Abstract
This study was conducted with the objectives of comparing range condition of an area under different land use practices (resettled and non-resettled) and assessing the possible effect of resettlement on range condition in Meinit-Shasha district of Bench-Maji zone, southwest Ethiopia. Two kebeles were selected purposively where vegetation and soil conditions were investigated in 40 quadrats across 20 sampling sites using 20 × 20 m (400 m2) quadrat, which was distributed along transects. The investigation included the assessment of grass composition, basal cover, litter cover; age distribution of dominant grasses, number of seedlings and soil conditions (erosion and compaction), which were investigated on 1 × 1 m (1 m2) area. Data from range vegetation survey was analyzed using SAS software. The study results showed significant differences (P < 0.05) between kebeles in terms of grass composition, basal cover, number of seedling and soil condition. The total score for range condition rating showed that the resettled kebele was in the category of poor range condition, whereas the non-resettled was in fair condition. Expansion of crop cultivation and the establishment of permanent settlements as a result of resettlement program were considered to be the main contributing factors to the reduction of grazing lands and poor range condition scores in the resettled kebele. The study showed a higher level of degradation in the resettled kebele than non-resettled kebele. Generally, the results of this study indicated that unplanned resettlement program had a negative influence on rangeland vegetation dynamics. Cautious planning and implementation of resettlement programs in recognition of differences in land use between the host communities and resettlers is suggested. Securing inhabitants’ land tenure would facilitate the recovery of rangeland vegetation and conservation of biodiversity. Key words: Resettlement, rangeland condition, land use.
Highlights
IntroductionForced by natural disasters and increased frequency of food crisis, people in many parts of rural Ethiopia have relatively remained deprived (Brown and Amdissa, 2007)
From the results of these findings, there is a clear indication of rangeland degradation following resettlement of farmers in pastoral lands of southwest Ethiopia
Apart from the permanent settlements on the communal rangelands, expansion of crop cultivation, grazing pressure and reduced mobility of livestock were expected to decrease the status of vegetation cover
Summary
Forced by natural disasters and increased frequency of food crisis, people in many parts of rural Ethiopia have relatively remained deprived (Brown and Amdissa, 2007). In response to the vulgarity of climate change and resultant poverty, resettlements of people to various habitable localities has been implemented as a development. Res. strategy by successive regimes in Ethiopia with the aim of alleviating poverty and securing food self-sufficiency. As in the case in many developing nations, resettlement has been becoming a dominant development discourse in Ethiopia since the middle of the last century (Belay et al, 2005; Asrat, 2006)
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