Simien Mountains: Beauty of nature and culture in the Ethiopian Highlands
21.04.2020
The following is an article written by Mountain Partnership member Plateau Perspectives, originally published here.
Ethiopian culture has thrived for thousands of years. The northern highlands exhibit a particularly long and rich heritage, which is recognised by UNESCO with no fewer than three World Heritage Sites based on cultural merit: Gonder, Aksum and Lalibela. A fourth site is also recognised for its natural wonders: the stunning Simien Mountains.
According to the IUCN's World Commission on Protected Areas, "Ethiopia was one of the first countries in Africa to establish national parks. The Simien Mountains were formally added to these in 1969, and today there are 20 national parks, and many more protected areas nationwide. For a country with few minerals or natural resources such as oil, assets like these are an important source of national income" (WCPA Mountains Specialist Group).
Although high mountains, the open vistas across the vast plains and fields far below are the most striking, together with the extraordinary wildlife. Large troops of gelada monkeys wander and graze in the open grasslands in the western section of the park, though they sleep each night on the cliff edges. The mountain biodiversity is rich, with a wide range of ecosystems providing habitats for wildlife as well as essential ecosystem services that benefit the local communities.
When I visited Ethiopia in May 2017 for a research meeting focused on ecosystem services for poverty alleviation for the ESPA Mountain EVO research project, I decided to take an additional three days to visit the north of the country. I certainly did not regret this.
I greatly enjoyed visiting Aksum for its rich and ancient history, but for me, trekking in the stunning landscapes of the Simien Mountains was a special highlight!
Rising high above the surrounding region, the mountains present a unique landscape and biodiversity. As outlined by UNESCO, the Simien National Park in northern Ethiopia presents a most spectacular landscape, where massive erosion over millions of years has created jagged mountain peaks, deep valleys and sharp precipices dropping some 1 500 metres. It is of global significance for biodiversity conservation, forming part of the Afroalpine Centre of Plant Diversity and the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot. In particular, it is home to threatened species such as the iconic Walia ibex, a wild mountain goat found nowhere else in the world, the Gelada baboon and the highly endangered Ethiopian wolf.
Gelada monkeys
“These baboon-size animals are the world's most terrestrial primates—except for humans. As mostly grass-eaters, they are the last surviving species of ancient grazing primates that were once numerous. Geladas spend most of their day sitting down, plucking and munching on grasses and herbs” (National Geographic).
Ethiopian wolf
Ethiopian wolves are only found in the mountains of Ethiopia, where some 500 survive in small populations threatened by habitat loss and diseases. They are the guardians of the roof of Africa. By protecting them we safeguard many fascinating Afroalpine endemics from extinction (Ethiopian wolf conservation programme/WildCRU).
Much other wildlife also may be encountered when trekking in the Simien Mountains. Time spent in these mountains offers the visitor an unforgettable experience!
Local communities and indigenous peoples may also benefit conservation
Local pastoralists still graze their livestock in the national park and surrounding areas, yet this can be undertaken sustainably if appropriate governance and management arrangements are planned and organised on basis of trust and cooperation.
Agreeing how to use and to protect natural resources and developing viable conservation plans must be undertaken through genuine partnerships. Further, traditional livelihoods and practices are time-proven, that is, they are de facto sustainable. But, more progress must be made in collaborations with local communities and indigenous peoples, not only in Ethiopia but also in many places around the globe. It is now widely recognised that indigenous lands are globally important for conservation.
In the mountains, weather can change rapidly. A beautiful sunny day quickly turns to snow, even in the tropics!
The logistics of trekking in Simien National Park are arranged at the park entrance, where a roster of community members is consulted to equitably employ both a mountain guide and an armed guard. Their extensive knowledge of the place and wildlife as well as the additional safety ensured are well worth the cost. More importantly, however, is the fact that working with them is a means to bring greater benefit to the local communities through such community-led ecotourism partnership.
Recent status report
Krakow, Poland, 4 July 2017 — The World Heritage Committee meeting in Krakow decided to remove the Simien National Park from the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger, in recognition of improvements in its management and measures taken to reduce overgrazing and visitor impact.
Read the original article published on the Plateau Perspectives website
Read more about the Simien National Park
View the Simien National Park World Heritage Site profile
Watch a documentary about the Simien Mountains
News from Plateau Perspectives/Marc Foggin
Photo from Marc Foggin 2020
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