Daallo Plateau Forest


The native forests of the evergreen belt in high Daallo Edge is found have 1,200 endemic species, the high altitude areas of  Daallo reaches 1800M-2100 with receives  annual rainfall exceeding 700mm per annum.

This forest vegetation was covering nearly about 1 million hectares before the collapse of government institutions for environmental protection (in 1991).

Daallo Mountains have plenty of oldest natural forest in world (Dracaena schizantha) and many miracle endemic bird species. It is the route to the historic old city of Maydh with white-sand beach.

The Juniperus forest has limit distribution in Somalia is being confined to the upper slope of the mountain of Daallo and Calmaodow escarpment. This is the mistiest and coolest area in the entire territory of Somalia.

The juniperus excelsa/ Juniperus procera are dominant vegetation, comprising 90-95% of the trees of Daallo. The endemic species are in danger of disappearing totally as the trees being used for timber, shelter and telephone/electric poles and economic purposes. This phenomenon is more pronounced in Daallo mountain range in Sanaag Region. Since the collapse of central government of Somalia 1991, Daallo nature reserve was gradually deteriorating and declining its natural phenomena.

In 2005 Candlelight for environment, Education and Health has been implementing on-going programs to conserve the reserve area by planting thousands of indigenous trees with support of Oxfam Novib, WFP and Somaliland Development Fund.

On May 2015, Candlelight has rehabilitated 27,776 LM through soil and water conservation and construction of stone terraces erected 120 hectors of land in Daallo, establishment of mini-nursery for the regeneration of Juniperus excalsa. The nursery produced 26,805 seedlings of Juniperus, Cassurinai equasitifolia, and mohagany species.

Lastly but not the least, the achievements of 2015 are include;

  • 60 ha of protected area in Daallo soil movement and small rills stabilised.
  • 85% of the transplanted seedlings are survived for giving additional caring watering and protection shelters.
  • Holistic natural resources management trainings changed the local beneficiaries’ attitudes toward the natural forest protection.
  • Community carried out campaigns against clear cutting of the natural plants that resulted to cutting trees and animal trespassing.