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Ecological Benefits of Participatory Watershed Management Practice in the Case of Chenetaly Watershed, Guagusa Shikudad Woreda, Ethiopia

Received: 13 February 2022    Accepted: 8 March 2022    Published: 23 March 2022
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Abstract

The rapid global population growth and increasing impacts of climate change have resulted water and food shortage. Due to the increasing pressure from anthropogenic activities the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and their interrelation are largely disrupted. As the result, the benefit we get from the ecosystem has reduced, this calls for a shift in the management of ecosystems and the use of water for food security. The objective of this study was focus Ecological Benefits of Participatory Watershed Management Practice; Case Study of Chenetaly Watershed, Guagusa Shikudad Woreda, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. The data were collected from 84 randomly selected households through household survey. In addition to household survey, focus group discussion, key informant interview and observation were used to collect additional data and used for triangulation and present detail explanations. Relevant information was also gathered from secondary sources (e.g., watershed management planning and implementation documents and annual reports) available in Guagusa Shiudad Woreda Agricultural Office. Based on the result Chenetaly watershed was severely degraded due to inappropriate cultivation, over grazing, gully formation and deforestation factors before the implementation of watershed management practices. Due to presence of high watershed degradation, there was high ecological high decline of ecological balance like soil formation and gully formation. To overcome this problem, watershed management program was introduced in Chenetaly Watershed and many physical and biological conservation measures were highly practiced to reduce soil erosion, rehabilitate gully formation and decrease loss of soil fertility. The finding of this study confirmed that the introduction of watershed management has been brought some important changes in local ecosystem. Some of the major ecological changes include decrease in soil degradation, increase soil capability and agricultural productivity, increase forest rehabilitation and firewood availability; increase the availability of grass and other livestock fodder. Based on the finding of study the following conclusion has made participatory watershed management can play significant role to improve the ecological condition of the area. Based on foundation of study I recommend that effective watershed management intervention has been undertaken in Chenetaly Watershed such best practices should extend to neighboring watersheds.

Published in Social Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ss.20221102.11
Page(s) 52-59
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Ecological Balance, Watershed Degradation, Watershed Management

References
[1] Achouri, M., Tennyson, L. and Zingari, P. C. (2003). Preparing for the next generation of watershed management program and project proceeding of the Asian regional work shop, Kathmandu, Nepal.
[2] Aklilu, A. (2006). Caring for the land: Best practice in soil and water conservation in Beressa watershed, highland of Ethiopia. PhD Thesis, Wageningen University.
[3] Chisholm, N. and Tassew, W. (2012). Managing watersheds for resilient livelihoods in Ethiopia in OECD, Development Cooperation Report. Lessons in linking sustainability and development OECD publishing. Retrieved on september 2021, from http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/dcr-2012-15-en.
[4] Cochran, W. (1977). Sampling thechniques. 3rd ed. John Wiley and sons. USA.
[5] Dessalew, M. (2011). Determinants of farmers’ perception of soil and water conservation practices on cultivated land in Ankesha District, Ethiopia. Agricultural Science, Engineering and Technology Research, 2 (5): 1-9.
[6] FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization). (2006). New generation of watershed management programs and project: Resources books for practitioners and local decision makers of FAO review. Rome, Italy.
[7] FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization). (2014). Protected areas, people and food security: FAO contribution to the world parks Congress, 12–19 November 2014. Sydney, Australia.
[8] Felix, K. A., Pascal, H., Anastase, A. H., Houinsou, O. and Armel, G. S. (2015). Farmers perception on soil degradation and their socioeconomic determinants in three watersheds of southern Benin. Journal of Biology, Agricultural and Healthcare, 5 (2): 16-28.
[9] GSWARDO (Guagusa Shikudad Woreda Agriculture and Rural Development Office). (2021). 2008 fourth quarter annual report for Awi Administration Zone Agricultural and Rural Development Office, Tilili.
[10] Ndavi, K. R., Kioko, K. M. and Patrick, K. D. (2016). Household livelihood strategies and socioeconomic conditions influencing watershed degradation in Kaiti sub watershed.
[11] Sharma, B. R., Samra, J. S., Scott, C. A. and Wani, S. P. (2005). Watershed management challenges: Improving productivity, resources and livelihoods. International water management institute. Colombo, Sri Lanka.
[12] Taddesse, D. (2011). Assessment on practices and aspects of farm land management: In the case of Gozamenworeda, East Gojjam, Ethiopia. MA Thesis, Addis Ababa University.
[13] Tesfaye, H. (2011). Assessment of sustainable watershed management approach case study Lenche Dima, Tsegureyesus and Dijjil Watershed. MSC thesis, Cornell University.
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    Addisu Dagnaw Mekonnen. (2022). Ecological Benefits of Participatory Watershed Management Practice in the Case of Chenetaly Watershed, Guagusa Shikudad Woreda, Ethiopia. Social Sciences, 11(2), 52-59. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20221102.11

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    ACS Style

    Addisu Dagnaw Mekonnen. Ecological Benefits of Participatory Watershed Management Practice in the Case of Chenetaly Watershed, Guagusa Shikudad Woreda, Ethiopia. Soc. Sci. 2022, 11(2), 52-59. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20221102.11

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    AMA Style

    Addisu Dagnaw Mekonnen. Ecological Benefits of Participatory Watershed Management Practice in the Case of Chenetaly Watershed, Guagusa Shikudad Woreda, Ethiopia. Soc Sci. 2022;11(2):52-59. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20221102.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ss.20221102.11,
      author = {Addisu Dagnaw Mekonnen},
      title = {Ecological Benefits of Participatory Watershed Management Practice in the Case of Chenetaly Watershed, Guagusa Shikudad Woreda, Ethiopia},
      journal = {Social Sciences},
      volume = {11},
      number = {2},
      pages = {52-59},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20221102.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20221102.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20221102.11},
      abstract = {The rapid global population growth and increasing impacts of climate change have resulted water and food shortage. Due to the increasing pressure from anthropogenic activities the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and their interrelation are largely disrupted. As the result, the benefit we get from the ecosystem has reduced, this calls for a shift in the management of ecosystems and the use of water for food security. The objective of this study was focus Ecological Benefits of Participatory Watershed Management Practice; Case Study of Chenetaly Watershed, Guagusa Shikudad Woreda, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. The data were collected from 84 randomly selected households through household survey. In addition to household survey, focus group discussion, key informant interview and observation were used to collect additional data and used for triangulation and present detail explanations. Relevant information was also gathered from secondary sources (e.g., watershed management planning and implementation documents and annual reports) available in Guagusa Shiudad Woreda Agricultural Office. Based on the result Chenetaly watershed was severely degraded due to inappropriate cultivation, over grazing, gully formation and deforestation factors before the implementation of watershed management practices. Due to presence of high watershed degradation, there was high ecological high decline of ecological balance like soil formation and gully formation. To overcome this problem, watershed management program was introduced in Chenetaly Watershed and many physical and biological conservation measures were highly practiced to reduce soil erosion, rehabilitate gully formation and decrease loss of soil fertility. The finding of this study confirmed that the introduction of watershed management has been brought some important changes in local ecosystem. Some of the major ecological changes include decrease in soil degradation, increase soil capability and agricultural productivity, increase forest rehabilitation and firewood availability; increase the availability of grass and other livestock fodder. Based on the finding of study the following conclusion has made participatory watershed management can play significant role to improve the ecological condition of the area. Based on foundation of study I recommend that effective watershed management intervention has been undertaken in Chenetaly Watershed such best practices should extend to neighboring watersheds.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Ecological Benefits of Participatory Watershed Management Practice in the Case of Chenetaly Watershed, Guagusa Shikudad Woreda, Ethiopia
    AU  - Addisu Dagnaw Mekonnen
    Y1  - 2022/03/23
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20221102.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ss.20221102.11
    T2  - Social Sciences
    JF  - Social Sciences
    JO  - Social Sciences
    SP  - 52
    EP  - 59
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2326-988X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20221102.11
    AB  - The rapid global population growth and increasing impacts of climate change have resulted water and food shortage. Due to the increasing pressure from anthropogenic activities the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and their interrelation are largely disrupted. As the result, the benefit we get from the ecosystem has reduced, this calls for a shift in the management of ecosystems and the use of water for food security. The objective of this study was focus Ecological Benefits of Participatory Watershed Management Practice; Case Study of Chenetaly Watershed, Guagusa Shikudad Woreda, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. The data were collected from 84 randomly selected households through household survey. In addition to household survey, focus group discussion, key informant interview and observation were used to collect additional data and used for triangulation and present detail explanations. Relevant information was also gathered from secondary sources (e.g., watershed management planning and implementation documents and annual reports) available in Guagusa Shiudad Woreda Agricultural Office. Based on the result Chenetaly watershed was severely degraded due to inappropriate cultivation, over grazing, gully formation and deforestation factors before the implementation of watershed management practices. Due to presence of high watershed degradation, there was high ecological high decline of ecological balance like soil formation and gully formation. To overcome this problem, watershed management program was introduced in Chenetaly Watershed and many physical and biological conservation measures were highly practiced to reduce soil erosion, rehabilitate gully formation and decrease loss of soil fertility. The finding of this study confirmed that the introduction of watershed management has been brought some important changes in local ecosystem. Some of the major ecological changes include decrease in soil degradation, increase soil capability and agricultural productivity, increase forest rehabilitation and firewood availability; increase the availability of grass and other livestock fodder. Based on the finding of study the following conclusion has made participatory watershed management can play significant role to improve the ecological condition of the area. Based on foundation of study I recommend that effective watershed management intervention has been undertaken in Chenetaly Watershed such best practices should extend to neighboring watersheds.
    VL  - 11
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Social Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

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