NABU.de English Version Projects Climate and Forest Project Ethiopia Project Area Location
Where to find Kafa
Where to find Kafa
Figures and details about the project area
The last remaining montane cloud forests that contain wild trees of Coffea arabica as a natural part of the ecosystem are found in the the south west of Ethiopia, in Kafa Zone. This is where the Kafa Biosphere Reserve is located.
Wild Coffea Arabica grows in the most ethnically and linguistically diverse region of Ethiopia.
Kafa is a major provider of water for the area
Map
Kafa Biosphere reserve (click for larger view)
Kafa is located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Regional State (SNNPRS), the most ethnically and linguistically diverse region of Ethiopia. The predominantly highland region is covered with evergreen montane cloud forest and is part of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot.
Kafa Biosphere Reserve is part of the catchment area of the three large rivers Gojeb, Dinchia and Woshi. As such it is important for water supply not only of the Kafa region but also that of the bordering southern arid area. The plateau in south west Ethiopia, which was formerly densely forested, still has primeval forests, bamboo thickets and wetlands and is home to the wild-growing Coffea arabica.
| Location facts | |
|---|---|
| Governmental administration | The local zonal government is the Kafa Zone Administration. |
| Contiguous administration sectors | The area stretches across the boundaries of seven administrative units, so called “Woredas”: Adiyo, Gimbo, Telo, Gewata, Bita, Decha and Chena. |
| Altitude | The altitude of the area ranges from 500 to 3,350 meters above sea level. |
| Total project area | The size of Kafa Biosphere Reserve is 760,144 hectares. Next to transition, buffer and core zones, it also includes candidate core zones, which do not have statutory conservation status yet. |
| Forest covered area | The area covered in forest is 422,260 hectares, which complies to 55,6 % of the total surface. |
| Core zone | The core zone extends over 41,391 hectares and consists of 11 Protected Forest Areas. |
More Information
Hotspot for Biodiversity
The Kafa Zone still boasts large, overlapping areas of mountainous afromontane cloud forest. The region is one of the 34 “Biodiversity Hotspots” worldwide and is therefore of global significance for conservation. Around 100 woody plant and many bird and mammal species are recorded.
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The People of Kafa
The forest ecosystem makes an important contribution to the livelihoods of people in the area. Apart from collecting wild coffee in the forest, the local population grow ‘garden’ coffee and farm crops, vegetables and fruit. According to their wealth, families own a smaller or larger herd of cattle.
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Forest Loss in Kafa
As a result of the dependence on wood of the local population, and conversion of the forest to arable land, the biodiversity is being dramatically reduced. Soil erosion, increased water run-off may lead to floodings. The climate change also effects the region already.
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