Data Zone
Country/territory: Ethiopia
IBA criteria met: A1 (1996)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 340 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 1996 | favourable | medium | negligible |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2001 baseline)
Koffe swamp is 7 km south-west of Jimma, the capital of Jimma Zone. It is on the Jimma–Seka road in an area of relatively flat land, surrounded by small hills. Small rivers in the area include the Kilo and Melka Faki. Koffe swamp supports significant expanses of Typha sp., but there is no further information on vegetation. However, at Jimma Airport, the swamp near the road also comprises Persicaria spp. and Alisma plantago-aquatica, while the meadow around the airport has several species of grasses up to 1 m tall. Areas of short grassland, which are intensively grazed, contain Cynodon dactylon and some clumps of Hyparrhenia sp. The dominant crop is maize, but the farmers also grow root and other crops.
Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. Koffe swamp is believed to be a breeding location for Grus carunculatus, with at least 10 present in December 1995. According to local inhabitants, the species breeds in the wetlands of the Koffe Peasants’ Association, with birds also seen on the nearby Jimma Airport wetland. Macronyx flavicollis also occurs (at least 10 birds), as do small numbers of various Palearctic and Afrotropical ducks and geese. In all, 78 species have been recorded at the site. Sarothrura rufa is also known to occur in Koffe swamp, and various Palearctic crake species may use the site seasonally.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Koffe swamp (Ethiopia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/koffe-swamp-iba-ethiopia on 22/11/2024.