Forest & Aquatic Plants Genetic Resources Department
Background
Ethiopia covers a total land area of 1.12 million km2, with diverse geo-physical features. It has a wide range of altitudes, varying between 126 meter below sea level to 4620 meter above sea level at Ras Dashen that has resulted in a wide range of climatic conditions and a multitude of agro-ecological zones. This varied ecological setting has enhanced evolution of various life forms including more than 7000 species of vascular plants of which about 12 % are believed to be endemic. The total number of woody plants (including trees, shrubs, bushes and lianas) is estimated to be 1000 out of which about 300 are estimated to be tree species.
Different studies indicated that all vegetation types of Ethiopia are under severe threat. The highest pressure, however, is being exerted on the moist and dry evergreen montane forests which are mainly located in the densely populated highlands, as evidenced by the high rate of deforestation. Since the population in the highlands is growing at the highest rate in the country, it is believed that the pressure on the high forest will increase in the future. The major reasons for the fast depletion of the forest resources include search for new farm and grazing land and the need for wood for fuel and construction purposes.
Past and present efforts to conserve the forests of Ethiopia are inadequate to halt the process of deforestation and forest degradation in the country. Deforestation of natural high forests and other vegetation types continues unabated. Therefore, it is time for concerted action of all stakeholders to halt the rapid degradation of forest ecosystems and the resulting loss of forest genetic resources.
Objectives of the Department
The department has three major objectives
1. Survey and document the country’s forest and aquatic plant genetic resources,
2. Study the biology and genetic variability of forest and aquatic plant species,
3. By employing both in-situ and ex-situ methods conserve and enhance the sustainable utilization of forest and aquatic plant genetic resources.
FOREST RESOURCE BASE
The Vegetation of Ethiopia have been grouped in to nine major types;
1. Afroalpine and Subafroalpine Vegetation
2. Dry Evergreen Montane Forest
3. Moist Evergreen Montane Forest
4. Wetlands
5. Evergreen Scrub
6. Combretum-Terminalia (Broad-leaved deciduous) Woodland
7. Acacia-Commiphora (Small-leaved deciduous) Wood land
8. Lowland Dry Forest (semi-deciduous forest)
9. Lowland Semi-desert and Desert Areas
A representative picture for moist evergreen montane forest (Boginda forest), Acacia woodland (Lake Langano area) and a riverine forest are presented in figure 2- 4.
STRATEGIES FOR FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES CONSERVATION
The conservation of genetic resources is based on two different concepts, namely in situ and ex situ conservation methods. For actual implementation of these conservation methods a sound knowledge of the genetic structure and the mating system of the tree/shrub species to be conserved is necessary. This knowledge will guarantee that the applied conservation measures will cover the genetic variation of that particular species.
In spite of being necessary for the implementation of the conservation measures, there is limited information on the tree and shrub species of Ethiopia. However, this lack of information does not rule out the implementation of measures to conserve such species. In case of limited or no knowledge, the decision on a suitable strategy is to be based on informed guesses about the genetic structure using, for example, ecological characteristics of a species as a guideline. Besides this, for the realization of the conservation methods, the conservation objects have to be identified and evaluated in terms of their conservation status and socio-economic importance. In view of limited resources priorities on different levels (ecosystem and species level) have to be defined in order to direct available resources to those conservation objects, which most urgently require attention.
PRIORITIZATION OF BROAD VEGETATION TYPES
The conservation of Ethiopia’s forest genetic resources is a very demanding and complex task. While the department equally considers all major vegetation types, the whole vegetation types prioritized in view of limited available resources. For this purpose, the nine major vegetation types of the country were ranked according to the level of threat imposed on them. This has resulted in the following priority classes for conservation measures:
First priority (high level of threat – high priority for conservation)
• Moist ever green montane forest
• Dry ever green montane forest
• Lowland Wet forest (Lowland semi-evergreen forest)
Second priority
• Acacia-Commiphora woodland (small-leaved deciduous woodland), particularly the Acacia dominated sub- type which occurs for example in the Rift Valley.
Third priority
• Wetlands/riparian vegetation
• Afro alpine and sub afro alpine vegetation
Fourth priority
• Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (Combretum-Terminalia woodland)
• Low-land semi-desert and desert vegetation
Fifth priority
• Evergreen scrub
SELECTION OF PRIORITY SPECIES
For the selection of priority species, two main criteria are being considered by the department with equal importance, namely:
• The socio-economic and environmental importance of a given species and
• The degree of threat of the species in concern.
In order to operationalize the prioritization process, a species scoring matrix was developed by the department. The full description of the scoring matrix is available in the conservation strategy document of the Forest Genetic Resources Conservation Department.
The scoring matrixes are filled in for all woody species and the species list sorted according to the total scores obtained. The resultant Species Priority constitutes an integral part of the conservation activity. The Species Priority Lists are being continuously updated with information obtained from forest inventories.
IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL CONSERVATION OBJECTS
The basis for all gene conservation measures is the identification and evaluation of existing forest genetic resources. Secondary data sources such as inventory reports, lists of approved and candidate seed sources and research data are being reviewed for this purpose. In addition, we have been conducting a countrywide inventory of woody plant diversity, in combination with socio-economic surveys. Due to the magnitude of this task inventories are being carried out in accordance with the priorities of vegetation types. The inventory provides information on the conservation status and socio-economic importance of the respective species in concern.
ACCOMPLISHED ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT
The Department has accomplished the following major task, which are the basis for future activities of saving the disappearing forest genetic resources of the country.
1. Construction of the National Forest Genebank with all cold room and laboratory facilities.
2. Forest inventory and socio-economic survey. A total of 37 forest areas were inventoried and their technical reports had been written.
3. Establishment of National Forest Area DataBase. The DataBase is meant to give services related to information on diversity and distribution of trees/shrub species of the country. Currently we are including GIS component in the DataBase.
4. Priority species were selected from both the dry and moist evergreen montane forests of Ethiopia. To prioritize these species two major criteria were used. These criteria were: biological threat and use value (Socio-Economic Importance).
5. Awareness raising training and workshops were conducted at different level of the society concerning forest genetic resources use and threats.
6. Seeds of 19 species were conserved in the cold room storage of IBC GeneBank. From these species a total of 52Accessions were stored in the cold room.
7. For those species which cannot be stored in the cold room and also for economically and socially most useful species, a total of 6 Field Genebanks were established in different part of the country.
Table 2. The location of the field Genebanks and the species conserved in these field GeneBanks
8. A total of 4 in-situ Conservation Sites were established for conserving some targeted species in the ecosystem where the species exist. This conservation approach is a recommended approach to attain the actual sustainability of the species. In these sites, in addition to the four major target species, there are a number of species and their lists are not included here. The list will be included as soon we finish the inventory in the areas.
Current activities of the Department
Currently the Department is accomplishing the following major activities:
1. High Forest Inventory for genetic resources conservation.
2. Woodland forest inventory for genetic resources conservation.
3. Ex-situ conservation of priority species,
I. Ex-situ conservation of high forest species,
II. Ex-situ conservation of woodland species,
III. Seed collection and conservation in Genebank,
4. Preparation of Guidelines
I. In-situ conservation guideline
II. Ex-situ conservation guideline
III. Area closure management and conservation guideline
IV. Seed collection guideline
5. Herbarium specimen collection, identification and documentation
6. Technical support for the regions
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