Mihur Eyessus Monastery

Priority species for conservation

1 National and international conservation priority species

Five national and international priority conservation species are found in the monastery and all of them are highly valued by the community. It is recommended that all of them be given priority for conservation. These include Juniperus procera, Olea europea, Prunus africana, Olea capensis and Podocarpus falcatus.

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

Four 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 Garcinia buchananii, Phoenix reclinata, Syzygium guineense and Olinia rochetiana. With the exception of Garcinia buchananii, they are also key species preferred by the community for planting to restore degraded areas around the monastery forest.

Conflict resolution

The monastery forest currently seems to be well preserved as a result of the local community’s strong spiritual value attached to the forest, the existence of local community rules and bylaws to punish anyone who cuts trees in the monastery forest and the community practice of agroforestry that does not require expansion of cropland. The community and clergy jointly controlled the monastery forest until recently. However, now, the local community has been excluded from exercising control on the forest and has also been denied access. Although this exclusion has not yet had any impact on the forest, it may have negative consequences in the future. Tension between the community and the clergy is already rising. It is therefore recommended that the clergy considers restoring its relationship with the community so that the community’s cultural value of the forest and access to the forest are revitalised. These could be achieved by allowing the community to continue exercising the local rules and bylaws to protect the forest and jointly restoring and creating a communal forest resource on the degraded areas surrounding the monastery forest.

Conservation options

1 Accelerated natural regeneration and enrichment planting

For tree species highly valued and represented in the monastery forest by potential seed sources but with few or no regeneration including Juniperus procera, Olea europea, Prunus africana, Olea capensis, Phonix reclinata, Syzygium guineense and Olinia rochetiana conditions for natural regeneration and persistence need to be provided on site. Sawdust from pit sawing, wooden debris from fallen trees and soil compaction by pit sawing activities are reported to hinder regeneration in the gaps created by fallen trees. Collecting and piling the sawdust and debris to one side in the forest and cultivation of the cleared land to reduce compaction are needed to promote seed germination and facilitate the establishment of these species by natural regeneration. For tree species that are regenerating abundantly, such as Podocarpus falcatus and Garcinia buchananii, wildings could be collected and planted wherever there are gaps in the forest. These could be carried out entirely by the clergy.

2 Restoration of degraded forests surrounding the monastery forest

It is recommended that the degraded areas, surrounding the monastery forest, be restored by planting nursery raised seedlings or cuttings of the above seven very useful species including Juniperus procera, Olea europea, Prunus africana, Olea capensis, Phonix reclinata, Syzygium guineense and Olinia rochetiana to create a communal forest resource to meet the multiple needs of the monastery and the community. These forests are to be managed jointly and utilised by both the clergy and the surrounding communities. For tree species that are represented in the monastery forest by abundant regeneration, including Podocarpus falcatus and Garcinia buchananii wildings collected from the monastery forest could be used for planting. Nursery is recommended to be established near River Boqiya to ensure permanent water supply. A single central nursery jointly managed by the monastery and the surrounding communities is recommended. Seeds, cuttings and wildings are to be collected from the monastery forest 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 is recommended. Each clump consisting of 18 mixed seedlings/cuttings/wildings 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

Since agroforestry is a common farming practice in the community, it is recommended that each member of the surrounding PAs is encouraged to incorporate the above twelve tree species using seedlings raised in the above nursery as components of their farming systems in order to increase tree resources on their farms and relieve pressure on the monastery and surrounding natural forests.