AKSUM UNIVERSTY

College of Agricultural Sciences

DEPARTMEMT OF SOIL AND WATER MANAGMENT

SEMINAR REVIEW ON:

ROLE OF INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT FOR
REHABILITATION DEGRADED LAND IN ETHIOPIA

PREPARED BY:

MAKIDA TSEGAY ID …..120

SUBMITTED TO: JUN 2017 E.T

ADVISOR YEMANE

Shire, Tigray, Ethiopia

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all, I would like to thank god for his miraculous time to accomplish everything and for his
help to go through every event successfully up to this minute. I convey my deepest thanks to my
advisor HAILEMICAEL T. (MSc). Completion of this work may not have been possible without his
generous devotion from the early design of the senior seminar and to the final write-up of the seminar
thus, I thank him for his genuine and energetic encouragement, suggestion; insight and guidance to
complete this seminar.

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Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT..................................................................................................................................2
ACRONYMS.....................................................................................................................................................5
ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................................................6
1 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................7
1.1 Back Ground of The Study........................................................................................................................7
1.2 Objective Of The Study.............................................................................................................................8
1.2.1General Objective...............................................................................................................................8
1.2.2Specific Objectives.............................................................................................................................8
2. LITERATURE REVIEW...........................................................................................................................10
2.1 History of Watershed Management.......................................................................................................10
2.2 The Contribution of Integrated Watershed Management for Reversing Land Degradation in Ethiopia. 12
2.3. Role of Soil and Water Conservation for Degraded Land Restoration...................................................12
2.4 Challenges of Watershed Management in the Highlands of Ethiopia.....................................................13
2.5 Type of Soil and Water Conservation Measures.....................................................................................15
2.5.1 Agronomic soil and water conservation measures...........................................................................15
2.5.2 Biological soil and water conservation measures.............................................................................15
2.5.3 Physical soil and water conservation measures................................................................................15
3. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION............................................................................................16
3.1 Conclusion..............................................................................................................................................16
3.2 Recommendation...................................................................................................................................17
4. REFERENCE...................................................................................................................................................19

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ACRONYMS

GDP gross domestic product

IWM Integrated Watershed Management

WFP world food programmer

FAO food agricultural productivity

SWC soil and water conservation

NGOs nongovernmental organization

KGVDP Kobo- Girana Valley Development Program

GTZ – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit

MoA Ministry of Agricultural

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 ABSTRACT

Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) plays a critical role in rehabilitating degraded lands in
Ethiopia, where environmental degradation due to deforestation, soil erosion, and unsustainable
agricultural practices is a pressing challenge. This approach promotes sustainable land use by
incorporating soil and water conservation, afforestation, and community participation. Effective
implementation of IWM enhances soil fertility, improves water availability, and fosters biodiversity
restoration. This study explores the significance of IWM in land rehabilitation, highlighting best
practices, challenges, and potential strategies for sustainable development. The findings contribute to
policy recommendations and practical interventions for restoring degraded landscapes in Ethiopia.

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 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Back Ground of The Study

Agriculture is the main sector of the Ethiopian economy and contributes approximately 42%
to the gross domestic product (GDP) and employs over 80% of the population (MoFED 2010;
Diao 2010; ATA 2013). Despite its role, agricultural production is constrained by high
climate variability where rainfall distribution is extremely uneven both spatially and
temporally, and this has negative implications for the livelihoods of people (Georgis et al.,
2010). Drought frequently results in crop failure, while high rainfall intensities result in low
infiltration and high runoff causing enhanced soil erosion and land degradation. Land
degradation in the form of soil erosion and declining land fertility is a serious challenge to
agricultural productivity and economic growth (Lemenih 2004).
Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) has been identified as a key for planning and
management of natural resources in mountain ecosystems. It provides an ecologically sound
economic base for the watersheds and its people. In any developmental activity, the watershed
approach is more scientific because the inherent potential of soil, water and forest recourses in
a particular area is controlled by various factors such as physiography, geological base, soil
characteristic, climate, present land use, socio-economic aspects etc. (Rawat 2007) A
watershed may be defined as an area which contribute rainwater falling on it and allows the
water to flow in one or more water courses with a single out let at the end. The Watershed
approach is increasingly being employed in various resource management and development
programs like soil and water conservation, environmental management, water resources
management and development, forest, man and livestock resources management and
development etc. (Sharma et al., 2008).
The livelihood of Ethiopia people living in the watershed cultivated watersheds is being
threatened. Policies and strategies must urgently be developed to reverse present trends of
land degradation. To do so will require scientific planning and implementation that must be
based on technical knowledge of watershed management practices and their effects on
sustainability of the resources (Rawat, 2000). Integrated watershed management may become
an alternative to revers land degradation. According to the proceedings of the National

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 Seminar on Watershed Management, Govt. of Ethiopia (2000) “Integrated watershed
management is an integration of technologies within the material boundaries of drainage area
for optimum use and development of land, water and forest resources to meet the basic
minimum needs of the people in a sustained manner. Projectisation of the scattered programs
of soil conservation, afforestation, water resources development and management, minor
irrigation, animal husbandry and other rural development activities into well prepared micro
watershed projects based on a study of climate, land, water and forest resources on the one
hand and man and animal resources on the other offers hope for bringing about sustained
natural resources development based on principles of ecology, environment, economics,
employment generation and energy conservation”. As an integral part of sustainable
development, resource management programs are taken up on watershed basis for successful
implementation of agriculture, forest and other eco-restoration programed (Rawat & Haigh,
2008). Watershed management aims at optimizing the use of land, water, vegetation, man,
animal and environment to prevent, soil erosion, moderate floods, improve water availability,
increase food, fuel, fodder, fiber and timber production on a sustained basis (Bhardwaj and
Dhyani, 2004). integrated watershed management approach (German et al., 2007) to promote
sustainable water and land resources management based on partnerships with the community.
The participatory integrated watershed management approach emphasizes improving the
productivity of water and land resources in an ecologically and institutionally sustainable way
(Farrington et al., 2009). Hence, Watershed management has become a central point of the
rural development and poverty alleviation agenda. In general, integrated watershed
management creates opportunities for reclaiming degraded land, improving soil fertility, water
resources development, increasing agricultural production, off-farm activities, diversifying
income sources and providing access to markets, where the benefits are realized at household
and community level.(Tadese 2001).Therefore, the objective of this paper is prepared to
review the role of integrated watershed management for rehabilitation of degraded land
mainly through SWC practices in Ethiopia.

1.2 Objective Of The Study

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1.2.1General Objective

 To assess the role of Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) in rehabilitating

degraded land in Ethiopia and to identify sustainable strategies for improving land
productivity and ecosystem restoration.

1.2.2Specific Objectives

 To examine the extent and causes of land degradation in Ethiopia.

 To analyze the effectiveness of Integrated Watershed Management practices in restoring
degraded landscapes.
 To evaluate the socio-economic and environmental benefits of IWM in Ethiopia.
 To identify challenges and opportunities in implementing IWM strategies.

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 2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 History of Watershed Management
The origins of modern watershed management can be traced back to the 19th century.
However, the approach first achieves prominence in developing countries in the 1970s in
programs designed to product downstream resources and infrastructure through improvements
in upland natural resources management (Darghouth et al., 2008). The concepts of watershed
management has internationally gained significance following the United Nations conference
or environmental and development in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro (also known as the earth
summit) (Forch and schutt, 2004). In Ethiopia, planning the development of watersheds has
started in the 1980’s (Lakew et al., 2005; Gete 2006; Tongul and Hobson, 2013). It was
concentrated on selected large watershed located mainly in the highly degraded parts of the
highlands of Ethiopia (Gete, 2006). The purpose was mostly for implementing natural
resources conservation and development programs (Lakew et al., 2005).
The major part of the initiative was supported by the world food programmer (WFP)
through its food for work land rehabilitation project (Gete, 2006). The food for work
rehabilitation project is designed to provide employment for chronically food insecure people
who have “able bodied” labor (Tangul and Hobson, 2013). However, the unmanageable
watersheds (too large to monitor and manage) with the top down planning methodology was
less effective than had been hoped (Gete, 2006; Tongul and Hobson,2013) Similarly, Lakew
et al., (2005) stated that watershed development has been problematic when applied in a rigid
and conventional manner this is true when applied without community participation and using
only hydrological planning units, where a range of interventions remained limited and post
rehabilitation management aspects were neglected. The Ethiopian government has a for a long
time recognized the serious implication of continuing soil erosion to mitigate environmental
degradation and as a result large national programs were implemented in the 1970s and 1980s.
However, the efforts of these initiatives were seen to be inadequate in managing the rapid rate
of demographic growth within the country, widespread and increasing land degradation, and
high risks of low rainfall and drought. Since 1980, the government has supported rural land

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degradation, these aimed to implement natural resources conservation and development
programs in Ethiopia through watershed development (MoARD, 2005). Watershed projects in
Ethiopia were very few in number. The institutional strengthening project was implemented
by FAO, and was principally aimed at capacity building of ministry of natural resource’s
technicians and experts and development agents in the highlands regions of the country. The
projects used the sub watershed as the planning units and sought the views of local
technicians and numbers of the farming community to prepare of land use and capability plans
for soil and water conservation. This approach was tested at the pilot stage through FAO
technical assistance under MAO during 1988-1991(MoARD, 2005). This was the first step in
the evolution of the participatory planning approach to watershed development. By late 1990,
watershed development was considered the focal point for rural development and poverty
alleviation. Several NGOs and bilateral organizations adopted watershed development in the
last decade in their perspectives intervention areas with collaboration of government partners.
For instance, the land rehabilitation project, with WFP Food for Work assistance aimed at
addressing the problems of food insecurity through the construction of soil conservation
structures, community forestry, and rural infrastructure works. Watershed in the country
where the incidence of chronic food insecurity is most severe. GTZ- Integrated food security
program south Gondar, with integrated watershed management approach assistance aimed at
improving the nutritional food insecure households in south Gondar through natural resource
management by biological and physical soil conservation measures, crops and rural
infrastructure works (GTZ-IFSP,2002).The project succeeded with gully rehabilitation
approach. At present a wide variety of donor and development agencies are promoting
watershed development. In Ethiopia watershed management was merely considered as a
practice of soil and water conservation .The success stories of early watershed projects were
marked as the basis of major watershed initiatives in Ethiopia .but only technological
approaches were adopted from those early successful projects and the lessons related to
institutional arrangement were neglected
The newly implemented projects neither involved nor took effort to organize people to
solve the problem collectively. Where village level participation was attempted they typically
involved one or two key persons like village leaders, These projects failed due to their
centralized structure, rigid technology and lack of attention to institutional arrangements.
(Gleick, 2000).

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 2.2 The Contribution of Integrated Watershed Management for Reversing Land
Degradation in Ethiopia Based on the assessment of AgWater Solutions researchers
(AgWater Solutions, 2012) on six watersheds, two each in Tigray, Amhara and Oromia,
various land rehabilitation and conservation measures are being employed in the watersheds
(soil and water conservation structures, reforestation, gully treatment, area enclosures) along
with water harvesting, rural water supply, and income diversification. Consequently, positive
impacts were achieved. The immediate outcomes of integrated watershed management
interventions in Tigray region include rehabilitation of natural resources, including recharge
of the groundwater table; reforestation of uppercatchments; reduction in soil erosion and
associated downstream siltation; and regeneration of plant resources. These outcomes in turn
contribute to increased agricultural output, diversification of food and income sources,
reduced migration and improved biodiversity. The resultant development impacts include
increased food and nutrition security, improved status for women, reductions in poverty and
an improved natural environment (Chisholm and Tassew, 2012). A recent impact assessment
also showed the PSNP public works in Tigray region: reduced sediment in streams by40-
53% in areas closed to grazing and cultivation; increased woody biomass and forage
production three to four-fold; increased water availability and quality; increased ground water
recharge and improved downstream base flow of streams; lessened damage from seasonal
floods; enhanced down-stream crop production through soil and water conservation
interventions; increased stored carbon; increased biodiversity, and increased social
cohesion by improving livelihoods(Tongul and Hobson, 2013). The above success of soil and
water conservation measures for rehabilitating degraded land following watershed
management approach in Ethiopia Studies indicated that the improvement in watershed
management benefits to local households and farmers, the local community, and the society at
large (Lakew et al., 2005)

2.3. Role of Soil and Water Conservation for Degraded Land Restoration
Studies have indicated that biological and mechanical SWC measures can help to reduce soil
loss and regenerate vegetation (Carla et al., 2003; Fu et al., 2003; Mekuria et al. Implications
of soil and water conservation measures for land rehabilitation- a synthesis2007; Kalinina et
al., 2009).SWC measures reduced both the in-situ and offsite impacts of degradation.

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 Mechanical structures such as terraces, check dams, tranches and micro-basins modify terrain
through changing slope length and angel, which in turn reduces runoff velocity, enhances
water infiltration and traps sediments washed down the terrain (Vancampenhout et al., 2006;
Nyssen et al., 2007). Sediment accumulated behind the terrace provides suitable conditions
for plants/crops through conserving nutrients and water (Dercon et al., 2003; Gebremichael et
al., 2005; Vancampenhout et al., 2006).
Biological SWC measures such as enclosure, homestead tree plantation, reforestation and
enrichment tree plantation within enclosures help to restore vegetation cover and diversity
(Asefa et al., 2003; Carla et al., 2003; Fu et al., 2003). With vegetation cover restoration,
beside soil fertility improvement through regular organic matter addition, the soil surface can
also be protected from raindrop splash and scoring effects of runoff water. This reduces soil
particle detachment and transportation. The vegetation intercepts the rainwater, which
enhances infiltration and reduces runoff. The infiltrated water percolates into the ground
(aquifer), which in turn improves the hydrology. People down-slope witnessed that spring
discharges considerably increased after the enclosure, and even in some cases dried springs
recovered. Flood risks and sedimentation on fertile farmlands by stones and gravely material
has been reduced. These lands are mainly situated along streams. Thus, the in-situ and offsite
impacts of SWC interventions ultimately led to sustainable agricultural production and
productivity In some areas, enclosures are divided among people who manage their land
parcel and use grass through this system. The Kobo- Girana Valley Development Program
(KGVDP) initiative can be cited as an example. They formed user groups and facilitated
enclosures sharing among users, providing training on appropriate output use and
management. As a result, the protected steep lands located above the farmlands showed
reduced runoff, which had been damaging the cultivated lands.
Following the closure practice, improved and traditional irrigation has also been
expanded. Agriculture offices and NGOs have helped farmers to improve the traditional
irrigation. Therefore, the SWC practices played a considerable role in improving the irrigation
water supply through better recharge. (Asefa et al., 2003).

2.4 Challenges of Watershed Management in the Highlands of Ethiopia

Ethiopia faces a wide range of soil fertility issues that require approaches that go beyond the
application of chemical fertilizers, the only practice applied at large scale to date. Core
constraints include topsoil erosion (some

7
sources list Ethiopia among the most severely erosion- affected countries in the world, along
with Lesotho and Haiti; erosion rates are estimated at 10 - 13 mm per annum on average);
depleted macro and micro-nutrients, depletion of soil physical properties, and soil salinity
(IFRI, 2010). The main challenge facing watershed management is lack of sufficient capacity
at all levels of government structures (federal, regional, district and kebele) to implement the
new and sustainable approaches, while the intervention needs of the watersheds (Tangul and
Hobson, 2013). The other most important challenges of watershed management in Ethiopia
are excessively steep slopes of the watershed and small land holding system. (Taha,2002).
Revealed that nearly two-thirds (63%) of the North Wollo Zone, Ethiopia comprises land too
steep to cultivate sustainably. Large parts of this land also have very shallow soils and
excessive drainage conditions. This land constraint is largely crop management independent.
It is generally not amendable unless at great cost by means of physical structures (e.g.
terraces) and even then only in places where the conditions allow the construction of the
structures required. It could thus generally be considered a permanent limitation. The physical
potential for small-scale rain fed crop production is seriously constrained in the larger part of
the Ethiopian highlands (Tasha, 2002). For instance, approximately 31% of the Ethiopia is
classified as suitable for small-scale rain fed crop production. Out of this 31%, only 7% is
considered moderately suitable and the remainder (24%) is classified as marginal. Highly
suitable land does not occur in Ethiopia. The greatest threat to watershed management is the
loss of habitat as humans develop land for agriculture, grazing livestock, draining wetlands
and unwise use of pesticides. The most drastic damage has occurred in the natural high
altitude forests where their biological resources once covered more than 35% of the total land
area of the country but now only cover about 9%. The resulting deforestation and soil erosion
have major implications on
Ethiopia’s ability to become food secure. In addition to unsustainable land management
practices, there are also a number of institutional constraints which are reducing the
effectiveness of biodiversity and tropical forestry in Ethiopia. For example, there is poor
coordination among various organizations (NGOs, non-government, and international
organizations) involved in natural resources management. As we have observed in various
field works of the review, the prevailing food insecurity, climate change, fragmented land
holding, and upstream- downstream conflicts are the major constraint for sustainable
watershed management implementation in Ethiopia. However, presently there are many
opportunities for sustainable watershed management in the highlands of Ethiopia such as

8
 livelihood diversification (increased off-farm income generation activities), increased
awareness of the local community and the commitment of the government to conserve the
mountainous areas, upstream basins and watersheds to save the huge hydroelectric dams from
siltation, extend the life time of reservoirs and to reduce the off-site effect of erosion.(Binyam
and desale,2014).
2.5 Type of Soil and Water Conservation Measures
2.5.1 Agronomic soil and water conservation measures
Agronomic measures include mulching and crop management, which use the effect of surface
covers to reduce erosion by water and wind (Morgan, 2005). Some possible agronomic
measures are strip cropping, mixed cropping, intercropping, fallowing, mulching, contour
plugging, grazing management and agro-forestry. Agronomic conservation measures help in
reducing the impact of rain drops through interception and thus increasing infiltration rates and
thereby reducing surface runoff (Amsalu, 2007). These agronomic conservation measures can
be applied together with physical soil conservation measure in Watershed. In some systems
they may be more effective than structural measures (Heathcoat and Isobel, 2008).
Furthermore, it is the cheapest way of soil and water conservation (Wolka et al, 2013).
However, agronomic measures are often more difficult to implement compared with structural
ones as they require a change in familiar practices (Heathcote and Isobel, 2008). Different
types of material such as residues from the previous crop, brought‐in mulch including grass,
perennial shrubs, farmyard manure, compost, byproducts of agro‐based industries, or inorganic
materials and synthetic products can be used for mulching (Lal, 2004). It is effective against
wind as well as water erosion. Some such plants as maize stalks, cotton stalks, tobacco stalks,
potato tops etc. are used as mulch (a protective layer formed by the stubble, i.e., the basal parts
of herbaceous plants, especially cereals attached to the soil after harvest). Crop residues also
reduce the soil temperature by some degrees in the upper centimeters of the topsoil and
provide better moisture conservation by reducing the intensity of radiation, wind velocity, and
evaporation (Agele et al., 2000).
2.5.2 Biological soil and water conservation measures
Biological soil conservation measures are based on covering of land using vegetation and
could be agronomic practice or forest cover (Amsalu, 2008). Biological Method primarily
involves stimulation of plants growth (grasses, bushes or trees) over the denuded Measure
area. Roots of these plants securely bind the soil while the crowns of bushes and trees offer
impediments to the flow of air or water currents. Dead plants provide organic material to the
soil which in turn improves soil structure and fertility. It is a natural protection by growing
9
 vegetation in a manner that reduces soil loss (Lal, 2005).

2.5.3 Physical soil and water conservation measures

Physical soil conservation structures are the permanent features made of earth, stones or
masonry. They are designed to protect the soil from uncontrolled runoff or erosion, and to
retain water where it is needed. In the watershed, steep land farming, physical structures such as
rock barriers and contour bunds; waterways such as diversion ditches, terrace channels and
grass waterways; and, stabilization structures or dams, windbreaks, and terraces such as
diversion, retention and bench Are often necessary (Morgan,2008). The construction of
physical structures is often labor intensive since steep slopes make construction difficult. Thus,
both construction and maintenance require long-term collaborative effort by farmers, the local
community and the government.

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 3. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

3.1 Conclusion
Agricultural development in Ethiopia is hampered by land degradation; degradation in turn is
treating the overall sustainability of production. Soil erosion is major cause of land
degradation in Ethiopia. Generally, this review mentioned that land degradation problem in
the area is complex and encompasses environmental, economic, socio- cultural ecological and
political issues. There for, detail investigation should be under taken through integrated
application of mechanical, biological and soil management practices have results in positive
effect for rehabilitation of degraded lands since they reduced flood risks. Nutrient losses,
sediment losses and increase grain yields. This review has showed the integrated watershed
management practices are the only possible solution for rehabilitation of degrades land.
Therefore, all integrated use of physical, biological and agronomic soil and water
conservation measures through public investment with site suitability and their long-term agro
ecological and economic consequences should be considered.

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3.2 Recommendation

Based on the significance of Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) for rehabilitating degraded
land in Ethiopia, the following recommendations are proposed:

1. Strengthen Community Participation – Engage local communities in planning, implementing,

and maintaining IWM initiatives to ensure long-term sustainability and ownership.
2. Promote Sustainable Land Use Practices – Encourage agroforestry, conservation agriculture,
and afforestation to reduce soil erosion and improve land productivity.
3. Enhance Institutional and Policy Support – Develop and enforce policies that integrate
watershed management with national land restoration programs and provide incentives for
sustainable land management.
4. Improve Water Conservation Techniques – Implement rainwater harvesting, check dams, and
terracing to enhance water retention and reduce surface runoff.
5. Capacity Building and Awareness Creation – Provide training for farmers, extension workers,
and local stakeholders on the benefits and implementation of IWM practices.
6. Encourage Research and Innovation – Support scientific research on soil conservation,
watershed hydrology, and climate-smart practices to enhance the effectiveness of IWM.
7. Ensure Sustainable Financing Mechanisms – Allocate sufficient funding from the
government, NGOs, and international organizations to support IWM projects and maintain
rehabilitated lands.
8. Integrate Indigenous Knowledge with Modern Techniques – Leverage traditional land
management practices and blend them with modern technologies for more effective and
culturally relevant interventions.

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