Walia Special Edition on the Bale Mountains (2011) - Zoologische ...
Walia Special Edition on the Bale Mountains (2011) - Zoologische ...
Walia Special Edition on the Bale Mountains (2011) - Zoologische ...
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Ethiopian Wolf C<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> Project<br />
The overall goal of <strong>the</strong> Ethiopian Wolf C<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> Programme (EWCP) is <strong>the</strong> c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> of<br />
<strong>the</strong> Ethiopian wolf and its Afroalpine habitat, while ensuring <strong>the</strong> social and ec<strong>on</strong>omic well being of<br />
local communities. The Ethiopian wolf is <strong>the</strong> rarest canid in <strong>the</strong> world. The most pressing threats<br />
to wolves are: (i) loss and fragmentati<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong> Afroalpine habitat to high-altitude subsistence<br />
agriculture and overgrazing; road c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> and sheep farming; (ii) diseases - particularly rabies,<br />
transmitted by domestic dogs, which decimated populati<strong>on</strong>s in 1991 and 2003 and subsequent years;<br />
(iii) c<strong>on</strong>flicts with humans - pois<strong>on</strong>ing and persecuti<strong>on</strong> in reprisal for livestock losses as well as road<br />
kills; and (iv) hybridisati<strong>on</strong> with domestic dogs.<br />
We promote sustainable soluti<strong>on</strong>s for <strong>the</strong> c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> of Ethiopian wolves by understanding,<br />
predicting and addressing particular aspects of <strong>the</strong> most serious threats affecting <strong>the</strong>ir populati<strong>on</strong>s-<br />
threats that ultimately enhance <strong>the</strong> inherent vulnerability of <strong>the</strong>se small and isolated populati<strong>on</strong>s, all<br />
at risk of genetic loss and inbreeding, and <strong>the</strong> negative effects of demographic and envir<strong>on</strong>mental<br />
stochasticity. Our working strategy is centered <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> following objectives:<br />
• To assess, address and counteract threats to <strong>the</strong> survival of Ethiopian wolves.<br />
• To secure <strong>the</strong> c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> of Afroalpine biodiversity and ecological processes.<br />
• To streng<strong>the</strong>n Ethiopia’s envir<strong>on</strong>mental sector, particularly biodiversity c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
For more informati<strong>on</strong> about Ethiopian wolves and <strong>the</strong> project http://www.ethiopianwolf.org<br />
Biodiversity M<strong>on</strong>itoring in <strong>the</strong> Forest Ecosystems of <strong>Bale</strong><br />
<strong>Mountains</strong> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Park, Ethiopia (University of Aberdeen, funded by<br />
<strong>the</strong> Darwin Initiative)<br />
This project aimed to streng<strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> capacity of researchers, government agents, and local people<br />
to c<strong>on</strong>serve native forest species of plants and animals in BMNP by developing and implementing<br />
a biodiversity m<strong>on</strong>itoring programme, focused primarily <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> forest ecosystems. The project<br />
developed protocols for m<strong>on</strong>itoring forest structure and functi<strong>on</strong> and forest bird communities.<br />
The project collected baseline data and c<strong>on</strong>tributed to a database to serve <strong>the</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tinuati<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong><br />
m<strong>on</strong>itoring programme. O<strong>the</strong>r outputs included publicati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> status of <strong>the</strong> Harenna forest,<br />
a review of <strong>the</strong> traditi<strong>on</strong>al management practices found in <strong>the</strong> forest and booklets, posters and<br />
pamphlets to disseminate less<strong>on</strong>s learned from <strong>the</strong> project. The University of Aberdeen, <strong>the</strong><br />
main UK-based implementing agency, worked with park staff and FZS to develop and implement<br />
m<strong>on</strong>itoring protocols in <strong>the</strong> Harenna. The project started in September 2005 and ended in December<br />
2008.<br />
More details can be found <strong>on</strong> our project website www.abdn.ac.uk/bale<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Walia</str<strong>on</strong>g>-<str<strong>on</strong>g>Special</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Editi<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bale</strong> <strong>Mountains</strong> 336