May Hib'o

{{Short description|Exclosure for woodland restoration in Ethiopia}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}

{{Use Oxford spelling|date= February 2020}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = May Hib’o exclosure

| iucn_category =

| photo = May Hib'o 3.jpg

| photo_caption = May Hib’o exclosure

| location = Amanit municipality, in Dogu’a Tembien district, Ethiopia

| nearest_city = Hagere Selam

| map = Ethiopia | relief = 1

| coordinates = {{coord|13.525|N|39.231|E|display=inline, title}}

| area_ha = 50

| established =

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| website = https://ethiotrees.com

}}

May Hib’o is an exclosure located in the Dogu'a Tembien woreda of the Tigray Region in Ethiopia.{{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| date=2019}} The exclosure holds a 70-metre long cave.{{Cite journal |last1=Nyssen |first1=Jan |last2=Yonas |first2=Meheretu |last3=Annys |first3=Sofie |last4=Ghebreyohannes |first4=Tesfaalem |last5=Smidt |first5=Wolbert |last6=Welegerima |first6=Kiros |last7=Gebreselassie |first7=Seifu |last8=Sembroni |first8=Andrea |last9=Dramis |first9=Francesco |last10=Ek |first10=Camille |last11=Causer |first11=David |date=2020-01-25 |title=The Zeyi Cave Geosite in Northern Ethiopia |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-020-00446-7 |journal=Geoheritage |language=en |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=6 |doi=10.1007/s12371-020-00446-7 |hdl=2268/266630 |s2cid=210913903 |issn=1867-2485|hdl-access=free }}

File:May Hib'o.jpg

Environmental characteristics

Source:

  • Area: 50 ha
  • Average slope gradient: 35%
  • Aspect: the exclosure is oriented towards the southwest and the north (both sides of a gorge)
  • Minimum altitude: 1896 metres
  • Maximum altitude: 2146 metres
  • Lithology: Antalo Limestone
  • 2017: support by the EthioTrees project

Management

As a general rule, cattle ranging and wood harvesting are not allowed. The grasses are harvested once yearly and taken to the homesteads of the village to feed livestock.

File:May Hib'o 2.jpg

Benefits for the community

Setting aside such areas fits with the long-term vision of the communities were hiza’iti lands are set aside for use by the future generations. It has also direct benefits for the community:{{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}}

  • improved ground water availability
  • honey production
  • climate ameliorator (temperature, moisture)
  • the sequestered carbon (in total 85 tonnes per ha, dominantly sequestered in the soil, and additionally in the woody vegetation) is certified using the Plan Vivo voluntary carbon standard,[https://www.planvivo.org/project-network/ethiotrees-tembien-highlands/ EthioTrees on Plan Vivo website] after which carbon credits are sold
  • the revenues are then reinvested in the villages, according to the priorities of the communities; it may be for an additional class in the village school, a water pond, or conservation in the exclosure.{{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}}

Biodiversity

With vegetation growth, biodiversity in this exclosure hast strongly improved: there is more varied vegetation and wildlife.

References

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