Fugnan Bira
Encyclopedia
Fugnan Bira is a town in east-central Ethiopia
. It is commonly known by its more recent name, Gursum. Located in the Misraq Hararghe Zone
of the Oromia Region
, on a high plateau at the southern base of Mount Kondudo, which gives the town a climate similar to Harar
. Fugnan Bira has a latitude and longitude of 9°21′N 42°24′E with an elevation between 1980 and 2049 meters above sea level. It is the administrative center of Gursum
woreda
.
and Ethiopian government troops.
The town and its vicinity has suffered from deforestation
over the last 30 years. The approximately 9,000 hectares of quasi pristine forest on Mount Medero were reduced to a few remnant patches over a period of just five years from 1992/1993. With no active intervention most of its poorer residents will face unprecedented challenges in meeting their basic requirements. The recent recovery of one of just two feral horse
population in Africa on Mt. Kundudo
and, possibly the publication of the findings of a set of Italian missions in the area, the last of which (published November 2008) evaluates the significance of rock paintings on Mount Stinico, the "nose" overlooking the town, and proposes tourism as a possible source of revenue in the area. The same research-action team, led by Prof. M. Viganò is proposing a series of reafforestations.
in 2005, Fugnan Bira has an estimated total population of 15,478 of whom 7,676 are men and 7,802 are women. The 1994 national census reported this town had a total population of 8,657 of whom 4,163 were men and 4,494 women.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. It is commonly known by its more recent name, Gursum. Located in the Misraq Hararghe Zone
Misraq Hararghe Zone
Misraq Hararghe is one of the 17 Zones of the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. Misraq Hararge takes its name from the former province of Hararghe. Misraq Hararge is bordered on the southwest by the Shebelle River which separates it from Bale, on the west by Mirab Hararghe, on the north by Dire Dawa and...
of the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, on a high plateau at the southern base of Mount Kondudo, which gives the town a climate similar to Harar
Harar
Harar is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division of Ethiopia...
. Fugnan Bira has a latitude and longitude of 9°21′N 42°24′E with an elevation between 1980 and 2049 meters above sea level. It is the administrative center of Gursum
Gursum, Oromia (woreda)
Gursum is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Misraq Hararghe Zone, Gursum is bordered on the south by Babille, on the west by the Harari Region, on the north by Jarso, and on the east by the Somali Region...
woreda
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
.
History
In the early 1930s, at Fugnan Bira was an agency of Said Bazarah, an export-import firm founded in 1887. During a period of unrest in the area around May 1942, Funyan Bira was also pillaged and burnt. The market was sacked next year during fighting between the Geri Jarso SomalisSomali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
and Ethiopian government troops.
The town and its vicinity has suffered from deforestation
Ethiopian deforestation
Deforestation in Ethiopia is due to locals clearing forests for their personal needs, such as for fuel, hunting, agriculture, housing development, and at times for religious reasons. The main causes of deforestation in Ethiopia are shifting agriculture, livestock production and fuel in drier areas...
over the last 30 years. The approximately 9,000 hectares of quasi pristine forest on Mount Medero were reduced to a few remnant patches over a period of just five years from 1992/1993. With no active intervention most of its poorer residents will face unprecedented challenges in meeting their basic requirements. The recent recovery of one of just two feral horse
Feral horse
A feral horse is a free-roaming horse of domesticated ancestry. As such, a feral horse is not a wild animal in the sense of an animal without domesticated ancestors. However, some populations of feral horses are managed as wildlife, and these horses often are popularly called "wild" horses...
population in Africa on Mt. Kundudo
Kundudo
Kundudo or Kondudo is a flat top mountain located in the Misraq Hararghe Zone of the Oromia region of Ethiopia...
and, possibly the publication of the findings of a set of Italian missions in the area, the last of which (published November 2008) evaluates the significance of rock paintings on Mount Stinico, the "nose" overlooking the town, and proposes tourism as a possible source of revenue in the area. The same research-action team, led by Prof. M. Viganò is proposing a series of reafforestations.
Demographics
Based on figures from the Central Statistical AgencyCentral Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)
The Central Statistical Agency is an agency of the government of Ethiopia designated to provide all surveys and censuses for that country used to monitor economic and social growth, as well as to act as an official training center in that field. It is part of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and...
in 2005, Fugnan Bira has an estimated total population of 15,478 of whom 7,676 are men and 7,802 are women. The 1994 national census reported this town had a total population of 8,657 of whom 4,163 were men and 4,494 women.