Review
The implications of watershed
management for reversing land
degradation in Ethiopia
Temesgen Gashaw
Abstract
Ethiopia is one of the well
endowed countries in
Sub-Saharan Africa in terms
of natural resources and
valuable diversity in the
production environment.
However, land degradation is
a treat for its natural
resources for centuries.
High human and livestock
population pressures, highly
variable and unreliable
rainfall, and steep
topography have accelerated
the process of land
degradation. To combat
resource degradation and
increase food production,
different soil and water
conservation measures have
being implemented since
1970s. However, they are
less effective to control
resource degradation.
Another alternative for
resource conservation which
has being implemented since
1980s was watershed
management. For decades, the
government of Ethiopia in
collaboration with
international donors
implemented watershed
management in various parts
of the country. Some of the
outcomes include reduced run
off, soil erosion and
associated downstream
siltation, increased
vegetation cover and surface
roughness, increased soil
depth, increased recharge of
groundwater table, increased
production area and green
environment, increased crop
production and productivity
and improvement in fodder
availability. These imply
watershed management show
encouraging impacts.
Key words: Watershed
management, land
degradation, rehabilitation,
Ethiopia.
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