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Site description (2022 baseline):
Site location and context
The area is extremely arid that characterized by lava ridges, volcanic mountains and flat sandy plains. Geologically, the region is dominated by the igneous rocks and structures associated with stretching and rupture of the continental crust.
The mean seasonal temperature ranges from 25-30 °C but diurnal temperatures can range from 35-50°C. The hottest season of the year is between May and August when the daytime temperature reaches 48 °C. The coolest season of the year occurs between November and January when night-time temperatures drop to 11 °C. The mean annual rainfall ranges from 96 to 300 mm with most of the rain occurring in July and August.
The most important mammal species found in the area include: Somali wild ass (Equus africanus somaliensis) Soemmering's gazelle (Gazella soemmeringi), Dorcas’s gazelle (Gazella dorcas), Hammadryas Baboon (Papio hammadryas) Salt's dik-dik (Modoqua saltiana) and rock hyrax (Provacia capensis).
Among the bird species ostriches (Struthio camelus), Helmeted Guinea-fowl, Chestnut-bellied Sand grouse, Cape Turtle Dove and Namaqua Dove are the most common birds in the area. Other birds which are frequently seen are Somali Ostrich, Nile Valley Sunbird, Arabian Bustard, Laughing Dove, Yellow-necked Spur fowl and African Mourning Dove. African Grey Hornbill, Tawny eagles, Yellow billed kite and other raptors can be seen along the Ethio-Djibouti roadsides.Regular presence of several globally threatened species, e.g. Hooded, Ruppel's and White-backed Vultures.
The vast portion of the area is highly volcanic and very dry unsuitable for any kind of agriculture except for the pastoral community using as a pasture land. Vegetation consisting of deciduous shrubs, dominated by Acacia sp. interspersed with less frequent evergreen shrubs and succulents. It has sparse desert vegetation Aristida sp., Chrysopogon plumulosus, Dactyloctenium schindicum, Digitaria sp., Lasiurus scindicus, and Sporobolus iocladus.
Lowland desert and semi-desert with scattered acacia shrubs and livestock grazing. The key congregation sites for Egyptian Vultures are high-voltage electricity transmission pylons along the main highway connecting Addis Ababa to Djibouti. Because the otherwise treeless landscape does not offer many elevated safe roosting spots, vultures roost on transmission pylons in large numbers. Rubbish dumps and livestock remains provide a regular and predictable food supply.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Mille-Serdo Wildlife Reserve is an Ethiopian protected area in the Afar Region. The reserve safeguards a section of the Awash River as well as the surrounding desert and grasslands. However, the local pastoral community uses the wildlife reserve to graze their livestock, especially during the dry season. Not only does this jeopardise vegetation cover, but it also increases the risk of wildlife poisoning caused by Human-Wildlife Conflicts, which can also affect unintended victims such as vultures and other scavenging birds. Key threats to the species are the expansion of poorly designed low-voltage power distribution networks, and the use of toxic substances to control livestock predators.
The reserve areas are utilized by large numbers of pastoralists and their livestock even after formally gazetted in 1973 as there is no appropriate management due to lack of sufficient funds or personnel from Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority. At present the Mille-Serdo Wildlife Reserve exists on paper as a proclaimed protected area but it is not staffed and has no management or visitor infrastructure. The lack of official presence and control on the protected area has allowed local communities access to the area and utilization of its resources. However, Office of Culture Sport and Tourism (OCST) is the management authority responsible for the Mille-Serdo Wildlife Reserve despite any management action plan so far.
European Union Life Project, EWNHS, BirdLife Africa, BSPB, RSPB
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mille-Sardo Wildlife Reserve North (Ethiopia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mille-sardo-wildlife-reserve-north-iba-ethiopia on 23/11/2024.
