Ethiopia's Ecosystems

• Mountainous Regions

  • found in North-West and South-East
  • cold climate near zero celsius all year round - potential snow cover
  • hardly any animals and low-lying plants
  • difficult to urbanise
• Deserts and Semi-deserts

  • extreme lowlands - like found in East Ethiopia
  • farming can be done for personal use but large-scale farming is on the rise
  • shrubs, occasional grassland, acacia trees
  • The world's most inhabited and hottest region is Dallol (North-East Ethiopia)
• Wetland

  • diverse landscape
  • vulnerable to tectonic movements, erosion, and human activities
  • provides reliable rainfall
  • Ethiopia has 12 river basins, 8 major lakes, lots of swamps, floodplains, man-made reservoirs
• Woodland Forests

  • lower areas of highlands
  • has fertile soil - use for agriculture and grazing animals
  • provides reliable rainfall
• Tropical Savannahs and Grassland

  • provides fertile soil in good years
  • surrounds highlands
  • is vulnerable to drought in years with less precipitation
  • therefore has a risk of desertification