Wondering nature at Menz Guassa

• Weds environmental protection with livelihood

BY TEWODROS KASSA

So much could be said or written about ‘community-involved environmental protection’. But, its meaning may become more conspicuous as one visit Menz-Guassa Community Conservation Area—in North Shoa zone of Amhara State, 260 kilometers northeast of Addis Ababa.   

The place gets its name after the Afro-alpine savanna grass, Guassa, which grows 70-80 centimeters on average and to 2.3 meter if it gets fertile soil and enough water.       

Documents show that common resource management system has been known to the community since the 17^th century.  It then gets a modern shape over the last few decades.  That is why the 111 Square kilometer owe-inspiring area is still home to various fauna and flora.

About 13 mammal species shelter at Guassa—three of them endemic to Ethiopia, Red Fox (Ethiopian wolf), Gelada Baboon   and Habesha Rabbit. The area is habitat to an abundant number of Geladas counted with four digits with a recovering number of Red Foxes.

Currently, 2,500 endemic Geladas are found in Menz Guassa Community Conservation Area.

Even if red foxes are counted by only two digits, their number would surely grow as the community is protecting them.  

Ten years ago, there had been seven to nine red foxes at Guassa, research undertakings conducted on the area indicated. Data show that their current number increases by over four folds.  

Ethiopia has an estimated 500 Red Foxes. Of this, more than 47 are inside Guassa. What is more, 12 percent of the endemic bird species are only found in Guassa.

But the question one must raise at this juncture is: Why does the community intensifies the protection efforts?

The answer does not require a hard mental gymnastics. ‘Benefits’ are the driving forces behind the successful conservation efforts.

Nine neighborhoods, adjacent to Guassa, reap additional income, fodder, and above all the environmental benefits.  

The people of the neighborhoods will never tolerate any act that inflicts damage either on the wild animals or on the vegetation. Everyone knows, at least, the fauna and flora create additional income. At best, the community is well aware of the fact that the conserved area ensures the availability of water both in the river courses and in the water wells while protecting fertile soil from erosion.     

In terms of income, for instance, the community has saved 3.2 million Birr.   With this money, the community has hired professionals that better manage and develop the area. Put it another way, the community has created jobs to professionals as well.

Five years ago, National Geographic channel, Discovery Channel in collaboration with the BBC, and Japan National television each paid nine thousand USD for video capturing in the Community Conserved Area.  The community has used the money to build clinic, school and road, among others— Menz Guassa Community Conservation Area Office Head Admasu Getaneh speaks to The Ethiopian Herald.

He lauds the community’s conservation efforts including the prevention of poaching and grazing.   The ecological experts of the Office have also been modernizing the overall efforts of the people, he adds.

Hand-in-glove with the people, the Office has strived more to increase tourists’ inflow to the area. The friendly people and services have been aimed to help tourists get lasting memory of their visits. “We help them stay more nights and visit more places as well.”

Due to this, over 34 local and foreign tourists set their feet in the area even between June and August, Ethiopian major rainy season.  

Besides the monetary benefits, the people are allowed to mow the grass and share it on a regular interval.

“The community-conserved area will be open, for ten days, to residents every three years. And the people cut down an estimated 346 million Birr worth Guassa,” says Admasu Getaneh.

The people use the grass to thatch their homes. It also makes up a good cattle fodder. Farmers as well braid the grass into a rope. Local craftspersons use the grass to make traditional umbrella, Gessa. It is also an all too common to see a kind of brushes, moore, useful to clean millstone.  

As the grass has brought lavish economic advantages to the farmers, they opt for using steel sheet for roofing. There was a time that a pile of Guassa cost twice the price of a steel sheet. 

Following this, the farmers have changed their traditional grass thatched home to be furnished with steel sheet. If farmers sell ten donkey packs of Guassa, they will simply get 3,200 Birr.    

  

To cut the long story short, the area offers the people off-farm income, fodder, as well as many other benefits.

Yet, the community conservation area can generate more income both to residents and the country as well.

Despite the area’s rich natural blessings, one can say it is the least visited in Ethiopia.    Menz-Gera Midir Communication Affairs Office Head Getnet Agonafir attributes this to constraints relating to promotional works. For her, they are now doing to the best they can to promote the area using the social media.

 In addition to the lively scenery, the fauna and flora, a standard lodge with VIP rooms has also taken shape, with a keen support of Frankfurt Zoological Society.   

Especially during the rainy season, the area is highly adorable as the green Guassa covers the entire land. While one visits Menz Community Conservation Area, he/she feels like having a journey over windy-top Mountains, at an altitude that ranges between 3,200-3,700 meters.

The pressure of the wind inside the conserved area, along with the scenery of the place put extra pleasure on visitors.  

On top of this, Menz-Guassa Community Conservation Area imparts tangible lesson to other parts of the country, if not worldwide. If people genuinely cooperate and if governments create enabling condition, it is possible to conserve ecosystems, hence to turn it into economic advantages.    The surrounding residents have played a tangible role in protecting the area and the endemic animals inside.  

 To sum up, there are four exclusive reasons to travel to Guassa and visit the age-long Community Conserved Area: To easily entertain the unforgettable 111+ wildlife species;   enjoy your time with the friendly Menz community and to observe the incredible biodiversity and to be familiar with authentic culture of the community.