CHAPTER 6

Soils, Natural Vegetation and

Wildlife Resources of Ethiopia &
the Horn
 Chapter Objectives

At the end of this chapter students will be

able to;
Identify major soil types of Ethiopia
Understand soil degradation and conservation measures
Describe the distribution of natural vegetations in Ethiopia

Explain the significance of wildlife resources of Ethiopia

 Outlines
 Ethiopian Soils:
Meaning, Formation, Types, Degradation and Conservation

 Natural Vegetation in Ethiopia

Meaning, Vegetation Types, Degradation and Conservation

 Wildlife Resources of Ethiopia

Classification, Conservation
Brainstorming Activity

What is soil?
 1. Ethiopian Soils

What is Soil?
A delicate but highly
varied composition of
mineral particles,
organic matter and
living organisms in
dynamic equilibrium.
 Soil Formation: How soil is
formed?
A long-term complex process
Take several thousands of years to form a single
stratum

The formation depends on the following factors

 Weathering (as a Soil Formation
Process)

The disintegration
inorganic substances
(rocks)
It is the breakdown of
rocks at the Earth's
surface, by the action of;
 Rainwater,
 Temperature, &
 Biological Activity
 3 Types of Weathering
involves in Soil Formation

1. Mechanical (Physical) Weathering

 Differential stresses due to heating and
cooling

2. Biological Weathering

 Disintegration of rock by

plants, animals & microbes

3. Chemical Weathering

 modification of the chemical &

mineralogical composition
 (hydrolysis, oxidation, reduction, hydration,
 Soil Properties
Physical properties Soil Chemical Properties
• Properties which affect air and • Chemical constituents which
water movement in the soil, and affect soil biological activity and
thus the soil's ability to function nutrient dynamics
– Texture, – Availability of minerals,
– Structure, – Electrical conductivity,
– Porosity etc. – Soil pH, etc.
 Major Soil Types in Ethiopia
Soils of Ethiopia

are basically derived from crystalline, volcanic

and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks.

FAO has identified 18 soil associations in

Ethiopia

11 soil associations cover about 87.4% of the land

area
 Cont…
• 6 major groups of soils in Ethiopia are discussed
under the following points:
A. Environmental condition i.e. parent material, climatic
conditions, topography, the way they were formed.

B. Characteristic i.e. significant chemical and physical

properties.

C. Agricultural suitability in relation to texture, structure,

topography, moisture-storage capacity, etc.

D. Occurrence: general location of the soil types

 Activity
• List the major soil types
of Ethiopia.
The 6 Major Groups of Soils in Ethiopia

1. Nitosols and Acrisols

2. Vertisols

3. Lithosols, Cambisols & Regosol

4. Xerosols, Yermosols &

Solanchaks

5. Fluvisols

6. Luvisols
 1. Nitosols and Acrisols
Nitosols
• Trap series volcanics, volcanic ash, metamorphic rocks
parent materials
• Associated with highlands with high rainfall
• Reddish-brown color
• concentration of iron (ferric) oxides due to leaching
• western highlands (Wellega)
• southwestern highlands (Kaffa, Illuababora)
• Southern, Central and Eastern highlands
Acrisols
• Most inherently infertile soils
• Degraded chemically and organically
• Low resilience to degradation
• Low productive capacity

Acrisols are found along with nitosols mostly in some pockets of

southwestern highlands of Ethiopia where there is high rainfall.
 2. Vertisols
• Develop on volcanic plateau basalt,
trachyte &pyroclastic materials,
sedimentary rocks
• Heavy clay soils
• High natural chemical fertility
• Soils of highlands and moderate
climates.
• Commonly found in parts of;
• Northwestern, Central and
Southeastern highlands
• (Gojjam, Shewa, Arsi, Bale
and central Hararghe)
 3. Lithosols, Cambisols & Regosol

• Mostly found in rugged topography & steep slopes.

• Young, shallow and coarse textured
• Low water holding capacity
• Found in areas of low rainfall
• Limited agricultural use
• Used for grazing
• Mostly found in;
• Central Highlands
• Rift Valley Escarpments
• western Hararghe highlands

• Regosol and Lithosols are also found in the Danakil and eastern Ogaden.
 4. Xerosols, Yermosols and
Solanchaks
• Soils of desert
• Available in arid and semiarid areas
• High salt content and low organic
content and nitrogen
• Rich in phosphorus and potash
• Can be very fertile if irrigated
• Xerosols are found in Ogaden and
northeastern escarpments
• Yermosols and Solonchaks cover
the Ogaden and Afar plains
• Solonchaks in salty plains of Afar
 5. Fluvisols
• Formed due to deposition of eroded materials
from highlands.
• Deposits in depressions, lower valleys and
lowlands
• Much prized for
• Intensive agriculture &
• Large-scale irrigation
• Fertile and their fertility is always renewed as
a result of deposition of new soil materials.
• Mostly found in;
• Lower regions of rivers like Omo, Awash,
Abay
• The plains of Akobo and Baro Rivers
• Lakes region (main Ethiopian rift)
 6. Luvisols
• Develop in areas where wet and dry
seasons occur in alternation
• Good chemical nutrients
• Among the best agricultural soils in
the tropics.
• Intensively cultivated
• Mostly found in;
– Lake Tana area,
– parts of Northern, Central and
Eastern Highlands and
– Southern lowlands
 Activity
• What is soil degradation?
• What are the causes of soil
degradation?
• Explain the conservation measures of
soil from degradation
 Soil Degradation
A change in any or all of soil status
resulting in a diminished capacity of the
ecosystem to provide goods and
services.
• Deterioration of the physical,
chemical and biological properties
of soil
It is a major concern for at least 2
reasons
– It undermines the productive capacity of
an ecosystem
– It affects global climate through alterations
in water and energy balances and
disruptions in cycles of carbon, nitrogen,
sulfur, and other elements.
 Causes of Soil Degradation
Human-induced
Natural Causes Causes
 Deforestation
• Topographic and climatic
 Overexploitation of
• Steep slopes,
vegetation,
• Floods and tornadoes,
 Overgrazing, etc.
• Storms and high-velocity
wind
 Soil Erosion Control Measures
A. Biological Control
Measures B. Physical control
• Used to control the movement of
• Prevent splash erosion, reduces the water over the soil surface.
velocity of surface runoff, increases • Terracing,
surface roughness, increases • Check Dams,
infiltration, and etc. • Gabion,
• Vegetative strips, • Trenches,
• Plantation & • Contour Ploughing,
• Reforestation • Soil Bunds etc.
 Natural Vegetation of Ethiopia

Natural Vegetation (Meaning)

 Original plant cover grown in an area

 Develops with little or no human interference.

Ethiopia's Natural Vegetation

 An estimated number of 6000 species of higher plants (10% are endemic)
 The spatial distribution of natural vegetation in the country is strongly
correlated to elevation + (temperature and rainfall).
 Lowlands are characterized by xeromorphic plants (plants which are
adapted to drought).
 Highlands (up to 3000 m) = a variety of forests
Major Natural Vegetation Types of
Ethiopia

Afro-alpine and sub-afro alpine

Region
(Taking altitude
into consideration) Forest Region

Woodland Savannah Region

Steppe Region

Semi-desert Region
1. Afro-alpine & Sub-afro Alpine
Region
• High mountain vegetation (3,200 and 4,620 m asl)
• similar to the Alpine vegetation in temperate regions
• covers 1.3 % of the total landmass of Ethiopia
• Temperature records of 0 oC and below
• Soils mostly shallow and eroded
• Eg. Vegetations in Bale and Semein mountains
– tussock grasslands, scrub, scattered mosses and lichens
– Lobelia rhynchopetalum (giberra)
2. Forest Region
• In Ethiopia, forests are found at different elevations &rainfall,
• 450 to 3,500m in humid parts &
• 2,300 to 3,300 m in most arid parts.
• Mean Annual Rainfall 200 to 2,200mm.
• Hence Ethiopian forests can classified as:
1. Highland forests include
• Hagenia Abyssinia (Kosso),
• Juniper procera (tid),
• Arundinaria Alpina(kerkha),
• Podocarpus falcatus (zigba),
• Aningeria adolfi-friedericii (keraro) and
• Olea africana (Weyra) forests;
2. lowland forests
– Baphia , Ficus sur (sholla), acacia trees
– Gallery (Riverine) Forests (forests that stretch along the
banks of the lower courses of rivers)
• found in the banks of Awash, Wabishebelle, Ghenale
etc..
3. Woodland Savannah
Region
 found (250 to 2,300 m) altitudinal ranges
 MAR 200 - 1,400 mm
 plants of Xeromorphic characteristics (shading of leaves during the dry season
 Shrublands and Bushlands
 can be broadly classified into 3 divisions:
1. Juniper procera (tid)
2. Acacia woodlands
3. Mixed deciduous woodlands
4. Steppe and Semi Desert Regions
• Arid and semiarid parts of the country where the
• temperature is very high and the rainfall very low
• low elevations 100 to1,400 m asl
– the semi-deserts 125 m bsl to 600 m asl.
• Mean Annual Rainfall
– The steppe gets MAR 100 to 550 mm
– The semi desert 50 to 300 mm
• Growing period
– 2 months for the steppe
– one month for the semi-deserts
• Soils in both regions are generally alkaline and saline.
• xerophytic (i.e. drought-resisting plants) are the
dominant vegetations.
 Natural vegetation Degradation
 In Ethiopia
• Dense Population
• Rapid growth of the already
dense population Dense
Population
• Overexploitation of the land
• New land has been cleared at High
Population
the expense of forests. growth rate

• Forest resources have been

Pressure on
disappearing at an alarming land
rate.
– A century ago, forests Over
exploitation
covered about 40 percent of of land

the total land area. Natural

vegetation
degradation
Major Causes
• Clearing of forests for cultivation
• Timber exploitation practices
• Charcoal burning and cutting for fuel
• Extensions of coffee and tea production areas
• Overgrazing
• Expansion of settlements both rural and urban, and
• Clearing for construction.
Natural Vegetation Conservation
• To maintain at least its current status and derive sustainable
benefits for the present and future generation.

3 Approaches of Biodiversity Conservation

i. Protection
Through designation of sanctuaries, national parks, and
community conservation areas.
ii. Sustainable forest management
 Sustainable harvesting of forest products to provide a source of
financial income
iii. Restoration or rehabilitation
 The process of assisting the recovery of a forest ecosystem that
has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.
 Wild Life in Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s Wild Life Overview
 Existence of wide range of ecosystems
 Great varieties of habitats
 High faunal diversity
 High level of endemicity

Data on faunal resource of the country

• 860 avian species (16 endemic species and 2 endemic genera)
• 279 mammalian species (31 endemic species & 6 endemic genera)
• 201 species of reptiles (14 endemic species),
• 23 species of amphibians (23 endemic species),
• 150 freshwater fish (6 endemic species)

The main wild life concentrations in the southern and western parts
Ethiopia’s Wild Life Classification
5 Major Groups:

1. Common Wild Animals;

 Animals found in many parts of the country (hyenas, jackals)

2. Game (Lowland) Animal

 Herbivores like giraffes, wild asses, zebras etc. and
 Carnivores like lions, leopards, and cheetahs)

3. Tree Animals /Arboreals

 Monkeys, baboons

4. Variety of Birds
 Found in the Rift Valley lakes
5. Rare Animals
 Walia Ibex (Capra walie),
 Gelada Baboon (Theropithecus gelada),
 Mountain Nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni),
 Ethiopian Wolf (Canissimensis),
 Starck’s Hare (Lepus starcki)
 According to Ethiopian wildlife
conservation
• African elephant • Mountain Nyala
• African Wild Dog • Pale Tawny Hartebeest
• Beira (Antelope) • Red-fronted Gazelle
• Dibatag or Clarke's Gazelle • Soemmerring's Gazelle
• Dorcas Gazelle • Somali Wild Ass
• Ethiopian Wolf • Speke's Gazelle
• Gelada • Swayne's Hartebeest
• Grevy's Zebra • Walia Ibex
 Wildlife Conservation

Why Conservation?
• Wild animals can be used for:
• Scientific and educational researches
• Physical and mental recreation (aesthetic value)
• Promotion of tourism (economic value)
• Maintaining ecological balance
Wildlife Conservation in
Ethiopia
• 21 major national parks
• 2 major wildlife sanctuaries
• 3 wildlife reserves
• 6 community conservation areas
• 2 wildlife rescue centers
• 22 controlled hunting areas
• 2 botanical gardens, and
• 3 biosphere reserves
Major National Parks in Ethiopia
• Some of the national parks are unique in their wild animals they
have.
• Abiyatta-Shalla lakes National Park
– predominantly Bird Sanctuary (flamingos
and pelicans)
 Omo, Mago, and Gambela National Parks
 have hippopotamus and crocodiles in rivers and lakes.
• Semien & Bale Mountains National Parks
– Rare animals like Walia ibex, Semien fox, gelada baboon & Nyala
Challenges of Wildlife Conservation in
Ethiopia

What are the challenges

of wildlife conservation
in Ethiopia?
Major challenges Ethiopian
protected areas facing;
• Limited awareness on the importance of
wild life
• Expansion of human settlement in
protected areas.
• Conflict over resource
• Overgrazing (fodder and wood)
• Illegal wildlife trade
• Excessive hunting
• Tourism and recreational pressure
• Mining and construction material
extraction
• Forest fire
 End of Chapter
6!

Do you know that if you

leave nature to its own
system, it has notable
system of taking care of
itself!