It has been the focus of an indigenous natural resource management institution, known as “Qero,” system for over 400 years[1] It is located 80 km off the main highway, and is home to numerous endemic birds and wildlife species, including the iconic Ethiopian wolf[2] and the Ethiopian gelada.

The Guassa Area originated as a community-based natural resource management system known as “Qero” over 400 years ago.

Based on traditional tenure patterns, rules of protection and utilization as well as enforcement are essential aspects of the Qero system.

Guassa can be visited at any time of the year, although persistent rainfall in July and August makes that season the least favorable.

The eastern edge of the Guassa Area falls away abruptly as cliffs drop into the Great Rift Valley.

Climbing in altitude, Euryops-Alchemilla shrubland occurs over 3,200 meters on flat, gentle slopes and well-drained areas.

The shrubby vegetation of Euryops pinifolius (Compositae family is extensively used as firewood by the communities living adjacent to the Guassa Area.

Other mammals of the area include klipspringers, jackals, leopards, spotted hyenas, civets and servals.

Endemic birds include: Ankober serin (Serinus ankoberensis), Abyssinian catbird (Parophasma galinieri), Abyssinian longclaw (Macronyx flavicollis), blue-winged goose (Cyanochen cyanoptera), Ethiopian/black-headed siskin (Serinus nigriceps), black-winged lovebird (Agapornis taranta), Rouget's rail (Rougetius rougetii), spot-breasted plover (Vanellus melanocephalus), thick-billed raven (Corvus crassirostris), wattled ibis (Bostrychia carunculata), white-collared pigeon (Columba albitorques) and white-winged cliff chat (Myrmecocichla semirufa).