Open AccessWatershed degradation and the growing risk of erosion in H awassa‐ Z uria D istrict, Southern E thiopia
Author(s) -
Gebretsadik Zenebe Mekonnen
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of flood risk management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.049
H-Index - 36
ISSN - 1753-318X
DOI - 10.1111/jfr3.12033
Subject(s) - watershed , livelihood , flooding (psychology) , land degradation , land use , geography , ecology , agriculture , biology , psychology , archaeology , machine learning , computer science , psychotherapist
Watershed degradation has resulted in high risk of erosion followed by risk of flooding in the lowlands and has become the most livelihoods' threatening factor in E thiopia in general and in the fragile watersheds of H awassa Z uria D istrict in particular. The objectives of this study were: (a) to assess farmers' practices of land, water and biomass management in order to improve their livelihoods; (b) to assess the existing risks and interventions and the condition of the watershed; (c) to assess the socio‐economic patterns of the farmers in the watershed. A group discussion with different stakeholders, key informant interviews and observational survey through transect walks have been used as methods of data collection. The study result has shown that the most threatening factor of degradation is gully erosion due to vegetation removal from the watershed. About 94% of the farmers used and agreed that they stabilised gullies by physical and biological measures; 60% and 88% of the respondents, respectively have indicated diversion of run‐off above the gully and improvement of gully catchments as a means of gully erosion measures and reduce flooding risks in the lowlands. Community awareness creation on natural resource conservation and management as well as resolving tenure disagreements can also play role in gully control and land rehabilitation.