Data Zone
Country/territory: Ethiopia
IBA criteria met: A3 (1996)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 160,000 hectares (1,600.00 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 1996 | poor | medium | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2001 baseline)
Bonga forest is in Keficho-Shekicho Zone, south-west Ethiopia. The zonal capital, Bonga, is c.100 km south-west of Jimma. Bonga forest cloaks the highland area to the east of the Dincha river. The area comprises ridges and valleys through which the Guma, Sheko, Bittno and Ihina rivers and several small streams drain into the Dincha. Habitats include rivers and streams with riverine forest, upland montane forest and an Erica arborea zone above 3,000 m. The main forested area is broadleaf (Afro-montane) forest, which lies between 1,500 and 2,500 m and has many large tree species forming a canopy 10–>30 m high. The tallest trees are Aningeria adolfi-friderici. Other canopy species include Ocotea kenyensis, Olea capensis, Sapium ellipticum, Macaranga capensis, several species of Albizia, Euphorbia ampliphylla, Polyscias fulva, Schefflera abyssinica and several different Ficus spp. There is a rich understorey that includes the tree-fern Cyathea manniana found in moist ravines and near waterfalls, Dracaena steudneri and Coffea arabica. The higher parts of the forest support smaller trees such as Hagenia abyssinica and Prunus africana. Bonga forest has long been exploited for its large timber species and this is continuing. Some areas have been left to regenerate naturally, but over 2,000 ha have been planted with exotic and native species such as Eucalyptus, Hagenia abyssinica, Cordia africana, Cuppressus, Grevillea and Pinus patula. Local people make extensive use of the forest and many non-timber forest products are collected, particularly coffee and honey.
Key biodiversity
See Box and Table 3 for key species. The forest avifauna in south-west Ethiopia is less diverse than in the country’s bushland habitats. During surveys in December 1995, 100 species were recorded at this site. Afrotropical Highlands biome species include Lybius undatus and good numbers of Poeoptera stuhlmanni. Other interesting forest species present are Apaloderma narina and Coracina caesia. Cisticola troglodytes has also been recorded from the area.
Non-bird biodiversity: Although there are no endemic tree species in these forests, undergrowth and epiphyte diversity is high and includes endemics such as cardamom Aframomum corrorima.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bonga forest (Ethiopia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bonga-forest-iba-ethiopia on 23/12/2024.