Historical Perspectives and Present Scenarios of Watershed Management in Ethiopia

Gadisa Chimdesa

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17

| Peer-Reviewed

Historical Perspectives and Present Scenarios of Watershed Management in Ethiopia

Gadisa Chimdesa

Published in International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 1, Issue 3)

Received: 5 July 2016 Accepted: 15 July 2016 Published: 17 August 2016

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

This paper is aimed to evaluate the historical perspectives and present scenarios of watershed management in Ethiopia. Watershed management is not the new concept of the country because it had highly experienced indigenous peoples those have been practiced from an ancient period. But, it became the prominent after the recurrent malnutrition and famine problems followed the 1970’s and 1980’s drought and subsequent catastrophic phenomena. Land degradation in the form of soil erosion has been usually considered as the main driving causes of the problem. Thus, the previous governments and other partners have initiated various soil and water conservation activities though they were mostly unsatisfactory or failed. Because there was lack of community participation, sector driven and single medium approach, unsecured land tenure, disincentives and unmanageable planning units. The present government has been taken lessons from the past shortcomings and then it has been initiated participatory community-based watershed management. As a result, it showed positive achievements in rehabilitation of severely degraded land, and it becoming as sources of income for the local communities. Here, it doesn’t mean that current watershed management practices are perfect but practically it has various problems that will be solved in the future. For example: working quality, strengthening awareness creation and capacity building, real community participation, equitable and faire sharing benefits between and among upstream-downstream community should be paid attention. In general, watershed management must be evaluated in terms of environmental soundness, economic viability and social acceptability moreover; it should be supported by research and educational institutions.

Published in	International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 1, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17
Page(s)	115-127
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2016. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Ethiopia, Historical Perspectives, Land Degradation, Present Scenarios, Soil and Water Conservation, Watershed Management

References

[1]	Abate Shiferaw (2011). Evaluating the Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics in Borena Woreda of South Wollo Highlands, Ethiopia: Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa: (Volume 13, No.1, 2011).
[2]	Abay Ayalew (2011). Construction of Soil Conservation Structures for improvement of crops and soil productivity in the Southern Ethiopia: Journal of Envt. and Earth Sc., Vol 1, No. 1.
[3]	Abebe Mengaw Wubie (2015). GIS Based Land Degradation Assessment for Sustainable Land Management: The Case of Bench Maji Zone, Ethiopia, Africa Zone, Ethiopia, Africa. Intern. Journ. of Research and Innovations in Earth Science: Vol. 2 (2) 2394-1375.
[4]	Abiyot Legesse, Bogale Teferi and Axel B. (2013). Indigenous agroforestry knowledge transmission and young people’s participation in agroforestry practices: The case of Wonago Woreda, Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Acta Geographica - Trondheim: Serie A, Nr. 26, No. 26.
[5]	Adugna A., Abegaz A. and Cerda A. (2015). Soil erosion assessment and control in Northeast Wollega, Ethiopia. Solid Earth Discuss., 7, 3511–3540. Doi: 10.5194/sed-7-3511-2015.
[6]	Adugnaw Birhanu (2014). Environmental Degradation and Management in Ethiopian Highlands: Review of Lessons Learned. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2014, pp. 24-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20140201.14.
[7]	Adugnaw Birhanu and Desalew Meseret (2013). Structural Soil and Water Conservation Practices in Farta District, North Western Ethiopia: An Investigation on Factors Influencing Continued Use. Sci. Technol. Arts Res. J., Oct-Dec 2013, 2 (4): 114-121.
[8]	Akalu Teshome, Graaff J. and Menale Kassie (2016). Household-Level Determinants of Soil and Water Conservation Adoption Phases: Evidence from North-Western Ethiopian Highlands: Environmental Management; 57: 620–636. DOI 10.1007/s00267-015 0635-5.
[9]	Alemu Mekonnen and Abebe Damte (2011). Private Trees as Household Assets and Determinants of Tree-Growing Behaviour in Rural Ethiopia: Environment for Development, Discussion Paper Series. EfD DP 11-14.
[10]	Amogne Asfaw Eshetu (2014). Forest resource management systems in Ethiopia: Historical perspective. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, Vol. 6 (2), 121-131.
[11]	Aklilu Amsalu and Graaff J. (2007). Determinants of adoption and continued use of stone terraces for soil and water conservation in an Ethiopian highland watershed: Ecological Economics 61 (2007), 294-302.
[12]	Amsalu T. and Mengaw A. (2014) GIS Based Soil Loss Estimation Using RUSLE Model: The Case of Jabi Tehinan Woreda, ANRS, Ethiopia. Natural Resources, 5, 616-626. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/nr.2014.511054
[13]	Asafa Jalata (2010). "Oromo Peoplehood: Historical and Cultural Overview": Sociology Publications and Other Works. http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_socopubs/6.
[14]	Badege Bishaw (2009). Deforestation and Land Degradation in the Ethiopian Highlands: A Strategy for Physical Recovery: Ethiopian e-journal for research and innovation foresight, Vol. 1, No 1, pp 5-18.
[15]	Bekele M., Gebre Y., Mohammed Z., Zewdie S., Tebikew Y., Brockhaus M. and Kassa H. (2015). The context of REDD+ in Ethiopia: Drivers, agents and institutions, Occasional Paper 127. Bogor, Indonesia: CIFOR.
[16]	Berhan Gessesse, Woldeamlak Bewket, and Bräuning A. (2016). Determinants of farmers’ tree-planting investment decisions as a degraded landscape management strategy in the central highlands of Ethiopia: Solid Earth, 7, 639–650, 2016.
[17]	Berhanu Gebremedhin and Swinton S. M. (2003). Investment in soil conservation in northern Ethiopia: the role of land tenure security and public programs. Agricultural Economics 29 (2003) 69–84.
[18]	Binyam Alemu and Desale Kidane (2014). The Implication of Integrated Watershed Management for Rehabilitation of Degraded Lands: Case Study of Ethiopian Highlands. Journal of Agriculture and Biodiversity Research, Vol. 3, Issue 6, pp. 78-90.
[19]	Birhane G/Hiwot and Melesse Maryo (2015). Evaluation of Land Use Patterns across Agro-Ecological and Slope Classes using GIS and Remote Sensing: The Case of Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia: International Journal of Advanced Remote Sensing and GIS. Volume 4, Issue 1, pp. 1385-1399.
[20]	Boku Tache and Ben Irwin (2003). Traditional institutions, multiple stakeholders and modern perspectives in common property: Accompanying change within Borana pastoral systems; securing the commons No. 4.
[21]	Daniel Danano Dale (editor.), (2010). Sustainable Land Management Technologies and Approaches in Ethiopia: The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; EthiOCAT 2010, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.
[22]	Daoud Tari and James Pattison (2014). Evolving Customary Institutions in the Dry lands: An opportunity for devolved natural resource governance in Kenya? Issue Paper. IIED, London.
[23]	Debebe Weldemariam, Melaku Kebede, Menfese Taddesse and Tesfaye Gebre (2013). Farmers’ perceptions’ and participation on Mechanical soil and water conservation techniques in KembataTembaro Zone: the Case of Kachabirra Woreda, Ethiopia: International Journal of Advanced Structures and Geotechnical Engi., Vol. 02, No. 04.
[24]	Derege Meshesha, Tsunekawa A., Tsubo M., and Nigussie Haregeweyn (2012). Dynamics and hotspots of soil erosion and management scenarios of the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia: International Journal of Sediment Research, Vol. 27, No. 1, 2012, pp. 84–99.
[25]	FAO (2015). Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015: Country report, Ethiopia.
[26]	FDRE (2007). Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia: Federal Negarit Gazeta, A proclamation to provide for the development conservation and utilization forests: Proclamation No. 542/2007. 13th year, no. 56, September 2007. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[27]	FDRE (2011). Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia: Ethiopia’s Climate-Resilient Green Economy strategy. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia September 2011.
[28]	FDRE (2015). Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia: The Second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) (2015/16-2019/20) (Draft). National Planning Commission, September 2015, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[29]	Feyera Deresa and Tsetadirgachew Legesse (2015). Cause of Land Degradation and Its Impacts on Livelihoods of the Population in Toke Kutaye Woreda, Ethiopia: International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 5, Issue 5, May 2015.
[30]	Gadisa Chimdesa (2014). The Impacts of Land Certification on Adoption of Long-Term Soil and Water Conservation Measures: The Case of Dadaba Watershed, West Arsi Zone, Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia. MSc Thesis.
[31]	Gadisa Chimdesa (2016a). Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Actions in Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia: A Review; Journal of Natural Sciences Research, Vol.6, No.3, 2016.
[32]	Gadisa Chimdesa (2016b). Ecosystem Approach for Sustainable Natural Resources Management: Journal of Resources Development and Management. A Review; Vol.19, 2016.
[33]	Gebrehiwot T. and Veen A. V. D. (2014). The Effect of Enclosures in Rehabilitating Degraded Vegetation: A Case of Enderta District, Northern Ethiopia. Forest Res 3: 128. doi:10.4172/2168-9776.1000128.
[34]	Genene Meshesha and Anteneh Fekadu (2015).“Experiences and challenges of integrated watershed management in central zones of southern Ethiopia”: International Journal of Current Research, 7, (10), 20973-20979.
[35]	GeneneTsegayeMekonnen and AntenehFekadu (2015). Experiences and Challenges of Integrated Watershed Management in Central Zones of Southern Ethiopia: International Journal of Current Research Vol. 7 (10), pp.20973-20979.
[36]	German L., Hussein Mansoor, Getachew Alemu, Waga Mazengia, T. Amede and A. Stroud (2007). Participatory integrated watershed management: Evolution of concepts and methods in an ecoregional program of the eastern African highlands. Agricultural Systems 94 (2007) 189–204.
[37]	Getachew Mulugeta (2014). Evergreen Agriculture: Agroforestry for Food Security and Climate Change Resilience. Journal of Natural Sciences Research: Vol.4, No.11, 2014.
[38]	Hope R. A. (2007). Evaluating Social Impacts of Watershed Development in India: World Development: Vol. 35, No. 8, pp. 1436–1449, 2007.
[39]	Hurni, H. (1983). Soil formation rates in Ethiopia (with 8 maps, scales 1:1'000'000). Ethiopian Highlands Reclamation Study, (FAO) UTF/ETH/037/ETH, Working Paper 2 Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 13 pp.
[40]	Hurst M., Jensen N., Pedersen S., Sharma A., Zambriski J. (2012). Changing climate adaptation strategies of Boran pastoralists in southern Ethiopia: Working paper no. 15.
[41]	Ibrahim M. A. (2016). Impact of Enclosure on Plant Species Composition and Biomass Production in Ewa Woreda of Afar Region State, Ethiopia: J Biodivers Endanger Species 4: 157. doi:10.4172/2332-2543.1000157.
[42]	Jarso Doyo (2011). Indigenous Practices of Rangeland Management: Constraints and Prospects in Borana Pastoralists of Southern Ethiopia, Oromia Regional State. MA thesis.
[43]	John Kerr (2007). Watershed Management: Lessons from Common Property Theory. International Journal of the Commons Vol 1, no 1 October 2007, pp. 89-109.
[44]	Jonse B., Sisay N., and Alemu M., (editors), (2008). Policies to increase Forest cover in Ethiopia. Proceedings of a Policy Workshop held at Global Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 18-19 September 2007.
[45]	Kebede Wolka Wolancho (2012). Watershed Management: An Option to Sustain Dam and Reservoir Function in Ethiopia. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology; 5 (5): pp 262-273.
[46]	Kebede Wolka Wolancho (2015). Evaluating watershed management activities of campaign work in Southern nations, nationalities and peoples’ regional state of Ethiopia: Environmental Systems Research (2015) 4:6; DOI 10.1186/s40068-015-0029-y.
[47]	Kumar D. S. and Palanisami K. (2009). Impacts of Watershed Development Programmes: Experiences and Evidences from Tamil Nadu. Agricultural Economics Research Review Vol. 22 (Conference Number) 2009 pp 387-396.
[48]	Lakew Desta, Carucci V., Asrat Wendemagnehu and Yitayew Abebe (editors), (2005). Community Based Participatory Watershed Development: A Guideline Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[49]	Lemma Tiki and Menfes Tadesse (2015). Impacts of integrating different soil and water conservation measures into hillside area closure on woody species composition and structure in Hawassa Zuria district, Ethiopia: Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 4 (4), pp.40 -49.
[50]	Mekuria W. and Aynekulu E. (2011). Enclosure Land Management for Restoration of the Soils in Degraded Communal Grazing Lands in Northern Ethiopia: Land degradation & development. DOI: 10.1002/ldr.1146.
[51]	Melaku Bekele (2003) Forest property rights, the role of the state, and institutional exigency: the Ethiopian case. PhD Dissertation: SLU, Uppsala, Sweden.
[52]	Mengistu Asmamaw Mengesha and Mekuria Argaw Denoboba (2015). Assessing Farmers’ Perception of Enclosures, Kewot District, North eastern Ethiopia: International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy. Vol. 3, No. 6, pp. 181-187. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20150306.11
[53]	Mengistu T., Teketay D., Hulten H. and Yemshaw Y. (2004). The role of enclosures in the recovery of woody vegetation in degraded dry land hillsides of central and northern Ethiopia: Journal of Arid Environments 60 (2005) 259–281.
[54]	Mesele Negash (2013). The indigenous agroforestry systems of the south-eastern Rift Valley escarpment, Ethiopia: Their biodiversity, carbon stocks, and litter fall. PhD thesis.
[55]	Meshesha Y. B. and Birhanu B. S. (2015) Assessment of the Effectiveness of Watershed Management Intervention in Chena Woreda, Kaffa Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia: Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 7, 1257-1269.
[56]	Million Bekele (2011). Forest Plantations and Woodlots in Ethiopia: African Forest Forum Working Paper Series. Vol. 1, issue 12.
[57]	Mulugeta Lemenih and Habtemariam Kassa (2014). Re-Greening Ethiopia: History, Challenges and Lessons. Forests 2014, 5, 1896-1909; doi: 10.3390/f5081896.
[58]	Nigussie Haregeweyn, Ademnur Berhe, Atsushi T., Mitsuru T. and Derege Tsegaye Meshesha (2012). Integrated Watershed Management as an Effective Approach to Curb Land Degradation: A Case Study of the Enabered Watershed in Northern Ethiopia: Environmental Management 50, 1219-1233; DOI 10.1007/s00267-012-9952-0
[59]	Sharma B. R., Samra, J. S., Scott, C. A., Wani, S. P. (eds.) (2005). Watershed Management Challenges: Improving Productivity, Resources and Livelihoods. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute.
[60]	Shimelis G. Setegn, Ragahavan S., Bijan D. and Assefa M. Melesse, (2009). Spatial delineation of soil erosion vulnerability in the Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia: Hydrological Process. (2009); DOI: 10.1002/hyp.7476.
[61]	Shumete Gizaw Woldeamanuel (2009). Poverty, Food insecurity and Livelihood strategies in Rural Gedeo: The case of Haroressa and Chichu PAs, SNNP.
[62]	Simeneh Demissie Walie (2015). Perception of Farmers toward Physical Soil and Water Conservation Structures in Wyebla Watershed, Northwest Ethiopia: Academic Journal of Plant Sciences 7 (3): 34-40, 2015. DOI: 10.5829/idosi.ajps.2015.7.3.12822.
[63]	Solomon Addisu, Goraw Goshu, Yihenew G. Selassie, and Berihun Tefera (2013). Evaluation of Watershed Development Plan and Technology Adoption Level of Farmers in Amhara Region, The case of SWHISA Project, Ethiopia. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 3, Issue 2:www.ijsrp.org.
[64]	Sonneveld B. G. and Keyzer M. A. (2002). Land Under Pressure: Soil Conservation Concerns And Opportunities For Ethiopia. Land Degrad. Develop. 14: 5–23.
[65]	Stott D. E., Mohtar R. H. and Steinhardt G. C. (editors) (2001). Sustaining the Global Farm. Selected papers from the 10th International Soil Conservation Organization Meeting held May 24-29, 1999 at Purdue University and the USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, Pp 49-052.
[66]	Tadesse Kippie Kanshie (2002). Five Thousand Years of Sustainability? A Case study on Gedeo Land Use (Southern Ethiopia). Treebook 5, Treemail publishers, Heelsum, The Netherlands.
[67]	Tadesse M. and Belay K. (2004). Factors Influencing Adoption of Soil Conservation Measures in Southern Ethiopia: The Case of Gununo Area. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics, Volume 105, No.1, 2004, pages 49–62.
[68]	Temesgen Gashaw (2015). The implications of watershed management for reversing land degradation in Ethiopia. Research Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Management, Vol. 4 (1), pp. 005-012.
[69]	Temesgen Gashaw, Amare Bantider and Hagos G/Silassie (2014). Land Degradation in Ethiopia: Causes, Impacts and Rehabilitation Techniques; Journal of Environment and Earth Science, Vol.4, No.9, 2014.
[70]	Tesfa Worku Meshesha and Tripathi S. K. (2015). Watershed Management in Highlands of Ethiopia: A Review. Open Access Library Journal, 2: e1481.
[71]	Tesfaye Gebre, Zerihun Mohammed, Menfese Taddesse and Narayana S. Ch. (2013). Adoption of Structural Soil and Water Conservation Technologies by Small holder farmers in Adama Wereda, East Shewa, Ethiopia: International Journal of Advanced Structures and Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 02, No. 02.
[72]	Tireza Negusse, Eyasu Yazew and Nata Tadesse (2013). Quantification of the Impact of Integrated Soil and Water Conservation Measures on Groundwater Availability in Mendae Catchment, Abraha We-Atsebaha, eastern Tigray, Ethiopia. Momona Ethiopian Journal of Science (MEJS), V5 (2):117-136, 2013.
[73]	Tura Bareke Kifle, Kibebew Wakjira Hora, Admassu AddiMerti (2014). Investigating the Role of Apiculture in Watershed Management and Income Improvement in Galessa Protected Area, Ethiopia. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Vol. 3, No. 5, 2014, pp. 380-385. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20140305.18.
[74]	Turton Cathryn (2000). Enhancing livelihoods through participatory watershed development in India: Overseas Development Institute, Portland House, Stag Place, London, SW1E 5DP, UK: Working Paper 131.
[75]	Waga Mazengia, Deribe Gamiyo, Tilahun Amede, Matta Daka and Jermias M. (2007). Challenges of Collective Action in Soil and Water Conservation: The Case of Gununo Watershed, Southern Ethiopia: African Crop Science Conference Proceedings Vol. 8. pp. 1541-1545
[76]	Wolde Mekuria (2013). Changes in Regulating Ecosystem Services following Establishing Exclosures on Communal Grazing Lands in Ethiopia: A Synthesis. Journal of Ecosystems:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/860736.
[77]	Woldeamlak Bewket (2003). Towards integrated watershed management in highland Ethiopia: the Chemoga watershed case study: PhD thesis, Wageningen University and Research Centre.
[78]	Woldeamlak Bewket (2007). Soil and water conservation intervention with conventional technologies in northwestern highlands of Ethiopia: Acceptance and adoption by farmers: Land Use Policy 24 (2007) 404–416
[79]	Wolka Kebede, Habitamu Tadesse, Efrem Garedew and Fantaw Yimer (2015). Soil erosion risk assessment in the Chaleleka wetland watershed, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia: Environmental Systems Research (2015) 4:5.
[80]	WondieMebrat (2015). Natural Regeneration Practice in Degraded High Lands of Ethiopia through Area Enclosure: International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy. Vol. 3, No. 5, pp. 120-123. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20150305.11
[81]	Worku Hailu, Awdenegest Moges and Fantaw Yimer (2012). The Effects of ‘Fanyajuu’ Soil Conservation Structure on Selected Soil Physical & Chemical Properties: the Case of Goromti Watershed, Western Ethiopia. Resources and Environment 2012, 2 (4): 132-140 DOI: 10.5923/j.re.20120204.02.
[82]	World Bank (2008). Watershed Management Approaches, Policies, and Operations: Lessons for Scaling Up. The World Bank, Washington, DC.
[83]	Yenealem Kassa, Fekadu Beyene, Jema Haji, Belaineh Legesse (2013). Impact of Integrated Soil and Water Conservation Program on Crop Production and Income in West Harerghe Zone, Ethiopia: International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, Vol. 1, No. 4, 2013, pp. 111-120. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20130104.11.
[84]	Yeshambel Mulat (2013). Indigenous Knowledge Practices in Soil Conservation at Konso People, South western Ethiopia. Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Vol. 2 No. 2, December 2013.
[85]	Zenebe Adimassu, Bezaye Gorfu, Demeke Nigussie, Mowo J. and Kidist Hilemichael (2013). Farmers’ Preference for Soil and Water Conservation Practices in Central Highlands of Ethiopia: African Crop Science Journal, Vol. 21, Issue Supplement S3, Pp. 781-790.
[86]	Zenebe Gebreegziabher, Alemu Mekonnen, Menale Kassie, and Köhlin G. (2010). Household Tree Planting in Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia: Tree Species, Purposes, and Determinants: Environment for Development, Discussion Paper Series. EfD DP 10-01.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Gadisa Chimdesa. (2016). Historical Perspectives and Present Scenarios of Watershed Management in Ethiopia. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 1(3), 115-127. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Gadisa Chimdesa. Historical Perspectives and Present Scenarios of Watershed Management in Ethiopia. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2016, 1(3), 115-127. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Gadisa Chimdesa. Historical Perspectives and Present Scenarios of Watershed Management in Ethiopia. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2016;1(3):115-127. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17,
  author = {Gadisa Chimdesa},
  title = {Historical Perspectives and Present Scenarios of Watershed Management in Ethiopia},
  journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
  volume = {1},
  number = {3},
  pages = {115-127},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20160103.17},
  abstract = {This paper is aimed to evaluate the historical perspectives and present scenarios of watershed management in Ethiopia. Watershed management is not the new concept of the country because it had highly experienced indigenous peoples those have been practiced from an ancient period. But, it became the prominent after the recurrent malnutrition and famine problems followed the 1970’s and 1980’s drought and subsequent catastrophic phenomena. Land degradation in the form of soil erosion has been usually considered as the main driving causes of the problem. Thus, the previous governments and other partners have initiated various soil and water conservation activities though they were mostly unsatisfactory or failed. Because there was lack of community participation, sector driven and single medium approach, unsecured land tenure, disincentives and unmanageable planning units. The present government has been taken lessons from the past shortcomings and then it has been initiated participatory community-based watershed management. As a result, it showed positive achievements in rehabilitation of severely degraded land, and it becoming as sources of income for the local communities. Here, it doesn’t mean that current watershed management practices are perfect but practically it has various problems that will be solved in the future. For example: working quality, strengthening awareness creation and capacity building, real community participation, equitable and faire sharing benefits between and among upstream-downstream community should be paid attention. In general, watershed management must be evaluated in terms of environmental soundness, economic viability and social acceptability moreover; it should be supported by research and educational institutions.},
 year = {2016}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Historical Perspectives and Present Scenarios of Watershed Management in Ethiopia
AU  - Gadisa Chimdesa
Y1  - 2016/08/17
PY  - 2016
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17
T2  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
JF  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
JO  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
SP  - 115
EP  - 127
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-3061
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17
AB  - This paper is aimed to evaluate the historical perspectives and present scenarios of watershed management in Ethiopia. Watershed management is not the new concept of the country because it had highly experienced indigenous peoples those have been practiced from an ancient period. But, it became the prominent after the recurrent malnutrition and famine problems followed the 1970’s and 1980’s drought and subsequent catastrophic phenomena. Land degradation in the form of soil erosion has been usually considered as the main driving causes of the problem. Thus, the previous governments and other partners have initiated various soil and water conservation activities though they were mostly unsatisfactory or failed. Because there was lack of community participation, sector driven and single medium approach, unsecured land tenure, disincentives and unmanageable planning units. The present government has been taken lessons from the past shortcomings and then it has been initiated participatory community-based watershed management. As a result, it showed positive achievements in rehabilitation of severely degraded land, and it becoming as sources of income for the local communities. Here, it doesn’t mean that current watershed management practices are perfect but practically it has various problems that will be solved in the future. For example: working quality, strengthening awareness creation and capacity building, real community participation, equitable and faire sharing benefits between and among upstream-downstream community should be paid attention. In general, watershed management must be evaluated in terms of environmental soundness, economic viability and social acceptability moreover; it should be supported by research and educational institutions.
VL  - 1
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Gadisa Chimdesa

Department of Natural Resources Management, Collage of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Gadisa Chimdesa. (2016). Historical Perspectives and Present Scenarios of Watershed Management in Ethiopia. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 1(3), 115-127. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Gadisa Chimdesa. Historical Perspectives and Present Scenarios of Watershed Management in Ethiopia. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2016, 1(3), 115-127. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Gadisa Chimdesa. Historical Perspectives and Present Scenarios of Watershed Management in Ethiopia. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2016;1(3):115-127. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17,
  author = {Gadisa Chimdesa},
  title = {Historical Perspectives and Present Scenarios of Watershed Management in Ethiopia},
  journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
  volume = {1},
  number = {3},
  pages = {115-127},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20160103.17},
  abstract = {This paper is aimed to evaluate the historical perspectives and present scenarios of watershed management in Ethiopia. Watershed management is not the new concept of the country because it had highly experienced indigenous peoples those have been practiced from an ancient period. But, it became the prominent after the recurrent malnutrition and famine problems followed the 1970’s and 1980’s drought and subsequent catastrophic phenomena. Land degradation in the form of soil erosion has been usually considered as the main driving causes of the problem. Thus, the previous governments and other partners have initiated various soil and water conservation activities though they were mostly unsatisfactory or failed. Because there was lack of community participation, sector driven and single medium approach, unsecured land tenure, disincentives and unmanageable planning units. The present government has been taken lessons from the past shortcomings and then it has been initiated participatory community-based watershed management. As a result, it showed positive achievements in rehabilitation of severely degraded land, and it becoming as sources of income for the local communities. Here, it doesn’t mean that current watershed management practices are perfect but practically it has various problems that will be solved in the future. For example: working quality, strengthening awareness creation and capacity building, real community participation, equitable and faire sharing benefits between and among upstream-downstream community should be paid attention. In general, watershed management must be evaluated in terms of environmental soundness, economic viability and social acceptability moreover; it should be supported by research and educational institutions.},
 year = {2016}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Historical Perspectives and Present Scenarios of Watershed Management in Ethiopia
AU  - Gadisa Chimdesa
Y1  - 2016/08/17
PY  - 2016
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17
T2  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
JF  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
JO  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
SP  - 115
EP  - 127
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-3061
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20160103.17
AB  - This paper is aimed to evaluate the historical perspectives and present scenarios of watershed management in Ethiopia. Watershed management is not the new concept of the country because it had highly experienced indigenous peoples those have been practiced from an ancient period. But, it became the prominent after the recurrent malnutrition and famine problems followed the 1970’s and 1980’s drought and subsequent catastrophic phenomena. Land degradation in the form of soil erosion has been usually considered as the main driving causes of the problem. Thus, the previous governments and other partners have initiated various soil and water conservation activities though they were mostly unsatisfactory or failed. Because there was lack of community participation, sector driven and single medium approach, unsecured land tenure, disincentives and unmanageable planning units. The present government has been taken lessons from the past shortcomings and then it has been initiated participatory community-based watershed management. As a result, it showed positive achievements in rehabilitation of severely degraded land, and it becoming as sources of income for the local communities. Here, it doesn’t mean that current watershed management practices are perfect but practically it has various problems that will be solved in the future. For example: working quality, strengthening awareness creation and capacity building, real community participation, equitable and faire sharing benefits between and among upstream-downstream community should be paid attention. In general, watershed management must be evaluated in terms of environmental soundness, economic viability and social acceptability moreover; it should be supported by research and educational institutions.
VL  - 1
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download