Wetlands Ecosystems: Status and Threats in theAbbay River Basin
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Abstract
Ethiopia the Abbay Basin covers about 1.43% wetlands area and are largely found in Tana sub basin at the shore of Lake Tana, Didessa, Fincha sub basin and Dabus sub basins. Wetland assessment data were collected in the Administrative Zones of the Amhara, Oromiya and Benishangul Gumuz Regions embraced by the sub basins of Abbay Basin. In all of the assessed sub-basins significant hectares of wetlands are found. Accordingly, the total coverage areas of wetlands in the basin are about 188,528 hectares of marshy or swampy areas. Tana and Didesa sub basins are the largest center of wetlands that comprise of Fogera and Dembia flood plains, and Illuababora wetlands respectively in which the largest wetland areas in Ethiopia exist. Wetlands of the sub basins are rich in bird, plant and large mammals’ diversity including reptiles. These wetlands are providing services being shelters for indigenous and migratory bird species that come from abroad, and wild animals. In addition these, wetlands consist of plant species like papyrus, gicha, filla and sedge. Wetlands found in the Basin serve the surrounding communities for animal grazing, irrigation, water sources for animals and humans consumption and sanitation, fishing center for the local communities, harvesting place for green grasses-‘Chefe’ for holiday and festival ceremonies, sources of thatches for huts, shelter for wild lives and reptiles. Wetlands are the sources of sedges that serve the local community to prepare rain protective material-‘Gessa’ in the rainy season.
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