Abstract
Ethiopia, like as many countries in the world, has immense wetland resources. The wetlands in Ethiopia include many forms such as lakes, swamps, marshy wetlands, peat wetlands, flood plains, high mountain lakes, natural and manmade ponds. These wetlands have been contributing for the well-being of many Ethiopians for generations and still they are contributing and this will continue for years in the future. Wetlands, according to the Ramsar Convention are defined as “areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water as, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish, or salt including areas of marine water, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters”. In Ethiopia there are large areas of wetlands which are distributed in various parts of the country almost all altitudinal ranges from lowland (the Dallol depression) up to top of high mountains. Wetlands are of enormous socioeconomic and environmental values and attract a number of users that get benefited directly or indirectly. They are source of water, food, reed, medicinal plants and other income generating activities for the rural community.Wetlands generally classified into 3 major classes: freshwater, saltwater and manmade wetlands According to the FAO in 1984, two types of wetlands (swamps and marshes) dominate in Ethiopia and some studies show that based on scattered information, wetlands are estimated to cover about 2% of the total land mass of the country. Though wetlands in the country is poorly studied and recorded more than 40 wetlands are identified as important bird areas for the nation, and these sites support some of the endemic bird life and biodiversity of Ethiopia. The main objective of this paper is to discuss the importance, distribution and threats to wetlands of Ethiopia. Keywords: Wetland, Ramsar convention, wetland management, threat DOI : 10.7176/JNSR/9-6-02 Publication date :March 31 st 2019
Highlights
Wetlands have been intricately linked with humankind throughout the ages
7 Conclusion The present studies show that, the Ethiopian wetlands are distributed in different parts of the country, in almost all ecological and altitudinal ranges covering approximately 2% of its total surface area
The existing estimations of its extent are based on some general environmental assessments.Wetlands have diverse benefits and their sustainable use should be maintained
Summary
Wetlands have been intricately linked with humankind throughout the ages. Evidence of rice culture dates to the earliest age of humans, long before the era of historical records About 40% of the world's population uses rice as a major staple; rice culture currently occupies about 15% of the world's wetland area. Around 70,000 km areas are covered with natural inland water bodies including rivers, lakes and associated wetlands (Ayenew, 2009). Lakes are the widely distributed types of wetlands in Ethiopia both on highlands and lowland parts of the country with the largest concentration in the great East African Rift valley system (EPA, 2004). This area is the hottest and driest part of the country and is where the Dallol depression is located – at its lowest point; Dallol is 116m below sea level, the biome contains a number of fresh and saline wetlands, including Lakes Afambo, Afdera, Gamari and Asali. Western river floodplains Alwero, Baro, Akobo, Gilo Chomen, Fincha Swamps Dabus Swamp Beles Floodplain
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