Debre Libanos Monastery

Priority species for conservation

1 National conservation priority species

Seven national priority conservation species are found in the monastery.

These include:Olea europea ssp cuspidata, Juniperus procera, Acacia abyssinica, Prunus africana, Podocarpus falcatus (Afrocarpus falcatus), Cordia africana, and Ficus sur. It is recommended that all of them be conserved.

2 Indigenous species with high to medium values identified by the local community

Five species are identified as having high to medium utility value by the monastery. These include: Carissa edulis, Maytenus arbutifolia, Rhus glutinosa, Dombeya torrida, Scheflera abyssinica. These also need to be given priority for conservation to meet the monastery multiple needs.

3 Indigenous tree species with no or low local utility values but having high values elsewhere and well represented at the site.

Four species with no or low local utility values were identified. These include: Milletia ferruginea, Allophylus abyssinicus, Ekebergia capensis, Osyris lanceolata. These four woody species are well represented by both potential seed sources and with abundant regeneration. These are recommended to be conserved to increase the biodiversity of the site and to provide tree resources to meet the multiple needs of the monastery.

Milletia ferruginea- nitrogen fixing for soil enrichment, shade, fuelwood and fodder, easily propagated from seed

Allophylus abyssinicus –shade, medicine, fuelwood and charcoal, bee forage, roots for medicine

Ekebergia capensis- fodder, good forage for bees, fuelwood and charcoal, tannin, medicine, erosion control, useful shade, fast growing tree 1m year^-1, easily propagated from fresh seeds

Osyris lanceolata - African sandalwood, santalol (sandalwood oil) extracted from wood and root, easily propagated from seeds and cuttings.

Conservation options

1 Accelerated natural regeneration

For tree species highly valued and well represented by adult trees but with few or no regeneration including Olea europea, Juniperus procera, Carissa edulis, and Qsyris lanceolata conditions for natural regeneration and persistence need to be provided on site. Since overgrazing and trampling is a major problem at the site, exclusion of cattle and people is needed. This could be done by providing live fence by planting seedlings or cuttings of Carissa edulis, Maytenus arbutifolia, Pterolobium stellatum and Dovyalis abyssinica

or erecting wooden fence in some sections of the forest to facilitate the establishment of these species by natural regeneration. Cultivation of the land to reduce compaction and promote seed germination is required.

2 Protection and tending of naturally regenerating seedlings

For tree species with good regeneration including Prunus africana, Milletia ferruginea, Allophylus abyssinicus and Ekebergia capensis, protection of young individuals already present and tending by thinning and weeding to maximize their growth rates to make seed sources more abundant, as a measure to enable sustainable use of the population, is needed. Either live fence by planting seedlings or cuttings of Carissa edulis, Maytenus arbutifolia, Pterolobium stellatum and Dovyalis abyssinica or erecting wooden fence in some sections of the forest where regeneration of these species are found to protect young plants from grazing is recommended. Some of the seedlings have to be thinned and weeds removed at intervals to reduce competition.

3 Enrichment planting

For tree species with very rare adult trees and few or no regeneration including Acacia abyssinica, Podocarpus falcatus, Cordia African, Ficus sur, Maytenus arbutifolia, Rhus glutinosa, Dombeya torrida, and Scheflera abyssinica, enrichment planting of nursery raised seedlings or cuttings is needed. Nursery is recommended to be established near River Enkurkurit to ensure permanent water supply. Seeds and cuttings are to be collected from the trees that are already present in the monastery in order to preserve the unique biodiversity present. The most appropriate planting sites could be Bahatawi, Betheselom and around graves. Clump planting in Bahatawi and Betheselom in open spaces with least woody plant cover is recommended. Each clump consisting of 16 mixed seedlings/cuttings of the above eight species (two per species) live fenced by planting seedlings or cuttings of Carissa edulis, Maytenus arbutifolia, Pterolobium stellatum and Dovyalis abyssinica or erecting wooden fence to protect the young seedlings from grazing is recommended. It is also recommended that the monastery draws a contract with each family wanting to bury their relatives by making them agree to plant and look after (guard) at least 16 seedlings of the above species around each grave. Two plants per species per clump are recommended as some of the species are dioecious (separate male and female plants).

4. Homestead plantations

Community living in monastery yard is recommended to participate in monastery nursery activity and planting of the above eight tree species including Acacia abyssinica, Podocarpus falcatus, Cordia africana, Ficus sur, Maytenus arbutifolia, Rhus glutinosa, Dombeya torrida, and Scheflera abyssinica on homesteads in order to increase tree resources of the surrounding area and relieve pressure on monastery forest.

5. Additional recommendations

Establishment of fuelwood plantation and providing alternative sources of fuel such as solar energy, electricity and biogas should be considered to help reduce pressure on the forest.