Protecting Golis Mountain Ranges to Safeguard Lives and Livelihoods

The Golis Mountain Ranges is one of the major economically & ecologically flourishing mountainous landscape in Somalia, rich in biodiversity. According to the One Earth Bioregions Framework, this mountainous landscape is considered one of the most biodiverse floristic regions in the Horn of Africa, with hundreds of endemic fauna and flora species.
 
The Golis Mountain Ranges, hereafter referred to as the ‘ecoregion,’ stretches along the coast of Somalia through the regions of Puntland and Somaliland. It extends from Cape Gardafui in the Gardafui region of Puntland, the very tip of the Horn of Africa, and continues some 48,618 km2 to the southwest of the Sanaag region of Somaliland, along the Somali coastal plain. Elevations range from sea level to the summit of Surud-cad at 7,900 feet (2,408 meters), the highest point in Somalia. There are also extensive coastal plains and sizeable mountain escarpments with areas higher than 1,500 meters. In general, the climate is hot and dry, with considerable seasonal temperature variations. Mean temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C in the lowlands to 9°C to 21°C in the mountains.
 
The mean rainfall in the low-lying areas is less than 200 mm annually. The mountains receive more rainfall; for example, the escarpment near Maydh receives over 650 mm each year, mainly during the winter, which is the highest for Somalia. Most of the higher mountain areas are composed of limestone and gypsum, covered with free-draining thin rendzina lithosols that retain little moisture outside the rainy seasons. However, the ecoregion is rich in groundwater, hosting 95 spring water points that yield an average of 3-60 liters per second.
 
The vegetation of this ecoregion varies due to elevation, rainfall, and soil or rock types. At lower elevations, xerosols and yermosols have developed, particularly on the lowland coastal plains bordering the Indian Ocean. Here, the landscape is a desert with little to no vegetation. In subcoastal areas, woody vegetation becomes denser, with dominant species from the genera ‘Acacia’, ‘Commiphora’, and ‘Boswellia’. Along the sides of the escarpment, Macchia-like evergreen and semi-evergreen scrub occurs with species such as ‘Dracaena ombet’, ‘Cadia purpurea’, ‘Buxus hildebrandtii’, and ‘Pistacia aethiopica’. At the highest altitudes, remnants of ‘Juniperus’ forest grow, with canopy-dominant species such as ‘Juniperus procera’, ‘Olea europaea’, ‘Dodonaea viscosa’, ‘Cadia purpurea’, and ‘Sideroxylon mascatense’.
 
The biological value of the ecoregion is high, with several hundred endemic plants, including relict elements of arid and semi-arid groups; for example, five endemic species of ‘Helianthemum’ and one endemic species of ‘Thamnosma’. Also, the monotypic genus ‘Renschia’ is a strict endemic, as is ‘Boswellia frereana’, an economically important frankincense-producing tree. Numerous endemic succulent plants also occur, such as ‘Euphorbia mitriformis’, ‘Aloe eminens’, and ‘Huernia formosa’. The most endemic-rich zone is in the high mountains, but plant endemics are also found at lower elevations.
 
There are also endemic species in different vertebrate groups. Three strict endemic reptiles occur: the snakes ‘Scortecci’s diadem snake’ and ‘Leptotyphlops reticulatus’, and the lizard ‘Pseuderemias savagei’, with two other reptiles nearly endemic to the ecoregion. Three strict endemic birds are found: the Somali pigeon, the Somali thrush, and the Warsangli linnet. The Somali thrush and Warsangli linnet are confined to juniper forests at higher elevations. Three small mammal species are also considered near-endemics: the Somali hedgehog, Louise’s spiny mouse, Somali elephant shrew (Somali Sengi), and rock hyrax. The rare beira antelope, Salt’s dikdik, Sömmerring’s gazelle, and Speke’s gazelle are also found here and in a few other ecoregions in the Horn of Africa. Wild cats such as cheetah, leopard, and caracal also inhabit this region.
 

Conservation Priorities

  • Provide Alternative, Sustainable Energy Sources: Develop and promote alternative energy sources to charcoal and fuel wood, such as solar and wind energy, to reduce deforestation and habitat degradation.
  • Encourage Alternative Livelihoods: Promote alternative livelihoods, including beekeeping, and support sustainable agricultural practices, such as rotational grazing, to reduce pressure on the ecosystem.
  • Enhance Environmental Awareness: Raise awareness within local communities about the importance of conserving the ecoregion, and involve them in conservation efforts through education and community-based initiatives.
  • Strengthen Legal Frameworks: Work towards strengthening legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms to combat illegal wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species.
  • Promote sustainable land use: We focus on practices that balance ecological health with community needs. This includes reforesting degraded areas, particularly with native species like frankincense, to enhance biodiversity and prevent soil erosion. We engage local communities to create land-use plans that incorporate traditional ecological knowledge, ensuring these strategies are culturally relevant and practical. Through educational workshops and sustainable agricultural practices, we empower communities to manage their land in ways that protect natural resources and support long-term resilience
Challenges
 
  • Lack of Formal Protection: The ecoregion has no formal protection, especially in areas of high ecological value that are particularly vulnerable, leaving it exposed to various threats.
  • Small-scale Logging: Ongoing small-scale logging of Juniper trees is affecting the vegetation, particularly in escarpment areas.
  • Intensive Grazing: Goats and other livestock, including cattle in the mountains, are causing intensive grazing, leading to habitat degradation.
  • Tree Cutting: Trees are being cut for timber, charcoal, fuel wood, and pole constructions, with Juniper trees being particularly targeted.
  • Unsustainable Frankincense Extraction: The unsustainable extraction of frankincense poses a significant threat to the ecosystem.
  • Wildlife Trafficking and Hunting of Larger Mammals: The hunting of larger mammals, particularly antelopes, is a long-standing issue. Antelopes also face threats from grazing competition with livestock. Additionally, there is a high trend of illegal trafficking of cheetah, caracal, leopard, and other wildlife species.