Ziban Dake exclosure
Ziban Dake exclosure
Location	Walta (Dogu'a Tembien), Ethiopia
Nearest city	Hagere Selam
Coordinates	13°30′00″N 39°08′20″E / 13.5°N 39.139°E / 13.5; 39.139
Area	300 ha (740 acres)
Website	https://ethiotrees.com

Ziban Dake is an exclosure located in the Dogu'a Tembien woreda of the Tigray Region in Ethiopia.^[1]

Environmental characteristics

• Area: 300 ha
• Average slope gradient: 43%
• Aspect: the exclosure is oriented towards the south-southwest
• Minimum altitude: 1702 metres
• Maximum altitude: 1833 metres
• Lithology: Antalo Limestone, Adigrat Sandstone
• 2019: support by the EthioTrees project

Management

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. Field observations showed that some illegal grazing occurred in the exclosure in 2018.^[1]

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:^[2]

• improved ground water availability
• honey production
• incense (oil) production
• climate ameliorator (temperature, moisture)
• the sequestered carbon (in total 34 tonnes per ha, dominantly sequestered in the soil, and additionally in the woody vegetation)^[1] is certified using the Plan Vivo voluntary carbon standard,^[3] after which carbon credits are sold
• the revenues are then reinvested in the villages, according to the priorities of the communities; it may be for an additional class in the village school, a water pond, conservation in the exclosures, or a store for incense.^[4]

Biodiversity

With vegetation growth, biodiversity in this exclosure hast strongly improved: there is more varied vegetation and wildlife.