Ethiopia’s first botanic garden aims to preserve country’s flora heritage
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – When Ethiopia’s first botanic garden was established six years ago, few Ethiopians knew of country’s flora heritage.
But with agro-ecological zones ranging from 125 meters below sea level to about 5,000 meters above sea level, the country boasts one of the richest flora heritages in Africa according to Birhanu Belay, research department coordinator at Gullele Botanic Garden (GBG).
The GBG is situated on 70 hectares of land along the northwest outskirts of Addis Ababa, a joint venture of Addis Ababa University (AAU) and the city of Addis Ababa. The garden is used for research, education, eco-tourism and conservation currently hosts 780 of the country’s estimated 6,500 plant species.
Ariyeh Alex