Gullele Botanic Garden

 Vision

Achieve internationally renowned botanic garden, witnessing Ethiopia’s floral richness and its center of origin for many economic plants.

Mission

Rescue threatened flora from extinction, contribute towards conservation and research on biodiversity and sustainability education as well as ecotourism development.

Objectives

Conservation

Enhance biodiversity conservation and offer a refuge and better security for threatened species, ecosystem models, genetic and species diversity, contribute to worldwide plant germplasm conservation efforts.

Research

Conduct research on different plant species, species interaction, ecological dynamics, vegetation, climate change relations vis-à-vis and assist in local, regional and national socio- economic development.

Ecotourism

Develop nature based world standard model eco-friendly recreational facilities that would constitute one of the tourist’s attractions to our national and continental capital city.

Education

Offer environmental education for sustainability through the entire curricula with special attention to the young, providing training on sustainable gardening horticulture, floriculture, urban agriculture and urban forestry.

Floral resources of the garden site

The Gullele botanic garden has two topographic landscape units or physiographic features. The northern half is a plain land while the southern half is mountainous, with a maximum elevation of 3000m above mean sea level. Two perennial watercourses originate from this mountainous area and flow southwards to the city center. It is home to riverine vegetations and remnants of indigenous trees of the city of Addis Ababa.

The greater part of the garden is covered by eucalyptus globulus tree species, but the land closer to the river banks and inaccessible areas are covered by more than 250 trees, shrubs, herbs, climbers, ferns and other plant species.

Reconnaissance survey on physical and socio economic situation of the garden including its vegetation cover type, dominate species, soil type, conservation requirements.

Design and construction of replacement houses

Designs of 12 blocks to be allocated for an estimated 300 resettlers were completed last year. Similarly construction of 4 blocks out of the 12 is undergoing at a cost of 17 million birr. About 40 million additional budget is required to complete the construction of the remaining 8 blocks.

 Major undertaken and ongoing developments

Fencing

Fencing the site to protect intrusion of encroachment by illegal settlers.

Reconnaissance survey

Reconnaissance survey on physical and socio economic situation of the garden including its vegetation cover type, dominate species, soil type, conservation requirements.

Development of land use plan

The major land use types include the ecological or naturally preserved area that is rich in indigenous vegetation largely natural but with access to the public to appreciate nature conservation and spend leisure time, the cultivated garden and the infrastructure and service zone have been define. The land use plan is being used as a guiding document in developing the difference components.

Socio-economic assessment

Part of the area is designated for many residents inhabit the botanic garden. Thus an assessment on the number and status of the residents has been carried earlier. A final study on the houses including its valuation is being finalized and will be presented for actions as per the regulation and guidelines by the city administration.

Design and development of the cultivated garden

Out of the total area designated for GBG development, some part will remain as nature conservation while some other part will be with limited development and public access. Only about 50 hectares is being planned in detail for developing as cultivated one at the onset of the botanic garden. The approach followed to arrange and display the Ethiopian flora here is the Ethiopian traditional agro eco-logical zones, viz, bereha,kollo,woina- dega, dega and wurch.

Design and construction of access road

A standard all weather access road connecting the Gojam Ber and the Ambo Ber on the northern side of the botanic garden has been constructed at a cost of about 7 million Birr. This road has enabled to easily access the garden area for many scenery sites, besides it helped for a better management and protection of the land and forest resources.

Design of athletics lane and jogging track

A preliminary design work of the envisage athletics lane and jogging track on the city interface side of the botanic garden has been carried by the civil engineering department of the AAU. It is to be synchronized with the over all design accepted of the garden before implementation.

Some plant species

Eucalyptus globulus