Potential geoheritage sites in Ethiopia: Challenges of their promotion and conservation

This chapter outlines a summary of potential geoheritage sites in Ethiopia and discusses some promotion and conservation challenges. Ethiopia can be considered as one of the major geoheritage hotspots in the world. It hosts unique and diverse geological features including active volcanic and tectonic processes leading to the birth of a new oceanic crust. It also hosts most of the famous hominid-bearing sedimentary successions where the key to the understanding of human origins lies. Its civilization and cultural history is also strongly recorded in numerous monuments of rock including ancient stelae and rock-hewn churches. However, Ethiopia has yet to capitalize on its immense geoheritage resources and pursue an active geoconservation strategy if its economy is to benefit from a sustainable use of these resources.