Integrated and participatory landscape management in Ethiopia
Partner: Promoting Autonomous Adaptation (PAA) project
Type of organization: Non-Governmental Organization
Country of Operation: Ethiopia
Climate Adaptation Sector Thematic Area: Environment, Ecosystems, and Biodiversity
Background A large part of Ethiopia’s landscape is characterised by mountainous, undulating terrain that is highly susceptible to soil degradation and erosion. Land degradation and deforestation are caused by natural factors, such as soil and wind erosion, as well as population pressure. Soil loss in Ethiopia due to water erosion is a serious economic and environmental challenge. These factors contribute to Ethiopia’s agricultural productivity and its food security is highly compromised. Soil and water conservation has been a priority for the government for the last two decades and it was given due consideration within the first phase of the Growth and Transformation Plan. In recent years, the Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) approach has been promoted as a Strategy to address water and soil resource challenges that threaten agriculture and food security. IWM involves integrated activities aimed to maintain and restore the physical, chemical and biological integrity of an ecosystem while also providing sustainable economic growth opportunities for communities. Its holistic methodology optimises the use of water and vegetation to prevent soil erosion, and increases fuel, fodder and food production in a sustainable manner. One approach under IWM is closing degraded and deforested watershed areas from human and animal influx and encroachment, which has to be done in consultation and active participation of the community. In Kemo Gerbi Kebele there is an area called Worja Mountain which covers an area of 260 hectares and is located to the West of Zeway town along ZewayButajira road. According to the focus group discussants in Goba Adat village, 15 to 20 years ago the mountain was fully covered by forest and wildlife and it was the main source of livelihood for the community. During that period there was adequate rainfall in the area. However, gradually the mountain became degraded and it was left with no forest cover. Farmers living downstream of the mountain catchment were highly affected by the high runoff flooding from the mountain and their crops are often damaged. The major factors contributing to the degradation of the mountain were illegal logging for charcoal and firewood. As open grazing is commonly practiced in the area, it has also contributed to the destruction of the forest and degradation of the soil. Understanding the seriousness of the problem, in 2010 the local government organized 55 vulnerable farming households living around the mountain to rehabilitate the mountain by preventing free grazing and avoiding the cutting of trees for charcoal and firewood purposes. However, this was unsuccessful as the community did not have alternative livelihood options and so illicit logging and free grazing continued unabated.
Activities In 2013, the Promoting Autonomous Adaptation (PAA) project approached the community living around the mountain in Kemo Gerbi kebele and organized them into five rural enterprises and cooperatives. The cooperatives have 357 community members (226 females) organized to sustainably conserve the forest and manage livelihood activities. The project provided these enterprises training in the causes and impact of climate change and on different alternative livelihood interventions that the project designed to implement. The livelihood opportunities proposed for promotion included the provision of improved crop and vegetable seed varieties; water harvesting for irrigation through pond construction and shallow well; dairy development; fattening; rearing goats; improved bee keeping; and improved poultry production. With the autonomous adaptation best practices, implementation of different livelihood opportunities complemented with awareness raising activities, the community was fully convinced of conserving and rehabilitating the 260-hectare Worja Mountain in particular and the watershed and environment in general. The community developed a strong bylaw to enforce this objective and protect the mountain from free grazing and cutting of trees for charcoal making and firewood purposes. Intruders to the area now expect strong penalties. The bylaw requires farmers to apply cut and carry feeding systems to feed their animals instead of free grazing. The grass in the mountain can be used for animal feed and roof cover using cut and carry system. As the site is believed to have archeological importance for containing human fossils, plantation of trees in the mountain is not promoted and the Strategy is to regenerate natural species through area closure. However, the project has provided the communities with materials used to construct soil and water conservation structures such as digging shovels. In addition, in the downside of the closed mountain and the watershed, physical soil and water conservation activities such as soil and stone bund terrace have been constructed with the participation of the community. The key stakeholders involved in this project include the Ethiopian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy and National Meteorology Agency.
Impact They are now farming their farmland without constant fear of erosion hazard and produce more than before. The fattening enterprise and other livelihood activities such as water harvesting and irrigation development undergoing in the lower catchment area will benefit from the area closure through feed supply and conservation of water. Wild animals such as the dic dic are also back and now sheltering the mountain and this was attested during this assessment. The overall impact due to area closure was clearly visible and the community was encouraged by its success. “Thanks to the project, we are now able to sustainably rehabilitate our environment, especially the mountain. We have saved Birr 19, 000 in a bank from the sale of grass and fattening business”. Says Ato Asmach Kediro Nebil chairman of Walda Gedemot Alati Forest Conservation and Fattening cooperative. The area closure was considered by the Adami-Tulu Jido-Kombolcha Woreda as a best practice and visited by over 200 model farmers and development agents from all 43 kebeles in the Woreda. According to Ato Tahir Hideto, Adami-Tulu Jido-Kombolcha Woreda natural resource conservation process owner, the area closure has been very successful in a short period of time and enhanced the livelihood opportunities of the community. The Woreda is planning to conserve over a 20,000-hectare area in the next years through regular government programmes and the experience gained form Worja watershed will assist them to effectively implement their plan. The location of the area closure being along the main road, travelers can see the changes and share experiences. The PAA project design and planning process has been very participatory. The project has conducted a vulnerability assessment in each PAA at the community level as a prelude to designing and implementing community-based adaptation plans and practices as well as aimed to build the capacity of local administration to enable them plan climate resilient plan and investment. The mid-term evaluation of the project was conducted in 2014. The findings of this evaluation indicated that the project performed satisfactorily, and it was on the right track to achieve its objectives and anticipated results. The review also indicated that while the performance of the project was good, documentation is among the major weaknesses observed. In other words, information on good/ best practices and successful projects and activities has not been documented and made available publicly.
Good practices and lessons learned
- Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) approach has been promoted as a Strategy to address water and soil resource challenges that threaten agriculture and food security. IWM involves integrated activities aimed to maintain and restore the physical, chemical and biological integrity of an ecosystem while also providing sustainable economic growth opportunities for communities.
- Use of awareness raising activities before involving the community to create buy-in and ownership.
- Involvement of all relevant stakeholders in the project guaranteeing support from all levels.
- Participatory project design and planning ensures all stakeholders walk the journey together
Further information Source: Autonomous Adaptation Best Practices PAA Project a collaborative work of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, GEF and UNDP