Bale Mountains National Park - Zoologische Gesellschaft Frankfurt

II. The central park of the park, an Afroalpine plateau, lies between about 2800m asl to the
north and 4377m asl. The northern escarpment of the Sanetti Plateau, which lies between
2800 and 3350 m asl., is dominated by Juniperus spp. followed by Hagenia-Hypericum
stands between 3350-3500 m. The area between 3550 and 4000m asl. is covered by Erica
shrub on ridges and Helichrysum moorland in the valleys. The flat mountaintop is covered by
Helichrysum moorland dotted with Lobelia spp. Much of the Sanetti plateau lies over 4000m
asl. and there are several peaks ranging from 4050m (Worgona and Wasema) to Tullu
Dimtuu at 4377m.
III. The southern escarpment is covered by one of the most extensive and largely natural forests
remaining in Ethiopia, the Harenna Forest extending between 39º-40º E and 6º-7º N. The
slope of the southern escarpment falls rapidly in altitude from the tree line at 3200 to 2000m
within a distance of only 8 km.
The Exceptional Resource Values of BMNP are outlined below.
Exceptional Resource Values of BMNP
Exceptional Resource Values (ERVs) are the biophysical features of an area that are considered to
be particularly important in maintaining the unique ecological character and functions of an area
and that provide outstanding benefits (social, economic, aesthetic) to local, national and
international stakeholders. The identification of BMNP’s ERVs provides a foundation for the park’s
purpose, identifying the park’s management issues and opportunities and generating management
objectives and targets.
The Bale Mountains National Park is the most important conservation area in Ethiopia (FDRE,
2005). It is the world’s largest Afroalpine area and encompasses the second largest moist tropical
forest in Ethiopia. The Bale Mountains are a centre of endemism, and are the most important area
for a number of threatened Ethiopian endemics in all taxa.
The Bale Mountains are also a “Water tower”, being the origin of major rivers of regional
importance and has dry season water-holding capacity in its swamps and lakes. This hydrological
system is of critical importance to some 12 million downstream users. Bale is also very important
from other social and cultural aspects, with local communities partially or totally dependant on
many of its natural resources such as grass, non-timber forest products and fuelwood. With its
scenery, biological and cultural attractions, the Bale Mountains have great potential for tourism
although this is currently largely untapped.
The area is thus of critical biodiversity, ecological, cultural and economic importance. The table
below shows the top 18 ERVs prioritised by BMNP GMP Planning Team, grouped into four main
categories: natural, scenic, social and cultural.
Section B – Park Purpose, Significance and Values 15