Zygotritonia benishangulana

This species is threatened by habitat loss and degradation throughout its range. The area near Asosa has been increasingly settled over the past two decades. This has been driven by migration from northern Ethiopia associated with a resettlement programme to move people away from areas severely impacted by droughts (Sebsebe Demissew pers. obs.). Sudanese refugees have also migrated into the local communities. The settlers are converting the natural woodlands and grasslands to farmland, particularly for maize and sorghum cultivation. Even along streams, there is cultivation of potatoes and other crops. There is also an ongoing threat from severe fires set amongst the bushland and bamboo thickets; these fires are set deliberately by the surrounding communities to encourage fresh grass growth. A recent bamboo mass-flowering event in this region was associated with widespread fires after the resultant die-back (Sebsebe Demissew pers. obs., Sileshi Nemomissa pers. obs.).