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1. SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS


1.1. Geographic position of the country
1.2. Socio-economic information
1.3. Ecological information

1.1. Geographic position of the country

Eritrea is located in the northeastern part of Africa and covers an area of 124,320 km². It is bounded by the Sudan in the west and northwest, Ethiopia in the south, Djibouti in the southeast, and the Red Sea in the east (FAO, 1994). Administratively, Eritrea is divided into six zones (zoba) namely: Makel, Debub, Gash-Barka, Anseba, Semenawi Keih Bahri, and Debubawi Keih Bahri.

1.2. Socio-economic information

The population of Eritrea is about 3.5 million out of whom 80% live in rural areas and derive their livelihood from agriculture. There are nine linguistic groups namely: Afar, Bilen, Tigre, Saho, Tigrigna, Kunama, Nara, Hidareb, and Rashaida (MOA, 1993).

The economy of the country declined progressively declined the prolonged liberation war years. Between 1985 and 1990, real Gross Domestic Production (GDP) declined by 0.7% per annum, but has been increasing rapidly since independence. For example, an increase of 8% was reported in 1997. Agriculture is the main economic activity, both as a source of food and raw material for industry. In 1994, crop production, livestock, forestry, and fishery contributed approximately one-third of the Gross Domestic Production (FAO, 1996).

1.3. Ecological information

Due to its geographical setting, Eritrea has diverse climates ranging from hot arid, adjacent to the Red Sea to temperate sub-humid in isolated micro-catchments within the eastern escarpment of the Highlands. About 72% of Eritrea is classified as very hot, with mean annual temperature exceeding 24°C, while not more than 14% is classified as mild or cool with mean annual temperature below 21.5°C (FAO, 1996).

Most parts of the country receive rainfall from the southwest Monsoon, between April and September. Some rains fall in April/May while the main rain starts in June, with the heaviest precipitation in July and August. Only the coastal plains and the central part of the eastern escarpment of the central highland experience winter rainfall, November through March. This is borne by the north and southeast continental air streams with little moisture until affected by the Red Sea. The total annual rainfall tends to increase from north to south, from less than 200 mm at the northern border with the Sudan to more than 700 mm in the south western part of the country. The Green Belt Zone, receives the highest annual rainfall averaging about 900 mm (FAO, 1994).

The soils of Eritrea are highly variable. In the northern and southern sections of the coastal plains of the Red Sea, they are predominantly sandy desert soils. In other part of the plains, ortho-solonchaks, regosols, and andosols are found. In the Highlands, the predominant soils are chromic, eutric, and calsic cambisols of strong red colour. Other soils found in the Highlands are lithosols, xerosols and fluvisols, while soils in the western plains are mainly vertisols and fluvisols (FAO, 1996).

Three major forest/woodland types are distinguished in Eritrea: highland forests, acacia woodlands and riverine forests. Originally the highland forests of Juniperus procera and Olea africana would have extended over much of the plateaux, but have been largely destroyed or degraded; only remnants now survive. On the lowlands and lower escarpments, Acacia woodlands occupy about one-quarter of the land area of the country. Riverine forests fringe river systems of the Gash/Mereb, Setit and Barka in the Lowlands, where Doum palm is an important constituent species. These forests are under the greatest threat as they occupy fertile, well watered and level sites - suited to development for commercial agriculture. But, they are also vital to the lives of the local population. On the coastal plains tree cover becomes increasingly sparse towards the sea. In places along the coast with mangrove forests, the predominant species is Avicennia marina.

Natural forest cover has been classified according to six major vegetation types using internationally acceptable methodology.

The natural vegetation of the country constitutes 0.8% highland forest. Forest and woodlands, including riverine forest and mangroves cover 13.5% of the total area. The category “bush” is the dominant vegetation in Eritrea covering 63% of the total area. The riverine forests and mangroves play important ecological and economic roles for rural communities, and occupy 1.5% and less than 0.1%, respectively. The most recent national vegetation cover data are presented in Table 1.

Table 1: Forest/Woodland Type and Distribution

Forest Type

Km2

Share of Total Area

Forest


0.8%



- Closed to medium forest

591


- Open forest

410


Woodland


11.3%



- Closed to medium closed woodland

4533


- Open woodland

9541


Bushland


63.8%



- Grassland/Wooded Grassland

25,577


- Bushland

53,824


Riparian forest


1.6%



- Riverine forest

1,865


- Mangroves

64


Source: Interpretation of Landsat TM by FAO project TCP/ERI/12 July 1997


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