The Almadow ( Calmadow) forest and mountain has a definite potential for eco-tourism

 

the Cal Madow forest and mountain has  a definite potential for eco-tourism

Somalia is a home for a great number of endemic plant species which are unique to the local ecological conditions. 

Some of these species are not found anywhere else in the world. 

One of the distinctive areas for indigenous plant species is Al-Madow, a dense mountain forest in northern Somalia, extending from several kilometers west of Bossaso to northwest of Erigavo with an altitude of 700 to 800 m above sea level. It peaks at almost 2500 m in Shimbiris, northwest of Erigavo

 The mean annual rainfall in Al-Madow is high, ranging from 750 to 850 mm in addition to winter rains, fog and mist. 

As a result of favorable climatic conditions, the area has richer flora and fauna than many other parts of Somalia, and harbors some of the rarest and most localized animal and plant species.

Studies conducted in 1995 by a team of botanists from Uppsala University in Sweden constitute the most extensive botanical survey ever done in the areas 

The Cal Madow area in northern Somalia consists of a coastal plain bordering the Gulf of Aden, a hilly sub-coastal zone of varying width, an extensive block of steep limestone escarpment reaching well above 2000m and an uplifted plateau lying to the south. 

The plateau dips to the south-east and has substantial areas of gypsum. The climate is influenced by the monsoon winds. 

The erratic rainfall in the coastal and sub-coastal zone is less than 100mm per year, while the upper part of the escarpment is the wettest area in Somalia, receiving a mean annual rainfall of over 700mm. A major part of the rain probably falls during the winter months, during the north-east monsoon, when mists are also frequent. Rain falling on the escarpment is drained to the north and seasonal streams run across the coastal plain, whilst the plateau itself is in rain-shadow.

The coastal plain is desert or semi-desert with little or no vegetation, while the sub-coastal zone has sparse to dense vegetation dominated by woody species of Acacia, Commiphora and Boswellia. At intermediate altitudes, the slopes of the escarpment are largely covered by evergreen or semi-evergreen scrub with, for example, Buxus, Cadia, Dracaena, Olea and Pistacia. 

The upper zone of the evergreen scrub grades into remnants of Juniperus forest along the scarp.

The total number of vascular plants in Cal Madow can be estimated to around 1000 but the figure is uncertain as large parts of Cal Madow remain inaccessible and unexplored. 

Cal Madow is one of the main frankincense producing areas in Somalia. Frankincense trees (Boswellia frereana and B. sacra) occur on cliff-faces and in rocky gullies in the sub-coastal zone. Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) is also found here and the area has a large proportion of the remaining Juniperus forests in Somalia.

Many endemic plants are found in Cal Madow, some examples from the escarpment are Renschia heterotypica (Lamiaceae, endemic genus), Aloe eminens (a tree Aloe) and Euphorbia mitriformis (a spiny cushion-forming succulent). 

Examples of endemics of the sub-coastal zone are Acacia cernua and Jatropha asplenifolia. Several endemic plants are also found in the gypsum areas on the plateau, such as Reseda sessilifolia.

The Warsangeli linnet (Carduelis johannis) is a locally common bird restricted to Cal Madow, and the rare Beira antelope (Dorcatragus megalotis) is also found here. With its varied and dramatic topography and highly interesting flora and fauna, the Cal Madow area has a definite potential for eco-tourism.

References 

https://satg.org/al-madow-mountain-forest/

Unpsala University  Research conducted 

W/Q: Barre Adaani