Aba Asrat Monastery

Priority species for conservation

1 National and international conservation priority species

Eight national and international priority conservation species are found in the monastery. It is recommended that all of them be conserved. The national priority species include Olea europea ssp cuspidata, Juniperus procera, Albizia gummífera, Acacia abyssinica, Acacia nilotica, Prunus africana, and Ficus sur. Although not a national priority species, Dombeya aethiopica is red listed as an internationally endangered species by IUCN.

2 Indigenous species with high utility values identified by the local community

Nine species are identified as having high utility value by the monastery. These also need to be given priority for conservation to meet the monastery and local community multiple needs. These include Albizia schimperiana, Clausena anisata, Carissa edulis, Apodytes dimidata, Teclea nobis, Allophylus abyssinicus, Rhus glutinosa, Myrica salcifolia, Olinia rochetina and Scheflera abyssinica.

Conflict resolution

Three distinct forest entities are identified around Aba Asrat monastery in accordance with the location and current utilisation pattern of the resources: Aba Asrat monastery, Malbar and Enechifo forests. The monastery is surrounded by nine peasant associations (PAs) that are extremely dependent on these forests, with more pressure being exerted on the monastery forests than the others. As a result there is conflict between the monastery and the surrounding communities, in particular with forest product based livelihood groups (fuel wood and charcoal producers for Debre Marcos market). According to the current population status of these forests, all of them seem to be heavily degraded, with Malbar and Enechifo forests being more degraded. In order to resolve the current conflict and restore and sustainably manage these forests, it is recommended that responsibility for the restoration and management and ownership of each forest be given to each group depending on the group’s proximity to and dependence on the forest. It is, therefore, recommended that the restoration and management of Aba Asrat monastery forest be the responsibility of the clergy and its ownership and utilisation solely by the monastery, Malbar forest by Chemoga 1, Chemochel, Gugim andYekuata peasant associations (PAs), and Enechifo forest by Chemoga 2, Foket, Bulched, Chifrg and Wuhasar PAs. It is also recommended that rules and bylaws governing all the above agreed by all parties (the monastery and the surrounding communities) and approved by local administration authorities be introduced.

It was further recommended that awareness raising for all surrounding resource users and this should start with graziers (free grazing). Find ways to continue and to strengthen relationship with 2 PAs already interested in participatory resource management. Approach Woreda as a way to build relationship with remaining 7 PAs. Link awareness and communication to planting of live fence to manage grazing in monastery forest

Conservation options

1 Accelerated natural regeneration

For tree species highly valued and well represented by potential seed sources but with few or no regeneration including Albizia schimperiana, Apodytes dimidata, Allophylus abyssinicus, Rhus glutinosa, Myrica salcifolia, Clausena anisata, Teclea nobis, and Carissa edulis, conditions for natural regeneration and persistence need to be provided on site. Since overgrazing is a major problem at the site, exclusion of cattle is needed. This could be done by providing a live fence by planting cuttings of Euphorbia candelabrum or erecting barbed-wire fence in some sections of Aba Asrat monastery and surrounding forests (Malbar and Enechifo) wherever these plant species occur to facilitate the establishment of these species by natural regeneration. According to the clergy approx. 1/3 of the monastery area can be turned to natural regeneration. Stone walls to close entrance to these patches of the monastery forest is also recommended.

2 Enrichment planting

For tree species with very rare adult individuals and few or no regeneration including Olea europea, Juniperus procera, Albizia gumífera, Acacia abyssinica, Acacia nilotica, Prunus africana, Ficus sur, Dombeya aethiopica, and Scheflera abyssinica, enrichment planting of nursery raised seedlings or cuttings is needed. Nursery is recommended to be established near River Chemoga to ensure permanent water supply. A single central nursery jointly managed by the monastery and the surrounding communities is recommended. Seeds and cuttings are to be collected from the trees that are already present in the monastery and surrounding forests (Malbar and Enechifo) in order to preserve the unique biodiversity present. If planting material cannot be obtained from local trees (e.g. if the trees are not setting seeds), it is recommended that planting material be obtained from the nearest available population (e.g. local area of natural forest, or the nearest other monastery/church forest). Clump planting in the monastery and surrounding forests (Malbar and Enechifo) in open spaces with least woody plant cover is recommended.  Each clump consisting of 18 mixed seedlings/cuttings of the above nine species (two per species) live fenced by planting cuttings of Euphorbia candelabrum or erecting wooden fence to protect the young seedlings from grazing is recommended. Two plants per species per clump are recommended as some of the species are dioecious (separate male and female plants).

3 On farm plantations

It is further recommended that each member of the above nine surrounding PAs to be involved in the planting of the above twelve tree species including Olea europea, Juniperus procera, Albizia gumífera, Acacia abyssinica, Acacia nilotica, Prunus africana, Ficus sur, Dombeya aethiopica, and Scheflera abyssinica on their farms and homesteads in order to increase tree resources on their farmland and homesteads and relieve pressure on the above three natural forests.

4. Additional recommendations

Alternative energy source should be identified and implemented to reduce the dependency on fuel wood or increase the efficiency of fuel wood use.

Boundary demarcation of the monastery forest should be given priority.

The conservation of non-woody species should also be considered.