Mountain ecosystems have recently received considerable interest based on the
understanding that climate change might have particularly serious irreversible impacts on
physical and biological systems in these habitats. Land use changes also continue to have a
devastating impact on mountain habitats. Quantitative data are being gathered across the
globe to measure changes and evaluate the most appropriate mitigating and adaptive
strategies. For Africa, few quantitative studies exist whereby conclusions can be firmly
established, and this means that a fresh focus on the region is required. We outline a current
project in Ethiopia that aims to establish a foundation for understanding changes to upland
ecosystems using amphibians as indicators.