Restoration and conservation of globally endangered Cordeauxia edulis woody species in the drylands of Ethiopia’s Somali Region

Overview

Cordeauxia edulis (C.edulis) commonly called Yeheb is a small tree/shrub species endemic to Ethiopia and Somalia. The SEPLS in Bob District can be characterized by arid and semi-arid, and Acacia-Commiphora ecosystems in which more than 85% of the community is entirely pastoral and the main livelihood is livestock breeding. C.edulis has the potential to diversify income and improve the livelihood of the rural population and is socio-economically important as a source of human and livestock food, building materials, medicinal purposes, and cash income from the sale of C.edulis seeds. It is also important for soil protection and landscape management in dryland ecosystems inhabited by pastoral communities in the arid zones of the Boh District in the Somali Region.
　However, the C.edulis population has decreased significantly and has disappeared from many areas because of severe land degradation, lack of integrated landscape management systems, overgrazing, overharvesting, and unsustainable use. It has already disappeared from Somalia and is confined to the Boh District in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Currently, C.edulis is globally categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List Threatened Species. C.edulis could be elevated from their Endangered status through restoration and conservation.
　To achieve that aim, we conducted the following activities: (1) Capacity-building on nature-based solutions (NbS) for local communities and stakeholders; (2) Mapping of C.edulis distribution and ecosystem services through GIS; (3) In-situ, field gene bank and nursery sites establishment; (4) Seed collection and planting seedlings.