Biodiversity Assessment of Mammals and Birds in Potential Oil Exploration Areas of Central Afar National Regional State

Abstract

Energy is one of the key elements for economic development that could be derived from the diversity of modern energy sources like oil and other energy sources. Afar National Regional State is one of the areas in Ethiopia that have significant amount energy resources including the geothermal oil and natural gas that scattered in the Ethiopian Rift Valley of Afar Depression. Despite of this huge potential energy source more than 90% of the rural population still relies on traditional fuel wood. The fossil fuel exploration and development is expected to solve the existing problem. One of it is by implementing oil exploration. The exploration and production may have impact on the ecology of the environment. As Ethiopia is one of the top 25 biodiversity-rich countries in the world, and hosts two of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots, particular care is needed in development of such projects. Particularly, Rift Valley ecosystem includes more than 15 protected. Therefore, to reduce such ecological in particular to forecast the impact faunal survey is used to find solution and to take necessary mitigation action before its full operation. The field reconnaissance survey on the species composition of mammals and birds was conducted from August 23- 31, 2019. In the survey, different species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians were recorded. In general, 30 species of small mammals belonging to 9 order and 20 families were recorded. All the recorded species had grouped under Least Concern of IUCN conservation status categories. In addition to these 129 species of birds belonging to 51 families were also recorded of which five were threatened. At least three species of reptiles and one species of amphibians were also recorded. Despite the area is considered as desert it relatively possesses high diversity of mammals and birds. The area also possesses different habitats, which is suitable for wild animals. Thus, during the oil exploration and production proper conservation and mitigation actions should be taken for the protection and conservation of the fauna and flora diversity of the area.