Saving the endangered Bale monkey through protection of montane bamboo in the southern Ethiopian Highlands (completed)

About the project

Bale monkeys (Chlorocebus djamdjamensis) are endangered and endemic species restricted to narrow geographic range in southern Ethiopian Mountains. Bale monkeys rely completely on montane bamboo (Arundinaria alpina) living almost entirely on young leaves and shoots, and making their home in bamboo forests. They are considered as flagship species for the conservation of bamboo. The main threat is that this bamboo is in great demand both locally and for export. Bamboo harvest is uncontrolled and having a detrimental effect on Bale monkeys survival. This project needs to find a sustainable solution to this problem by gathering scientific evidence and working with local people

Objectives

1) To assess the current threats and status of bamboo including its distribution, population status, economic importance (ethnobotany), threats, utilization level, availability of bamboo leaves across age classes of stems, its importance as a home for Bale monkeys, and the value of bamboo for climate change adaptation.

2) To design and develop mitigation strategies for identified impacts for sustainable use of bamboo and conservation of Bale monkeys.

3) To provide capacity building, and raise conservation awareness to the local stakeholders for Bale monkey conservation, and sustainable use of bamboo.

4) Afforestation and restoration pilot fragmented and degraded Bale monkey areas using bamboo to help initiate restoration activities in other sites.

Financing

Prince Bernhard Nature Fund PBNF

Period

01.07.2016 - 31.12.2019

Published Mar. 26, 2021 2:32 PM - Last modified Mar. 26, 2021 2:32 PM

Participants

Detailed list of participants