Agroforestry trees for soil maintenance: a case study of Albizia gummifera and Cordia africana in Guangua district, Northwestern Ethiopia

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe vector‐borne parasitic disease. In Ethiopia, the estimated incidence of VL ranges from 2,000 to 4,500 cases per year. Based on this, the main objective of this research was to develop an area risk map of VL and to estimate the total population at risk in KaftaHumera District, Northwestern Ethiopia. To achieve the stated objective, geospatial tools were used to extract and develop a risk cover map of VL using variables including rainfall, temperature, vegetation cover, soil type, altitude, slope and population data. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assign the weight of influence for the variables in a spatially weighted overlay analysis model. The result revealed that temperature, elevation, soil, slope, rainfall and NDVI were the major predictors of VL presence with percentage influence of 29%, 22%, 15%, 13%, 12%, and 9%, respectively. From the produced risk map, 3453.69 km2, 2210.38 km2 and 269.59 km2 representing 58.21%, 37.25%, and 4.54%, of the total area of KaftaHumera District are at high, medium and low VL risk, respectively. In addition, the estimated population at high, medium and low risk levels are 92,831 (68.98%), 34,864 (25.91 %) and 6,874 (5.11%), respectively. Based on the output, villages such as Bereket, Rawoyan, Baeker, Adebay, May Kadra and Humera town were identified with high population at risk for VL. Identification of “priority Villages” requiring immediate attention from health agencies as well as the local community greatly reduces the cost, time and energy needed for designing effective VL control measures.

The impact of a food security program on household food consumption in Northwestern Ethiopia: A matching estimator approach

In recent times, soil erosion interlocked with land use and land cover (LULC) changes has become one of the most important environmental issues in developing countries. Evaluation of this complex interaction between LULC change and soil erosion is indispensable in land use planning and conservation works. This paper analysed the impact of LULC change on soil erosion in the north-western highland Ethiopia over the period 1986–2016. Rib watershed, the area with dynamic LULC change and severe soil erosion problem, was selected as a case study site. Integrated approach that combined geospatial technologies with revised universal soil loss equation model was utilized to evaluate the spatio-temporal dynamics of soil loss over the study period. Pixel-based overlay of soil erosion intensity maps with LULC maps was carried out to understand the change in soil loss due to LULC change. Results showed that the annual soil loss in the study area varied from 0 to 236.5 t ha−1 year−1 (tons per hectare per year) in 1986 and 0–807 t ha−1 year−1 in 2016. The average annual soil loss for the entire watershed was estimated about 40 t ha−1 year−1 in 1986 comparing with 68 t ha−1 year−1 in 2016, a formidable increase. Soil erosion potential that was estimated to exceed the average soil loss tolerance level increased from 34.5% in 1986 to 66.8% in 2016. Expansion of agricultural land at the expense of grassland and shrubland was the most detrimental factor for severe soil erosion in the watershed. The most noticeable change in soil erosion intensity was observed from cropland with mean annual soil loss amount increased to 41.38 t ha−1 year−1 in 2016 from 26.60 in 1986. Moreover, the most successive erosion problems were detected in eastern, south-eastern and northern parts of the watershed. Therefore, the results of this study can help identify the soil erosion hot spots and conservation priority areas at local and regional levels.

Heritage management is an administrative means by which heritage resources are protected from natural and manmade cause of deterioration. The town of Gondar is located in Northwestern Ethiopia and it has outstanding and outstay world cultural heritage resources situated at its hub. However, these stunning properties are threatened with multidimensional heritage management problems. So, the main aim of this paper is to identify the main and existing challenges and show the severity of the problems in comparison with different case studies in the world. It compiled through qualitative research method with descriptive research design. And data were collected through survey, participant observation and photographic documentation and interpretation. The collected data also compiled by qualitative method of data analysis. The main and the existing challenges of Gondar’s world heritage sites, specifically of the Fasil Ghebbi and the baths are plant overgrowth, human activities on the immediate vicinity of the sites (that leads to vibration of the structures and noise disturbance), negligence, visitors pressure, improper conservation, nonexistence or inapplicability of heritage management plan, Lack of tourist follow-up system as a means for deliberate graffiti of heritages, lack of cooperation among the concerned bodies and unavailability of directions and instructions. Finally, it is highly recommended to made immediate intervention on each problems.

Heritage management is an administrative means by which heritage resources are protected from natural and manmade cause of deterioration. The town of Gondar is located in Northwestern Ethiopia and it has outstanding and outstay world cultural heritage resources situated at its hub. However, these stunning properties are threatened with multidimensional heritage management problems. So, this paper tried to identify the main and existing challenges and show the severity of the problems in comparison with different case studies in the world. It compiled through qualitative research method with descriptive research design. And data were collected through survey, participant observation and photographic documentation and interpretation. The collected data also compiled by qualitative method of data analysis. The main and the existing challenges of Gondar’s world heritage sites, specifically of the Fasil Ghebbi and the baths are plant overgrowth, human activities on the immediate vicinity of the sites (that leads to vibration of the structures and noise disturbance), negligence, visitors pressure, improper conservation, nonexistence or inapplicability of heritage management plan, Lack of tourist follow-up system as a means for deliberate graffiti of heritages, lack of cooperation among the concerned bodies and unavailability of directions and instructions. Finally, it is highly recommended to made immediate intervention on each problems. Keywords: Challenges, Heritage Management, World Heritage, Gondar and Fasil Ghebbi DOI : 10.7176/JTHS/43-02 Publication date :September 30 th 2019

Land redistribution is the deliberate act of governments to handle the problems of social inequality and poverty. The objective of this study was to assess the 1996 land redistribution policy of Amhara National Regional State (ANRS) in terms of its process of implementation, the criteria used and the socio-economic effects of the policy, specifically in Basoliben woreda farmers. Employing a qualitative descriptive case study design, primary sources of data were collected through key informant interviews and focus group discussion (FGD) whereas secondary data was gathered from different documents. Both cross-case analysis and document analysis were used to analyze the collected data. The findings of the study implied that the redistribution policy in ANRS has resulted in both positive and negative effects on the socio-economic life of farmers. Among the positive effects, landless, women and marginalized sections of the society like artisans got access to land. The negative effects include political allegiance used as the mere criteria to allocate land, the reprisal rationale of the regional government to undertake the policy, implementation problems like lack of transparency, land corruption and lack of monitoring and evaluation systems which further resulted in inequality which needs to be addressed.

Soil loss estimation using RUSLE model, GIS and remote sensing techniques: A case study from the Dembecha Watershed, Northwestern Ethiopia

The aim of the study is to understand the dynamics of borderland conflicts in one location –Gonder, north-west Ethiopia, specifically, Metema Woreda – which lies along the Ethiopia-Sudan border. The study employed qualitative research methods such as semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, case studies, and non-participant observation. The colonial origin of the Ethio-Sudan border is the overall background to the confrontation between farmers and investors over the contested lands in the region. The continued uncertainty over the precise location of the border has aggravated conflict that has yet to be resolved.

In many regions of the world, fire is an integral part of land-use practices. The accurate spatio-temporal characterization of the fire regime can, therefore, inform land-use policy at many scales. Satellite-based fire detections can be manipulated with GIS methodologies to investigate the spatio-temporal patterns of fire across a landscape. However, caveats and accuracy limitations of data and analysis methodologies must be understood in order to avoid misrepresentation of the fire regime and its impacts. This research uses moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) active fire detections (MCD14ML) together with land cover data (MOD12), (MOD44B), population data (Afripop) and information on land use drawn from the literature. A case study is presented for Ethiopia reporting on a 7-year period. Results show that 91% of fires occur in the woody savanna and savanna biomes, and fire activity is inversely correlated with population density. A 0.05° latitude/longitude grid is used to report fire density and indicated as more adequate than the existing 0.5° MODIS Climate Modelling Grid. Fire occurs with highest density in north-western Ethiopia, where smaller clusters of high fire activity are pointed out. Caveats and lessons learned are discussed in order to provide a best-practice methodology for country-level fire reporting.

Monitoring small-scale irrigation performance using remote sensing in the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

Church forests provide a safe habitat for plants and animals, sources of food and traditional medicine, seed bank for native tree species, reduce soil erosion and rich in biodiversity. But the economic values of these important benefits of church forests were not well documented. Therefore, this study was conducted to estimate the mean and total willingness to pay for church forest conservation using open-ended and double bounded contingent valuation formats. In doing so, both cash and labour contributions were used to measure the respondents’ willingness to pay. Primary data were collected from 300 randomly selected households and analyzed using descriptive statistics and bivariate probit model. The estimated mean willingness to pay from the double bounded format (239.79 Ethiopian Birr) is higher than from the open-ended format (178 Ethiopian Birr). Similarly, the estimated mean willingness to contribute labour was also 71.51 and 94.34 man-days for the open-ended and double bounded contingent valuation format, respectively. The comparison indicated that the mean and total willingness to pay from the double bounded format is higher than in the open-ended format. Therefore, researchers, policymakers, and forestry experts should give special attention to the double bounded format rather than to the open-ended format to elicit respondents’ willingness to pay for the conservation of church forests.

Caregiver interpretation of infant behavior

Rainfall kinetic energy (KE) is an important factor in soil erosion models. Particle detachment from the soil surface depends on raindrop KE. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the drop-size distribution (DSD) and KE of rainfall to understand soil erosion and runoff generation. In this study, we used an optical disdrometer to investigate the influence of DSD on the intensity (I), KE, and erosivity of rainfall at Bahir Dar, in northwestern Ethiopia. We recorded 1-min rainfall observations during 42 events, with I ranging from 0.82 to 46.27 mm h−1. The median raindrop diameter (D50), which ranged between 1.14 and 4.33 mm, was significantly correlated with I (R2 = 0.96; P < 0.001). We developed indices of rainfall KE as a function of time (KEtime) and of the KE content (KEcon). The best-fit relationships between KEtime and I were equally strong: R2 = 0.96 (P < 0.001) for both a linear function and a polynomial function. KEcon and I were most strongly related for a logarithmic function (R2 = 0.98; P < 0.001), followed by power (R2 = 0.95; P < 0.001) and polynomial (R2 = 0.93; P < 0.001) functions. The KEcon measured at Bahir Dar ranged from 7.4 to 32.43 J m −2 mm−1, whereas KEtime ranged from 38.34 to 1992.64 J m−2 h−1 for the observed range of I. The potential erosivity of rainfall events was found to be well correlated to smaller rainfalls depths (R2 = 0.60, P < 0.05). Our results suggest that, though empirical models are easy to use since they require readily available rainfall data, KE rather than rainfall depth should be used to estimate erosivity in the study area and regions of northwestern Ethiopia with similar characteristics. Moreover, the reasons why different measuring methods in the same area and similar methods in different areas provide different kinetic energy results are analyzed and discussed.

Based on a case study in the Debark District of northwestern Ethiopia, this article investigates how biocultural diversity provides options for food sovereignty. Following a series of semi-structured interviews with 30 farming families in 28 villages, we describe farmers’ relations with plants, including 1) consumption, 2) exchange, 3) use within food system activities, 4) other benefits, and 5) negative impacts to the food system. Farmers identified 123 plants that play a role within their food system. Although the total number of useful plants is highest for non-domesticated and woody species, the average family named more domesticated and herbaceous species. Non-domesticated plants are rarely consumed as food or sold at the local market; however, they play important roles in other food system activities. We introduce a new Substitutability Index to estimate the number of plants available for specific purposes within categories of use and identify strengths and potential vulnerabilities of the Debark food system. We conclude that programs and policies to expand farmers’ relations with plant diversity, by promoting useful semi- and non-domesticated species and facilitating knowledge exchange among communities, could expand options for food sovereignty as a path toward long-term food security.

This study analyses determinants of sustainable use of farmlands in Debre Mawi and Densa Bahta rural kebeles of Amhara region in northwestern Ethiopia. Within the framework of qualitative research methodology, the case study approach adopted in the study. The required primary data were gathered through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. A generic analytical framework that combines the sustainable livelihood framework (SLF) and the farming system model was used in this study to understand the synergy of multiple variables that mediate sustainable land management practice among study respondents selected from the case study kebeles. The study reveals the relative importance of productive asset endowments, self-efficacy and risk perception on the sustainable use of farmlands in the Amhara region. Interviewees that follow unsustainable farming practices were endowed with relatively lower pieces of farmland and disadvantaged in possession of other productive assets. They also demonstrated a low level of self-efficacy and a risk-averse attitude to adopting conservation technologies, as they possessed smaller sizes of farmland compared with the village and regional average. The productive asset holdings of land-poor farmers and opportunities for off-farm activities should thus be enhanced to halt the ongoing farmland degradation in Amhara region.