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Land degradation is one of the main confronts in the
highlands of Ethiopia. Farm households have been practiced various land
management interventions in different landscapes together with government and
non-government organizations. Farmers reside in Tsegur and Kanat
micro-watersheds practice mixed farming systems for their livelihoods.
Biophysical soil and water conservation measures along with farm activities
realize integrated watershed management. Both institutional and technological
innovations provide guarantee for sustainable agriculture that can maintain the
increasing demands for food, animal feed and fuel.
INTRODUCTION
Conservation and
sustainable development presents a variety of innovative ways that have been
used to influence policy processes and scientific discourses [1]. In Ethiopia,
improved watershed management practices have been initiated since 1971 [2,3].
Watershed management is the interaction of people, land, water and biomass
[4,5] and involves judicious use of natural resource with active participation
of individuals, institutions and organizations [5]. A watershed is any surface
area from which runoff resulting from rainfall is collected and drains through
a common confluence point [6]. Land degradation caused by over cultivation,
open grazing, high population, and deforestation are main problems in the
highlands of Ethiopia [7]. The broad categories of land management
interventions include physical and biological conservation measures [5].
Integrated watershed management interventions have been practiced in Tsegur and Kanat micro-watersheds. Thus, this paper is look at watershed
interventions in the two micro-watersheds.
AREA DESCRIPTION
This article is
spotlighted on two micro-watersheds-Tsegur
and Kanat. Tsegur is located 10 km to the west from Debre Tabor town and lies
between the coordinates of 11°32'' to 12°03'' latitude and 37°31'' to 38°43''
longitude. The average rainfall was ranging between 1200 and 1800 mm while the
annual temperature was between 9.6°C to 21°C. The altitude of the
micro-watershed is between 2300 and 3000 m above sea level [8]. Kanat micro-watershed is located at 5 km
to the east of Debre Tabor with the
area coverage of 112 ha. The mean annual temperature was 17°C while its
rainfall and altitude were 1450 mm and 2630 m above sea level [9]. The distance
between the two micro-watersheds is 15 km. A run-off flows from Kanat micro-watershed drains to Gumara while the run-off created in Tsegur drains to Rib Rivers. Gumara and Rib tributaries are the major contributors of water resources for
Lake Tana [10]. The two micro-watersheds are found in Farta district of south Gondar zone. A highway asphalt road passes
thorough Woreta-Gayint crosses the
two watersheds. The major land uses of the two watersheds include cropland,
grazing land and eucalyptus woodlots. Crop-livestock mixed farming is the
common livelihood activity of smallholders in the highlands particularly in the
study watersheds [11]. This paper is presented based on personal observation,
key informant interviews and desk review.
Farmers, residing
in the watersheds, are familiar with indigenous conservation and plantation
activities such as grasses, bushes, shrubs, native trees and terracing. In
addition, trash line, cover crops, crop rotation, alley cropping,
intercropping, mixed cropping and other agronomic practices are the common
conventional practices. On the other hand, governmental and non-governmental
organizations have introduced modern conservation measures and innovations such
as soil bund, stone bund, cut-off drain, waterway, check dam, area closure and
exotic plant species (for instance sesbania, pigeon peas, grevillea, vetiver
grass, Acacia spp., elephant grass,
eucalyptus, and others). Moreover, households have adopted different crop
varieties (such as wheat) and improved dairy cows. Thus, crop production,
animal husbandry, agro-forestry, growing animal feed and conservation measures
are integrated interventions in the watersheds. Tree and shrub species can be
integrated in the crop-livestock farming systems [12].
Many watersheds and landscapes throughout the
world are under increased pressure from human activities of all types [13]. Likewise,
the population density in Tsegur and Kanat micro-watersheds is about 300
persons/km2 with declining trends of land holding sizes. Prior to
conservation interventions, lands in the watershed were seriously degraded due
to high population pressure, crop-livestock competitions for land resources and
continuous farming without fallowing. Population growth and intensive
production combined with increasing needs for fuel and forage resulted in land
degradation. Thus, integrated watershed management was planned and put into
action. Among several interventions, check dam is the best practice implemented
using various materials and construction designs. In these areas, soil erosion
is very severe so that deep gullies are reclaimed. Farmers were supported by
NGO’s (like German technical cooperation-GTZ) and constructed check dams with
brushwood, stone, grass, gabion and cement depending on the slope of the
catchment, depth of the gullies, availability of construction materials,
run-off flow, and cost of investment. Check dam reduced the velocity of run-off
and trap eroded soils [14]. Biophysical conservation practices also used to
dispose run-off safely, harvest or retain water, reduce slope of the
topography, enhance fertility of the soil, increase biomass and provide
multi-purpose species for human food, animal feed and soil fertility.
Formal and informal institutions should be
strengthened through bylaws, regulations, and legislations. On top of this,
land certification can enhance land tenure security for long-term land-use
systems so that implemented conservation practices and integrated farm
activities will be sustainable. Different stakeholders, development partners
and practitioners in the field of agriculture should support farming
communities on livestock management, maintenance of conservation measures and
adoption of environmental responsive technologies.
REFERENCES
1. Davies J (2012) Conservation and sustainable development. Linking practice and policy in eastern Africa. IDRC, New York and London.
2. Gebrehaweria G (2012) Watershed management in Ethiopia. Agricultural watershed management Learning and Discussion Brief.
3. Woldearegay K (2012) Cost and benefit of catchment management and re-greening in Tigray, Ethiopia. Mekelle University, Ethiopia.
4. Weber S, McKenney J (Nd.) Watershed Management: Integrating people, land and water. RBF Consulting, 14725 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618. Available at: http://www.rbf.com
5. Negash T, Mesfin K (2011) Integrated watershed management on Gibe-Omo basin. PHE Ethiopian Consortium. Proceeding of National Workshop, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
6. Lakew D, Carucci V, Asrat W, Yitayew A (2005) Community based participatory watershed development: A guideline. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
7. Demelash M Stahr K (2010) Assessment of integrated soil and water conservation measures on key soil properties in South Gonder, north-western highlands of Ethiopia. J Soil Sci Environ Manag 1: 164-176.
8. Habtamu T (2011) Assessment of sustainable watershed management approach: Case study. Lenche Dima, Tsegur Eyesus and Dijjil Watershed. M.Sc. Thesis, Cornell University.
9. Abuto T (2009) The socio-economic and institutional dynamics of integrated watershed management: The case of Kanat and Magera micro-watersheds, Amhara National Regional State. M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
10. Awulachew SB, Smakhtin V, Molden D, Peden D (2012) The Nile River basin: Water, agriculture, governance and livelihoods. Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 711. New York.
11. Liniger H, Mekdaschi-Studer R, Hauert C, Gurtner M (2011) Guidelines and best practices for Sub-Saharan Africa, field application. Terr Africa, World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Rome.
12. Mulugeta S, Kindu M (2013) Tree and shrub species integration in the crop-livestock farming system. Afr Crop Sci J 21: 647-656.
13. Drake K, Hogan, M (2013) Watershed management guidebook. A guide to outcome-based watershed management. An Integrated Environmental Restoration Services, Inc. Publication.
14. Danano D (2010) Sustainable land management technologies and approaches in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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