AM 
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Biospheres
Biosphere reserves are sites established by countries and recognized under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme to promote and demonstrate balanced relationships between people and nature. Five biosphere reserves have been established in Ethiopia since 2010. These biosphere reserves are globally monitored by UNESCO
1. Majang Forest biosphere reserve
- Located in Majang Zone of the Gambella Peoples National Regional State.
- Designation date: June 2017
- Total surface area: 225,490. ha
- Core area(s): 43,878 ha
- Buffer zone(s): 73,400 ha
- Transition area(s): 108,212 ha
Covers four ecosystems: Moist Afromontane forest, Transitional Rainforest and Combretum-Terminalia woodland, wetlands, lake , several rivers, 39 threatened species (IUCN Red list), 5 birds, 3 mammals, 3 amphibians and 28 plant species.
Challenges: illegal logging, settlement, investment, lack of awareness
2. Sheka forest biosphere reserve
- Located in Sheka Zone, SNNPR
- Designation date: 2012
- Surface area: 238,750 ha
- Core area(s): 55,255 ha
- Buffer zone(s): 76,395 ha
- Transition area(s): 107,100 ha
Covers two ecosystems: Afromontane ecosystem- forest, alpine bamboo thickets, wetlands
- 300 higher plant species,
- 50 mammals, 200 birds, and 20 amphibian species
- Endemicity: 55 plants and 10 birds species,
- 38 threatened species of flora and fauna.
Challenges: Forest dependency, no responsible body, investment
3. Kafa biosphere reserve
- located in the Kafa Zone.
- Designation date: 2010
- Surface area: 540,631.10 ha
- Core area(s): 41,319.10 ha
- Buffer zone(s): 161,427 ha
- Transition area(s): 337,885 ha
Includes the East Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot
- Genetic pool of Coffea arabica
Challenges: inaccessibility, lack of legal personality, lack fund
4. Lake Tana biosphere reserve
- Located in the Amhara National Regional State
- Designation date: 2015
- Surface area: 695,885 ha
- Core area(s): 22,841 ha (terrestrial: 7,699 ha)
- Buffer area(s): 187,567 ha (terrestrial: 30,969 ha)
- Transition area(s): 485,477 ha (terrestrial: 354,297 ha)
- home to 67 different species of fish of which 70% are endemic
It is part of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot
- 217 different bird species
Challenge: Water hyacinth
5. Yayo coffee biosphere reserve
- Situated in Ilu Abba Bora Zone of the Oromia Regional State, southwestern Ethiopia.
- Designation date: 2010
- Surface Area: 167,021 ha
- Core Area: 27,733 ha
- Buffer Zone: 21,552 ha
- Transition Area: 117,736 ha
Includes Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot.
Cultural and historical significance- caves and waterfalls.
- Genetic pool of Coffea arabica
Challenges: no responsible body, impacts of fertilizer factory and Hydropower
