Addi Azmera

The tabia stretches on both sides of the main road that climbs towards Dogu’a Tembien after passing the bridge on Giba River. The highest location are the upper slopes of Imba Dogu’a (2590 m a.s.l.) and the lowest place along Giba River (1750 m a.s.l.). It comprises cultivated plains and steeper slopes, with often good vegetation (re)growth.

From the higher to the lower locations, the following geological formations are present:{{cite book |last1=Sembroni |first1=A. |last2=Molin |first2=P. |last3=Dramis |first3=F. |title=Regional geology of the Dogu'a Tembien massif. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546}}

• Mekelle Dolerite{{cite book |last1=Tefera |first1=M. |last2=Chernet |first2=T. |last3=Haro |first3=W. |title=Geological Map of Ethiopia (1:2,000,000). |publisher=Ethiopian Institute of Geological Survey |location=Addis Ababa, Ethiopia}}
• Amba Aradam Formation
• Agula Shale{{cite journal |last1=Bosellini |first1=A. |last2=Russo |first2=A. |last3=Fantozzi |first3=P. |last4=Assefa |first4=G. |last5=Tadesse |first5=S. |title=The Mesozoic succession of the Mekelle Outlier (Tigrai Province, Ethiopia). |journal=Mem. Sci. Geol. |date=1997 |volume=49 |pages=95–116}} - there are gypsum quarries in this formation, exploited by the cement factory of Mekelle
• Antalo Limestone – many quarries for building stones and gravel
• Quaternary alluvium and freshwater tufa{{cite journal |last1=Moeyersons |first1=J. and colleagues |title=Age and backfill/overfill stratigraphy of two tufa dams, Tigray Highlands, Ethiopia: Evidence for Late Pleistocene and Holocene wet conditions. |journal=Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology |date=2006 |volume=230 |issue=1–2 |pages=162–178 |doi=10.1016/j.palaeo.2005.07.013 |bibcode=2006PPP...230..165M }}

The main geomorphic unit is the gently undulating Agula shale plateau with dolerite. Corresponding soil types are:{{cite journal |last1= Nyssen|first1= Jan|last2= Tielens|first2= Sander|last3= Gebreyohannes|first3= Tesfamichael|last4= Araya|first4= Tigist|last5= Teka|first5= Kassa|last6= Van De Wauw|first6= Johan|last7= Degeyndt|first7= Karen|last8= Descheemaeker|first8= Katrien|last9= Amare|first9= Kassa|last10= Haile|first10= Mitiku|last11= Zenebe|first11= Amanuel|last12= Munro|first12= Neil|last13= Walraevens|first13= Kristine|last14= Gebrehiwot|first14= Kindeya|last15= Poesen|first15= Jean|last16= Frankl|first16= Amaury|last17= Tsegay|first17= Alemtsehay|last18= Deckers|first18= Jozef|title=Understanding spatial patterns of soils for sustainable agriculture in northern Ethiopia's tropical mountains. |journal=PLOS ONE |date=2019 |volume=14 |issue=10 |pages=e0224041 |doi= 10.1371/journal.pone.0224041|pmid= 31639144|pmc= 6804989|bibcode= 2019PLoSO..1424041N|doi-access= free}}

• Dominant soil type: stony, dark cracking clays with good natural fertility (Vertic Cambisol)
• Associated soil types
• rock outcrops, stony and shallow soils (Lithic Leptosol)
• red-brownish loamy soils with good natural fertility (Chromic Luvisol)
• Inclusions
• deep, dark cracking clays on calcaric material with good fertility but poor drainage (Vertisol)

{{See also|Soil in Dogu'a Tembien}}

File:Sorghum in Addi Azmera.jpg

Due to its great difference in elevation, with slopes turned towards the wind direction (from east) during the short spring rains, orographic rains occur in that season.{{cite book |last1=Jacob |first1=M. and colleagues |title=Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains |chapter=Dogu'a Tembien's Tropical Mountain Climate |series=GeoGuide |date=2019 |pages=45–61 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_3 |s2cid=199105560 }} This results in sufficient soil moisture for growing crops in that season. In such years with good spring rains (locally called “Azmera”) the whole plain, from Qarano to Afedena is sown with “azmera” crops, particularly sorghum. Hence the name “Addi Azmera”.

File:Sesemat tufa dam and water point.jpg

File:Zerfenti village water pumps.jpg

Besides Giba River at the eastern (lower) side of the tabia, there are no permanent rivers. Hence the presence of springs is of utmost importance for the local people. However, in relation to the overall presence of limestone, there are only very few strong springs:{{cite book | title=What do we hear from the farmers in Dogu'a Tembien? [in Tigrinya] |date=2016 |location=Hagere Selam, Ethiopia |pages=100 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311151542}}

• Arba’ite Insessa in Zerfenti
• May Egam in Zerfenti

In this area with rains that last only for a couple of months per year, reservoirs of different sizes allow harvesting runoff from the rainy season for further use in the dry season. Overall they suffer from siltation.{{cite journal |last1=Nigussie Haregeweyn |first1=and colleagues |title=Reservoirs in Tigray: characteristics and sediment deposition problems |journal=Land Degradation and Development |date=2006 |volume=17 |pages=211–230 |doi=10.1002/ldr.698 |s2cid=129834993 |doi-access=free }} Yet, they strongly contribute to greening the landscape, either through irrigation or seepage water. Main reservoirs are:

• Lake Giba, a 350 million m³ reservoir under construction on Giba river, just before it enters the tabia. The reservoir is mainly intended to provide water to Mekelle. This large lake, once established, will strongly impact the lower part of Addi Azmera. Indeed, the lithology of the dam building site is Antalo Limestone.{{cite journal |last1=Gebremedhin Berhane |first1=and colleagues |title=Geological challenges in constructing the proposed Geba dam site, northern Ethiopia |journal=Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment |date=2013 |volume=72 |issue=3–4 |pages=339–352 |doi=10.1007/s10064-013-0480-9 |s2cid=128713402 |id={{ProQuest|1655734342}} }} Part of its water is anticipated to be lost through seepage;{{cite journal |last1=Gebremedhin Berhane |first1=and colleagues |title=Water leakage investigation of micro-dam reservoirs in Mesozoic sedimentary sequences in Northern Ethiopia |journal=Journal of African Earth Sciences |date=2013 |volume=79 |pages=98–110 |doi=10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2012.10.004 |bibcode=2013JAfES..79...98B }} the positive side-effect is that this will contribute to groundwater recharge in the downstream areas, which largely belong to Addi Azmera.{{cite journal |last1=Nigussie Haregeweyn |first1=and colleagues |title=Reservoirs in Tigray: characteristics and sediment deposition problems |journal=Land Degradation and Development |date=2006 |volume=17 |pages=211–230 |doi=10.1002/ldr.698 |s2cid=129834993 |doi-access=free }}
• Traditional surface water harvesting ponds, particularly in places without permanent springs, called rahaya
• Horoyo, household ponds, recently constructed through campaigns[https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3763/ijas.2008.0366 Developers and farmers intertwining interventions: the case of rainwater harvesting and food-for-work in Degua Temben, Tigray, Ethiopia]

The tabia holds several exclosures, areas that are set aside for regreening.{{cite journal |last1=Aerts |first1=R |last2=Nyssen |first2=J|last3=Mitiku Haile |title= On the difference between "exclosures" and "enclosures" in ecology and the environment |journal=Journal of Arid Environments |date=2009|volume=73 |issue=8 |pages= 762–763 |doi=10.1016/j.jaridenv.2009.01.006 |bibcode=2009JArEn..73..762A |url=https://lirias.kuleuven.be/handle/123456789/239842 }} Wood harvesting and livestock range are not allowed there. Besides effects on biodiversity,{{cite book |last1=Aerts |first1=R. |last2=Lerouge |first2=F. |last3=November |first3=E. |title=Birds of forests and open woodlands in the highlands of Dogu'a Tembien. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546}}{{cite journal |last1=Mastewal Yami |first1=and colleagues |title= Impact of Area Enclosures on Density and Diversity of Large Wild Mammals: The Case of May Ba'ati, Douga Tembien Woreda, Central Tigray, Ethiopia |journal=East African Journal of Sciences |date=2007|volume=1 |pages=1–14 }}{{cite journal |last1=Aerts |first1=R |last2=Lerouge |first2=F |last3=November |first3=E |last4=Lens |first4=L |last5=Hermy |first5=M |last6=Muys |first6=B |title=Land rehabilitation and the conservation of birds in a degraded Afromontane landscape in northern Ethiopia |journal=Biodiversity and Conservation |date=2008 |volume=17 |pages=53–69 |doi=10.1007/s10531-007-9230-2 |s2cid=37489450 |url=https://lirias.kuleuven.be/handle/123456789/145812 }} water infiltration, protection from flooding, sediment deposition,{{cite journal |last1=Descheemaeker |first1=K. and colleagues |title= Sediment deposition and pedogenesis in exclosures in the Tigray Highlands, Ethiopia. |journal=Geoderma |date=2006 |volume=132 |issue= 3–4|pages=291–314 |doi=10.1016/j.geoderma.2005.04.027 |bibcode=2006Geode.132..291D }} carbon sequestration,{{cite journal |last1=Wolde Mekuria |first1=and colleagues |title= Restoration of Ecosystem Carbon Stocks Following Exclosure Establishment in Communal Grazing Lands in Tigray, Ethiopia |journal= Soil Science Society of America Journal |date=2011 |volume=75 |issue=1 |pages=246–256|doi=10.2136/sssaj2010.0176 |bibcode=2011SSASJ..75..246M }} people commonly have economic benefits from these exclosures through grass harvesting, beekeeping and other non-timber forest products.{{cite journal |last1=Bedru Babulo |first1=and colleagues |title= Economic valuation methods of forest rehabilitation in exclosures |journal=Journal of the Drylands |date=2006 |volume=1 |pages=165–170 }} The local inhabitants also consider it as “land set aside for future generations”.{{cite book |last1=Jacob |first1=M. and colleagues | title= Exclosures as Primary Option for Reforestation in Dogu'a Tembien. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546}} In this tabia, some exclosures are managed by the EthioTrees project. They have as an additional benefit that the villagers receive carbon credits for the sequestered CO₂,{{cite book |last1=Reubens |first1=B. and colleagues | title= Research-based development projects in Dogu'a Tembien. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546}} as part of a carbon offset programme.[https://www.planvivo.org/project-network/ethiotrees-tembien-highlands/ EthioTrees on Plan Vivo website] The revenues are then reinvested in the villages, according to the priorities of the communities;[https://www.davines.com/blogs/projects/ethiotrees EthioTrees on Davines website] it may be for an additional class in the village school, a water pond, or conservation in the exclosures. The following exclosures are managed by the Ethiotrees project in Addi Azmera:{{cite book |last1=De Deyn |first1=Jonathan |title= Benefits of reforestation on Carbon storage and water infiltration in the context of climate mitigation in North Ethiopia. Master thesis, Ghent University, Belgium| date=2019}}

• Afedena (exclosure), near the homonymous village (62.92 ha)
• Sesemat (exclosure), near the homonymous village (48.01 ha)
• Tukhul (exclosure), near the homonymous village (35.92 ha)

The population lives essentially from crop farming, supplemented with off-season work in nearby towns. The land is dominated by farmlands which are clearly demarcated and are cropped every year. Hence the agricultural system is a permanent farming system.{{cite book |last1=Naudts |first1=J |title=Les Hautes Terres de Tembien, Tigré, Ethiopie; Résistance et limites d'une ancienne civilisation agraire; Conséquences sur la dégradation des terres [MSc dissertation]. CNEARC, Montpellier, France |date=2002}}

The village of Zerfenti is one of the first places in Ethiopia where Ecosan toilets have been implemented (by the School WatSani project)

File:Ecosan toilets at Zerfenti.jpg

File:East of Zerfenti.jpg

The tabia centre Tukhul has grown to a little town with a few administrative offices, a health post, a primary school, some shops and small restaurants. Thursday is the market day. There are a few more primary schools across the tabia. The original Tukhul village, further uphill (also called “La’ilay Tukhul”) has been largely abandoned, as the inhabitants moved to the road, where they established small businesses while keeping their farmlands. The main other populated places are:{{cite book |last1=Jacob |first1=M. and colleagues |title=Geo-trekking map of Dogu'a Tembien (1:50,000). In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546}}

Most inhabitants are Orthodox Christians. The following churches are located in the tabia:

• Mesenqoy Mika’el
• Zerfenti Maryam
• Addi Ganfur Arba'ite Insessa
• Rufael
• Sesemat Giyergis
• Miheni Abba Gabir

The history of the tabia is strongly confounded with the history of Tembien.

The main road Mekelle – Hagere Selam – Abiy Addi runs through Tukhul and across the tabia. There are regular bus services to these towns. Further, rural access roads link Mesenqoy and La’ilay Tukhul to Tukhul and the main asphalt road.

Almost all children of the tabia are schooled,{{cite book |title=Socio-demographic profile, food insecurity and food-aid based response. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546}} though in some schools there is lack of classrooms, directly related to the large intake in primary schools over the last decades.{{Citation |last=Hartjen |first=Clayton A. |title=Denial of Education |date=2012 |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2179-5_8 |work=The Global Victimization of Children: Problems and Solutions |pages=271–321 |editor-last=Hartjen |editor-first=Clayton A. |access-date=2023-10-13 |place=Boston, MA |publisher=Springer US |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-1-4614-2179-5_8 |isbn=978-1-4614-2179-5 |last2=Priyadarsini |first2=S. |editor2-last=Priyadarsini |editor2-first=S.}} Schools in the tabia include Zerfenti school, Sesemat school and Afedena school.

Its mountainous nature and proximity to Mekelle makes the tabia fit for tourism.{{cite book |title= Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546}}

The high variability of geological formations and the rugged topography invite for geological and geographic tourism or "geotourism".{{cite book |last1=Miruts Hagos and colleagues |title=Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains |chapter=Geosites, Geoheritage, Human-Environment Interactions, and Sustainable Geotourism in Dogu'a Tembien |series=GeoGuide |date=2019 |pages=3–27 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_1 |s2cid=199095921 }} Geosites in the tabia include:

• Gypsum quarries
• Limestone quarries
• May Qarano tufa dam (now occupied by the Giba dam building works)
• Miheni exclosure
• Mi’iraf Janhoy (group of 3 olive trees)

File:Nest box for Columba guinea in Zerfenti.jpg in the wall of a homestead in Zerfenti]]

Birdwatching can be done particularly in exclosures and forests. A dozen bird-watching sites have been inventoried{{cite book |last1=Aerts |first1=R. |last2=Lerouge |first2=F. |last3=November |first3=E. |title=Birds of forests and open woodlands in the highlands of Dogu'a Tembien. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546}} in the tabia and mapped.{{cite book |last1=Jacob |first1=M. and colleagues |title=Geo-trekking map of Dogu'a Tembien (1:50,000). In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546}} The bird species are documented on the main Dogu'a Tembien page.

File:Footpath in Zerfenti - at the back Rufa'el church.jpg

Trekking routes have been established in this tabia.{{cite book |date=2019 |publisher=Springer-Nature |pages=557–675 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_38 |series=GeoGuide |last1=Nyssen |first1=Jan |title=Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains |chapter=Description of Trekking Routes in Dogu'a Tembien |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |s2cid=199271514 }} The tracks are not marked on the ground but can be followed using downloaded .GPX files.{{Cite web|url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/traces/tag/nyssen-jacob-frankl|title=Public GPS Traces tagged with nyssen-jacob-frankl}} As a landmark, the three olive trees (“Mi’iraf Janhoy” at 1940 metres above sea level) along the main road are departure point of:

• Trek 14, to the west of the tabia, and further on, over the ridges, up to Hagere Selam
• Trek 23, to the north of the tabia and further to Ekli Imba the peak of the Medayq massif that dominates the landscape at the north (2799 m)

In the main villages, there are traditional beer houses (Inda Siwa), often in unique settings, which are a good place for resting and chatting with the local people. Most renown in the tabia are

• Abrehet Reda at Tukhul
• Kiros Adane at Tukhul
• Wedase Gebregziabher at Tukhul

The facilities are very basic.{{cite book |chapter=Logistics for the Trekker in a Rural Mountain District of Northern Ethiopia|date=2019 |publisher=Springer-Nature |pages=537–556 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_37 |title=Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains |series=GeoGuide |last1=Nyssen |first1=Jan |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |s2cid=199198251 }} One may be invited to spend the night in a rural homestead or ask permission to pitch a tent. Hotels are available in Hagere Selam and Mekelle.

For more details on environment, agriculture, rural sociology, hydrology, ecology, culture, etc., see the overall page on the Dogu'a Tembien district.

{{reflist}}

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Addi Azmera

|North = Emni Ankelalu
Addilal

|East = Romanat

|South = Debre Nazret

|West = Ayninbirkekin
Mizane Birhan

|Northwest = Arebay

}}

{{Tabias (municipalities) of Dogu’a Tembien}}

Category:Populated places in the Tigray Region

Category:Dogu'a Tembien