to nearest 10%).

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | water management

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Terrestrial	66
Grassland	33

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Mankubsa is formally protected as a National Forest Priority Area. However, the removal of trees and crop cultivation has reduced the extent of the forest, and overgrazing hampers natural regeneration. Trees are cut for timber and fuel, both being sold in nearby Negele town. Borano–Oromo pastoralists use fire to eradicate ticks from the forest and improve grazing for their animals, further threatening the integrity of the forest.

Additional information