A nine-year study on the benefits and risks of soil and water conservation practices in the humid highlands of Ethiopia: The Debre Mawi watershed.

A nine-year (2010-2018) field study in the Debre Mawi watershed was conducted to understand the effect of governmentally-imposed and farmer-initiated conservation practices. The watershed is in the sub-humid Ethiopian Highlands which experience high and increasing erosion rates despite years of conservation efforts. Consequently, reservoirs are filling up with sediment and soil degradation is enhanced, calling for the evaluation of conservation practices currently in use. The few past long-term experimental studies on structural practices are inconclusive. In addition, only anecdotal information is available for streamflow and sediment loss. Precipitation, stream discharge, and suspended sediment concentrations were recorded manually in the Debre Mawi watershed during the nine-year period. Groundwater depth and total saturated area measurements were taken for selected periods. From 2012 to 2014, government-mandated conservation practices were constructed, which consisted of 50-cm-deep infiltration furrows with bunds downslope. These furrows were filled in with sediment by 2018. At the same time, the acreage of eucalyptus trees planted by farmers on the most vulnerable lands tripled to 5% of the total area with most trees fully grown in 2018. Runoff coefficients and sediment concentrations decreased steadily throughout the nine years. In the saturated bottomlands, the observations suggested that government-sponsored infiltration furrows in the saturated bottomlands were ineffective and may concentrate flows and enhance gully erosion, while eucalyptus trees appear effective. The results of this observational study point to both the potential benefits of conservation practices in this sub-humid tropical highland region and to emerging long-term risks. If structural conservation is to be pursued in watersheds like Debre Mawi, due attention must be given to the safe removal of excess water from the valley bottoms. The vegetative farmer-initiated practice of planting eucalyptus trees effectively reduced streamflow and erosion, but at the same time, might dry up wells during the dry monsoon phase which should be investigated further.

Smallholder farmers' vulnerability to climate change and variability: Evidence from three agroecologies in the Upper Blue Nile, Ethiopia.

This study delves into the profound impact of climate change on agriculture in Ethiopia, particularly the vulnerabilities faced by smallholder farmers and the resulting implications for poverty. Focusing on three distinct agroecologies, namely: highland, midland, and lowland zones. The study employed a robust methodology, combining a cross-sectional survey, spatial-temporal trend analysis using GIS, and the development of an overall vulnerability index through the balanced weighted average method. The study, encompassing 646 households, combines data from a variety of sources and analytical tools like the vulnerability index, ArcGIS 10.8, and ERDA's IMAGINE 2015. Utilizing the LVI-IPCC scale, the study shows that climate change is an immediate vulnerability in all agroecological zones. It identifies highland areas as the most sensitive and exposed regions, while lowland households are found to be the most vulnerable in terms of overall vulnerabilities. The research reveals specific challenges faced by communities, such as inadequate health facilities and insufficient food and water supplies in both highland and lowland agroecosystems. Additionally, our investigation has observed a significant alteration in land use practices, specifically the shift from communal grazing land to private cultivation and plantations, emphasizing eucalyptus. This alteration enhances the ecosystem's vulnerability to climate disturbances. The study suggests targeted interventions, such as advocating for sustainable land-use practices, afforestation, and adopting climate-smart agriculture practices. It is important to implement policy measures that prioritize conserving and restoring shrubland, grazing land, and natural forests to ensure both long-term socio-economic and ecosystem resilience. The study's nuanced insights are instrumental in understanding the diverse challenges posed by climate change in Ethiopian agriculture, supporting informed policymaking and sustainable interventions.