Sesemat (exclosure)


Sesemat is an exclosure located in the Dogu'a Tembien woreda of the Tigray Region in Ethiopia. The area has been protected since 1993 by the local community.

Timeline

Environmental characteristics

As a general rule, cattle ranging and wood harvesting are not allowed. The grasses are harvested once yearly and taken to the homesteads of the village to feed livestock. There are two guards to protect the exclosure. Field observations showed that however some illegal grazing occurred in the exclosure in 2018.

Benefits for the community

Setting aside such areas fits with the long-term vision of the communities were hiza’iti lands are set aside for use by the future generations. It has also direct benefits for the community:
With vegetation growth, biodiversity in this exclosure hast strongly improved: there is more varied vegetation and wildlife. Particularly, key bird species include black-winged lovebird, blue-breasted bee-eater, Hemprich's hornbill, black-billed barbet, Abyssinian Woodpecker, African paradise flycatcher and montane white-eye. At dusk the exclosure and surrounding grazing land are good sites to see spotted hyenas.