Mizane Birhan
Mizane Birhan is a "tabia" or municipality in the Dogu'a Tembien district of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. The "tabia" centre is in Ma’idi village, located approximately 13 km to the southeast of the "woreda" town Hagere Selam (as the crow flies). Geography. The "tabia" is astride the Imba Dogu’a ridge, between valleys of Rubaksa and Ruba Bich’i Rivers. The highest peak is Imba Dogu’a (2620 m a.s.l.) and the lowest place at east is along Ruba Bich’i (1960 m a.s.l.) and at west 2020 m, down from Addi Welo. Geology. From the higher to the lower locations , the following geological formations are present: Geomorphology and soils. The main geomorphic unit is the gently undulating Agula shale plateau with dolerite. Corresponding soil types are: Climate and hydrology. Climate and meteorology. The rainfall pattern shows a very high seasonality with 70 to 80% of the annual rain falling in July and August. Mean temperature in Ma’idi is 19.8 °C, oscillating between average daily minimum of 11.1 °C and maximum of 28 °C. The contrasts between day and night air temperatures are much larger than seasonal contrasts. Rivers. The Giba River is the most important river in  the surroundings of the "tabia". It flows towards Tekezze River and further on to the Nile. The drainage network of the "tabia" is organised as follows: Whereas they are (nearly) dry during most of the year, during the main rainy season, these rivers carry high runoff discharges, sometimes in the form of flash floods. Especially at the begin of the rainy season they are brown-coloured, evidencing high soil erosion rates. Springs. As there are no permanent rivers, the presence of springs is of utmost importance for the local people. The main springs in the "tabia" are: Water harvesting. In  this area with rains that last only for a couple of months per year, reservoirs of different sizes allow harvesting runoff from the rainy season for further use in the dry season. Vegetation and exclosures. The "tabia" holds several exclosures, areas that are set aside for regreening. Wood harvesting and livestock range are not allowed there. Besides effects on biodiversity, water infiltration, protection from flooding, sediment deposition, carbon sequestration, people commonly have economic benefits from these exclosures through grass harvesting, beekeeping and other non-timber forest products. The local inhabitants also consider it as “land set aside for future generations ”. In this "tabia", some exclosures are managed by the EthioTrees project. They have as an additional benefit that the villagers receive carbon credits for the sequestered CO, as part of a carbon offset programme. 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, or conservation in the exclosures. Lafa (exclosure), near the homonymous village (44.44 ha) is managed by the Ethiotrees project. Settlements. The "tabia" centre Ma’idi holds a few administrative offices, a health post, a primary school, and some  small shops. There are a few more primary schools across the "tabia". The main other populated places are: Agriculture and livelihood. The population lives essentially from crop farming, supplemented with off-season work in nearby towns. The land is dominated by farmlands which are clearly demarcated and are cropped every year. Hence the agricultural system is a permanent upland farming system. The farmers have adapted their cropping systems to the spatio-temporal variability in rainfall. History and culture. History. The history of the "tabia" is strongly confounded with the history of Tembien. Religion and churches. Most inhabitants are Orthodox Christians . The following churches are located in the "tabia": Section::::"Inda Siwa", the local beer houses. In the main villages, there are traditional beer houses ("Inda Siwa"), often in unique settings, where people socialise. Well known in the "tabia" are Roads and communication. The main road Mekelle – Hagere Selam – Abiy Addi runs 8 km north of the "tabia". There is a good dirt road across the tabia with regular bus services to the main asphalt road and directly to Mekelle or Hagere Selam these towns. Tourism. Its mountainous nature and proximity to Mekelle make the "tabia" fit for tourism. As compared to  many other mountain areas in Ethiopia the villages are quite accessible, and during walks visitors may be invited for coffee, lunch or even for an overnight stay in a rural homestead. Touristic attraction. The Lafa Gebri’al rock church () is now disused. It was hewn in a tufa plug. The church boosts a semi-circular wooden arch of approx. 1.5 metre across (in one piece). A new church has been constructed nearby. Geotouristic sites. The large batholite made of dolerite, the high variability of geological formations and the rugged topography invite for geological and geographic tourism or "geotourism". Birdwatching. Birdwatching can  be done particularly in the bushlands of the eastern slopes op Imba Dogu’a. in the "tabia" and mapped. The main Dogu'a Tembien page holds more details on the bird species. Trekking routes. Trekking routes have been established in this "tabia". The tracks are not marked on the ground but can be followed using downloaded .GPX files.