The picture to the left shows the mountain stream with native Juniper trees just a few steps above Bees' Cliff (14) -

 located in the opposite direction to the image's visual field.

Biodiversity

In biodiversity, the most common and straightforward misinterpretation is that it refers to a range of ecological benefits derived from a variety of lifeforms within a natural type. However, despite its simplicity, this interpretation can be downright misleading and even seriously incorrect. The reason why the understanding of diversity in biodiversity is incorrect is varied and often complicated. Still, the main one is that each habitat has its own limitations and advantages, which are definitely not suitable for interpreting as a host for foreign biodiversity. In reality, each unique habitat is often susceptible to the endemic species of its own prehistoric past, where the original Nature instead risk enduring biodiversity sensitivities, with direct limitations and vulnerabilities to external and incompatible biological interference, especially against biological life forms that are much more distant in evolutionary terms, spanning extended distances and prehistoric aeons.

Ethiopia's Unique Highland Environment:

Hosting a Toxic Foreign Threat

Foreign trees often have difficulties adjusting to their new environment. The Eucalyptus is apparently growing without trouble, but it is not capable of sexual reproduction; i.e., the seeds do not germinate in Ethiopian soils. Therefore, the standard procedure of introduction is the planting of seedlings. The young trees soon start to compete very efficiently with other vegetation. It is a fast grower, quickly reaching above other trees and suppressing them. At the same time, a chemical component in the leaves and roots counteracts and often completely interrupts the growth of the country's endemic trees and herbs. This leads to a monoculture with Eucalyptus as the only tree species and eventually no ground cover.

The Ancient Creation Of The Ground's Biodiversity

With the Important Legacy of Native Trees

The Foundation of Nature's Symbiosis

The symbiotic synergy within the biodiversity of the native
 plants' roots thereby counteracted the water resistance of
 the dense-packed ground and opened the soil's ability to
 stabilize porous permeability. This basic phenomenon
 between plants and soils allowed the water to pass
 through deeper soil layers and to reach aquifers.
The Complex Sciences of Nature

Thanks to the complex symbiotic biodiversity that developed during remote periods in the evolution of plants and ground-living organisms, they created and enabled the opening of the Earth's surface layers' permeability. Thus, these ancient organisms, along with their native plants, liberated the otherwise water-repellent soil surface and endowed the ground with water-absorbing properties. Hence, the indigenous forest is the main factor in its ability to saturate the aquifers, with a potent water-accumulation effect at the actual depth of the mountain massif's total configuration. 

The Armoured Biodiversity from the Past

With the intricate heritage of guardian biology from the primaeval forest's water-assisting lushness, the native roots armoured effects and microorganisms in symbiosis, preventing erosion and landslides caused by the otherwise brittle, fragile soils. Hence, with their intricately stabilizing fibrous roots, these plants, in ancient times, formed a symbiosis with the surrounding Earth's organisms and, at the beginning of time, initiated the flow of water through the soil and towards Earth's groundwater reservoirs.

The Synergy of Precipitation, Geology, and Vegetation 

The Landscape's Water and Unique Soils

These phenomena are interconnected, and the indigenous vegetation and biological structures are crucial for distributing rainwater to the aquifers and preventing erosion. Prehistorically, in Ethiopia, the synergy between geology, water, plants, and soil enabled the landscape's mountain massifs and deeper soils to retain their natural capacity to securely harbour water, thus providing irrigation and nourishment through large harvests. Hence, to assist modern analysis of this complex prehistoric phenomenon, a simple parable appears here: the body naturally harboured water, maintained in the mountains' native highland vegetation, primaeval forests, and aquifers, which, in their requirements for scientific analysis, correspond to the methods used for highly complex dam and reservoir constructions. Thus, these high-tech wonders of the modern world, whose high-tech wonders strangely correspond to the importance of the highland forests' role in the care-taking of deluges and irrigation to provide the precious water to the lower land and their civilisations.

A Global Heritage of Shortcomings in Scientific Research

The Devastating Threat from a Foreign Toxicity

Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize scientific research and practical measures to combat erosion, as torrential floods driven by toxic-induced, artificially slippery, low-friction ground can pose a significant threat. The harmful impact of foreign trees on Ethiopia's natural environment, such as the toxicity of artificially implanted Australian eucalyptus trees, highlights the need for careful investigation into the detrimental effects of incompatible substances and organisms that lead to soil degradation and erosion. Therefore, understanding the broad environmental spectrum within the natural sciences is crucial before introducing foreign species into a potentially vulnerable habitat, where history has proven the devastating consequences of erosion and malnutrition.

Videos: Soil Erosion Demo

Wikipedia: Regenerative Agriculture

Pinterest: Erosion Prevention Ideas 

Geology with Ecological Water Creation

Natural forest areas with native undergrowth are crucial for conserving plant and animal species richness. This wild forest and scrub are also essential for creating and transferring clean groundwater within the geology of the natural mountain massifs' underground aquifers. Naturally, there are critical advantages to preserving the natural forests on the mountain massifs. However, observing high alerts on foreign and invasive species and their incompatible heritage is crucial.

The Legacy of Vegetation and Its Soils

Crucial here are the ground and geological compounds that slowly filter this water and transform it into more permanent, long-lasting groundwater in the deeper-lying rock massif. These considerations of the native Nature give rise to a beautiful picture of lifeforms that have optimized their genetic code through evolution.

The Importance of Geology for Ecology

The Eucalyptus Tree: A Foreign Intruder

The Eucalyptus Tree: A Rejector of Precious Water

The Eucalyptus treacherously misleading demands for large quantities of water, regrettably, appear due to its destructive ability to reject deluges into torrential flash floods. Areas that were periodically wet and had flora adjusted to such conditions were drained due to the in-planted Eucalyptus trees' water-rejecting properties. Because of the Eucalyptus trees' toxic effects on local flora, the biodiversity of a eucalyptus plantation is extremely low; there appears to be a lack of plants that specialized insects and birds need. Also, when timber is continuously removed from indigenous trees in the area without fertilizer input, soil quality gradually declines, reducing the likelihood of reintroducing indigenous species.

[ The Eucalyptus Tree ]

An Incompatible Foreign Tree Species

The Eucalyptus Problem

The Eucalyptus Tree and Its Tactical Toxicity

A chemical component with an intricate competition-oriented toxic defence system in the leaves and roots of Eucalyptus trees prevents the growth of other trees and herbs. This chemical component leads to a monoculture with Eucalyptus as the only tree species and eventually no ground cover. This chemical component causes severe erosion, as evidenced by the water running through Addis during the rainy seasons. Due to these shortcomings in the Eucalyptus plantation's water-retention capacity, it cannot counterbalance the uneven distribution of rainfall. 

Conclusion and Wonderful Solution

The stalk of the native Podocarpus tree's seed is considerably more significant in height at an early stage of its soil germination than the equivalent of the Juniper tree seed. Because the Podocarpus tree has the uniqueness of raising its appetizing greenery to the sensitively exposed height of its brittle stems, an excellent and traditional solution arises thanks to the sharp thorn defence of Rosa abyssinica.

The Eucalyptus Tree's Environmental Toxicity

A Massive Loss of Public Health and Drinking Water

A chemical component with an intricate competition-oriented toxic defence system in the leaves and roots of Eucalyptus trees counteracts the growth of other trees and herbs. This Eucalyptus tree's chemical components lead to wildlife starvation, water shortages, a monoculture of Eucalyptus as the only tree species, and eventually no ground cover. This chemical component causes severe erosion, as evidenced by the water running through Addis Ababa during the rainy seasons. Due to these shortcomings in the Eucalyptus plantation's water-retention capacity, it cannot counterbalance the uneven distribution of rainfall. The result is often torrential flooding and severe erosion in the downslope areas.

The Ecological Background of the Native Forest

Find Indigenous trees using the Maps

Direction Map to the Alluring Past

The Original Guardianship Of  Trees and Soils

Thanks to the native trees, the Earth's surface layer's permeability resistance was reduced, allowing water to pass into the deeper soil layers and aquifers. Hence, the intricate biology within the ancient life forms optimized their DNA to distribute this water into the deeper layers of natural mountain areas. These native trees provided the ground, with its soils and deeper rocks, with a significantly increased and specified deposit of purified water in quantity and quality to use during drought.

The Native Trees' Capacity to Distribute Water

Thanks to the evolutionary optimization of the highlands' ancient native trees' ecology, they evolved into formidable distributors of surface water to the aquifers, allowing it to penetrate the soil's otherwise porous, resistive structure. Thus, the native, ancient plants loosened the soil's otherwise dense fabric through their intricate root networks, allowing water to reach the aquifers.

The Guardian Forest from the Ancient Era

The healing capacity of a native forest

This original forest (40), just to the right of point (16), is captivatingly wild and features Juniperus procera trees more than 50 years old. This native woodland (40) offers a unique encounter with Nature, with a somewhat exotic, primaeval lushness and a great surprise. This native Juniper woodland (40) is massive in appearance and stunning in vitality, with a perfect, lush and dense undergrowth. This native forest's vibrancy and lushness are beyond what a visitor would usually expect in proximity to the Capital. The natural health and fertile beauty of this Indigenous Juniper forest (40) illuminate with precision the healing power of a native forest and the crucial Nature and habitat restoration that occurred to heal the toxic effect from the introduction of the Eucalyptus tree. The importance of careful research into knowledge of natural sciences is given a rigorous and evident example before any foreign species is considered for introduction into an unfamiliar and vulnerable habitat.

Nature Restoration and Cultural Origin

Environmental Devotion and Traditions

The Environment, Culture & Prosperity

Environmental Work for Health and Prosperity
The indigenous Podocarpus falcatus (P. gracilior) is rare at Entoto, with only a few mature specimens, and it does not appear to produce seedlings among the nearby Eucalyptus. It seems that it is no longer feasible for it to propagate in the barren, eroded, exposed lands that have developed since the introduction of the alien Eucalyptus over a hundred years ago. However, the few ancient trees still produce seeds, where assistance may result in saplings for a protected reintroduction.

The Importance of Protection for Native Seedlings

However, much work has been done to reform the upper soil layer and establish a protective undergrowth. It would therefore be very pleasing to obtain information about a new generation of this highly blessed historic tree, which still grows in the magical, graceful and appealing landscape of Entoto Natural Park. To find these indigenous Podocarpus trees, use the area of the map loop (B).

Entoto Natural Park's Natural Habitat

The Indigenous Nature of  Water Health

The Park's 17 km² of mountainous terrain provides excellent variation in topography, humidity, climate, and soil. Given the unique conditions specified for each spot during planting and management, these considerations are crucial to the health of the indigenous vegetation. These analyses of topography's essential impact on the ground's and plant's stability and health constitute the primary source when estimating the restoration of the Park's ground and natural habitat. When designing with Nature, due care is essential to create habitats (biotopes) suited to the area's physical conditions. Juniperus procera is the natural species of Entoto, and it should dominate the future Natural Park. However, to preserve the natural health and diversity of plants, a specific species composition prevails as the primary factor in the Park's restoration, requiring a wide variety of species within the indigenous forest. (Håkan Blanck and Pia Englund, Entoto Natural Park 1995).

An Origin of Health and Prosperity

The Forgotten Cradle of Wealth & Beauty

The Native Podocarpus & Rosa abyssinica

A Heritage from Times of Natural Wealth

This peculiarity in seed design, setting kernels to sprout beneath a protective shield of dense undergrowth, has its evolutionary origin in prehistoric lushness. This tree grows the young seed with an exposed stem and a highly sensitive stalk. This unique way of the seedlings' first greenery traces their origin to the beginning of these trees' (evolution) and to epochs long before any human culture or species.

A Nature with Ancient Guardianship

Through this evolutionary prehistory, these seed stalks and kernels were naturally received with moist, typically loose, absorbing soil (humus) and dense protective undergrowth that could hide and shield these tender, exposed, vertically raised kernel stalks.

The Importance of Indigenous Ethiopian Trees

The Primordial Forests' Shielding Armour

Podocarpus falcatus  (P. gracilior)

Podocarpus falcatus (P. gracilior) 

This tree is scarce at Entoto and does not appear to compete with the Eucalyptus planted surroundings. It seems that it is no longer possible to give surviving progeny in the barren, eroded, exposed lands that have been formed since the introduction of the alien eucalyptus tree over a hundred years ago. However, much work has been done to reform the upper soil layer and establish a protective undergrowth. It would be a very significant surprise to receive news of a new, naturally germinated generation of this highly blessed historic tree, which still grows in a magical, graceful, and appealing landscape.

The Endemic Nature Restoration

Environmental restoration requires scientific research, time, and labour. It also demands massive protection projects to offer young plants a replacement for the lost biotope and its vital natural protective properties. Hence, restoring a lost biotope is complicated and requires significant effort to recreate a reliable substitute for the primaeval forest's missing shielding armour. Therefore, because the essential protective functions of mother trees and other plants are absent, enormous effort is required to recreate these guardian functions to shield the tender indigenous seedlings.

An Evolutionary Legacy from a Time of Natural Wealth

CAUTION: The Native Shielding Undergrowth

Podocarpus falcatus

A beautiful memory that attracts modern science and art

With glowing passion and warmth, it is still spoken among the residents of Entoto about how, for a reasonable time after the rainy season, the water level in Entoto's high-plateau streams and enchanting nature rock baths still stood one metre higher. It is thus quite close to the time when Entoto's mountain massif and its canyons could carry significantly higher water quantity and, therefore, supply the population in the Capital with fresh water to a much greater extent. However, restoring an indigenous forest on a highland is a difficult task because the deep armour of endemic vegetation is missing. Therefore, human technology, such as gabions and mountain anchors, is often required. 

Conclusion and Wonderful Solution
This small Podocarpus tree carries a unique heritage that can be very important for the Park's legacy. This tree's seed was picked from the mother tree in the circle (B), west of the path, left of the area (39) and clearly above (38). The stalk to the seed of this tree is considerably more significant in height than the equivalent of the Juniper tree seed. With this unique trait of raising their brittle stems, an excellent and traditional solution arises: Rosa abyssinica guards the seedlings thanks to the sharpness of its thorns.

Humanity's Culture and the Environment

With glowing passion and warmth, it is still spoken among
the residents of Entoto about when the water level a long
time after the rainy season still stood one metre higher
in Entoto's canyon streams and its enchanting Nature. 
The History of the Environment

The History of the Environment

The prosperity of civilisations across different cultures and parts of the World indicates an evident connection between in-depth knowledge of biology and a culture's potential for development. A healthy relationship is apparent in this rule, even in other sciences. Still, it is particularly evident in biology, as it is so closely related to human health and well-being. 

Alerts: Humanity and the Environment

However, the insidious hierarchical governing terror of the past caused severe scares among many nations, inflicting humiliation in severe starvation and fearful aversions, thus damaging the population's most critical needs for safe stimulus in daily life and duties.

Biodiversity within the Human Genome

The Devastating Consequences of Ideals from Fraudulent Inheritance 

Left irresponsibly and Unattended in the Conquest of Minds

This quote by Simon Wiesenthal enlightens the importance of
vigilance regarding the nefarious, frugal and dangerous
heritage of despotic origin, which tragically grafts a
deeply sinister, malign, and deceptive intent
to most of its unfortunate population.
Humanity's Dangerous Legacy

Inherited Stimulating Joy: A Risky Journey in Life?

The high culture of antiquity, which included intellectual stimulation as a requirement for the young's development, still exists in records of humanity's past but has faded as a prominent practice, paving the way for what controls and defeats reality within the greatness of the World's actual stimulus. Instead, the deceptively secretive and manipulative demands endure as firmly and subconsciously intended to foreclose and even forbid the individual's search for the appropriate intellectual stimulation of their inherited personality—these stimulating emotions, which prevail uniquely for each person and intend to guide them in the days to come. Yet, instead of this evolutionary-based stimulus to people's intellect, a corrosive subconscious deception that follows hierarchical ideals endures. Thus, by offering entertaining and glamorous decadence, the insidious lure and trap set in to control the masses. In devastating dominance, this sinister deception's prestige prevails, and in the face of humanity, despite its malicious legacy and shady figure. 

The Science of Ancient Trees and Landscape

Biodiversity within the Genome of a Tree Species

The genetic legacy's impact across Ethiopia's various climates and altitudes creates trees that, although belonging to the same species, have developed distinct genetic adaptations to these different climate zones. Therefore, it's crucial to consider the uniqueness of DNA when selecting the appropriate seed for a particular location. Thus, the mistake of using seed from a tree with its genetic origin in a moist and shady gorge as seedlings on a dry southern slope in the Ethiopian highlands undermines these trees' ability to survive, as well as that of other organisms, including humans.

Biodiversity: DNA Selection for a Site
(Oxford Academic)

Assessing Seeds after a Country's Climate Zones

Choosing the Right Mother Tree for Seed

The distant location, but within the same country, has developed fauna and flora that have undergone extremely long evolutionary optimisation to best adapt to the unique conditions of its geological and surrounding genetic characteristics. The unique habitat in a particular region within a country imparts distinctive properties to the indigenous trees, seeds, plants, and wildlife, depending on the region's remoteness and unique climate. 

The Importance of Seed's Evolutionary Heritage

Hence, due to its isolated location on a country's exposed, dry mountainside or within its secluded gorge, the endemic tree has shaped the specificity of its genetic heritage and the uniqueness of its soil. Therefore, the trees' genetic background and evolutionary connection to a country's landscape create a precious legacy for their seeds, which inherit well-adapted genetic characteristics that suit the location's biological uniqueness. 

The Inheritance of Plants Depends on the Stimulus 

From the Landscapes' Climate within a Country

The mistake of using the seed from a tree with genetic
originating from a moist and shady gorge as seedlings
on a dry southern slope undermines the trees' ability 
 to survive and other organisms. However, this
endures an intricate symbiotic phenomenon.
Trees, Shrubs, Flowers and Herbs

Trees' Origin from the Country's Terrain and Climate

Thus, the distant locations within a country's topography and geography, but within the same country's borders, have developed fauna and flora that have undergone an extremely long evolutionary process to best adapt to the unique conditions of their geological surroundings. Therefore, depending on the region's unique climate, the area's specific habitat within a country has shaped the native indigenous organisms, whose distinctive properties originate in close synergy with the soil types that have developed throughout aeons of Nature's obvious composting process, including mineral sediment mixture. Hence, this country's topographically isolated location endows organisms with distinct genetic properties due to the unique climate factors within its landscape.

Landscapes Give the Origin to Plants and People

Therefore, whether on the sun-blasted slope or within its secluded canyon, the endemic tree has developed a distinct genetic heritage, reflecting the uniqueness of the landscape's climate. Thus, the trees' evolutionary connection to a country's landscape creates a precious legacy for their seeds, which inherit well-adapted genetic characteristics in their pedigree related to the location's climate and topographical uniqueness. This background of diversity in stimulus activation also includes humans, as their health and ability to work are highly dependent on the uniqueness of their natural genetic heritage, whose well-being requires a corresponding stimulus from their culture.

Plant Defence Against Herbivory

Trees, Shrubs, Flowers and Herbs

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_defense_against_herbivory

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_abyssinica

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorns,_spines,_and_prickles

Erosion Prevention Ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/entoto0351/_saved/

The Science of Indigenous Ancient Trees:

The Science of Ancient Trees

The Sciences of Ancient Trees

The Scientific Importance of Old and Ancient Trees

The World's Heritage:

A Delicate and Precious Legacy of Symbiosis

Hence, Nature's organic protective and shielding mechanism of the native plants, executed in old times, preserved their natural character, thus protecting them and saving this precious water for an unknown dry season in the coming years. 

Erosion Prevention Ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/entoto0351/_saved/

Ethiopian Heritage Trust - Plantation of Seedlings

___________________________________________________________________________________

Entoto Natural Park (Nursery)

Plant a tree with Inside Ethiopia Tours

Inside Ethiopia, Tours invites you to be part of an unforgettable experience in Entoto Natural Park. We will meet in our office, located in Kazanchis (just in front of the UNECA back entrance), and our guide will accompany you in the local taxis up to the mountain. This is an excellent opportunity for you to experience Ethiopian commuting. 

Once we arrive on Entoto Mountain, where the capital city was first founded in 1886, you will undoubtedly feel like having mentholated topical ointment. Yes, we are not big fans of the Eucalyptus tree either! That is why we want to promote indigenous seedling planting in Ethiopia by contributing to the Ethiopian Green Legacy.

Where do you plan to make your mark?

The Ethiopian Heritage Trustee Association is working to plant more than 50,000 indigenous saplings in Entoto Natural Park and Zego Kebele Association in Ankober District to cover exposed areas.

  Organizations: Associations: Educational institutions: All those who love Nature, together with our association, let's build a country with suitable air by planting saplings. Let's plant indigenous saplings together.

As we believe, we are ready and waiting for you this year. The Ethiopian Heritage Trustee Association has planted native saplings in place of Eucalyptus trees with partner organizations and members in the Entoto Natural Park. He tells you that this year, come and plant saplings together to protect the environment. For more information:

📞 Call +251 Ethiopia  

011-5-15-88-02/ 09-22-97-27-46

Ethiopian Heritage Trust - Plantation of Seedlings

_______________________________________________________________________

Useful trees and shrubs for Ethiopia:

Identification, Propagation and

 Management for 17 Agroclimatic Zones

Azene Bekele-Tesemma

Edited by

Bo Tengnäs, Ensermu Kelbesa, Sebsibe Demissew and Patrick Maundu

The contents of this handbook may be reproduced without special permission. However, acknowledgement of the source is requested. The photographers and artists concerned must be contacted for reproduction of illustrations. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of World Agroforestry Centre.