Djibouti xeric shrublands

Ethiopian xeric grasslands and shrublands ecoregion map.

The Ethiopian xeric grasslands and shrublands ecoregion is a semi-desert strip on or near the Red Sea and the Gulf of Oman coasts in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somaliland.

Location and description

Semidesert grassland and shrubland covers an area mainly from sea level to 800 m inland from the coast of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Oman along the coast of Eritrea, south through Ethiopia and Djibouti and a narrow strip along coast of Somaliland. The ecoregion includes a number of islands such as the Dahlak Archipelago, offshore from the Eritrean port of Massawa, and inland some higher hills, and in the south the desolate Afar Depression, location of the ghost town made of salt, Dallol. The ecoregion is vulnerable to earthquakes and includes a number of active volcanoes. The area is hot and dry with little rainfall, especially near the coast, temperatures range from 21 to 30 degrees Celsius (70 to 85 °F). The strip of coast in southern Eritrea and northern Djibouti has been separated out as the Eritrean coastal desert, especially as it is the site of a large migration of birds of prey.

Flora

The plant life of the region needs more study, which has been hampered by long-term political strife in the region. Endemic flora includes a dragon tree (Dracaena ombet).

Fauna

Mammals found here include the last Somali Wild Ass (Equus africanus somalicus) to be found in the wild, on the Buri Peninsula of Eritrea. Other grazing animals include Beira, Dorcas gazelle, Soemmerring's Gazelle, gerenuk and the Beisa oryx. The only purely endemic mammal is a gerbil Gerbillus acticola. There are a number of dry habitat reptiles including the endemic geckos, Arnold's leaf-toed gecko (Hemidactylus arnoldi) and the Somali Northern Sand Gecko (Tropiocolotes tripolitanus somalicus). Birds include the endemic Archer's lark (Heteromirafra archeri).

Threats and preservation

The area is thinly populated, mainly by the Afar people of Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti and the Issa people further south. Habitats however have been degraded, mainly by grazing of livestock as well as cutting of trees for firewood and clearing of land for planting. The only protected area is the Mille-Serdo Wild Ass Reserve in Ethiopia although protection is planned for the Buri Peninsula and the Danakil Depression in Eritrea. Urban areas in the region include the ports of Massawa in Eritrea, Djibouti city, and Berbera in Somaliland. Smaller towns include the former Afar Region capital of Asaita in Ethiopia and smaller ports along the coast such as Tadjoura in Djibouti and Zeila in Somaliland. Tourism in the region includes diving in the Dahlak islands.

External links

• Ethiopian xeric grasslands and shrublands (World Wildlife Fund)