The role of community-based watershed development in reducing farmers’ vulnerability to climate change and variability in the northwestern highlands of Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

Community-based watershed development (CBWD) has been implemented in Ethiopia since the last three decades. However, the benefits of these watershed development interventions for climate change adaptation are not well documented. This study, therefore, assesses the contributions of CBWD in reducing farmers’ vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and variability in the northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Data were collected from systematically selected 157 households using questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of questions on climate, ecosystem and households’ livelihood capital. Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) and Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change Livelihood Vulnerability Index (IPCC-LVI) methods were used to generate vulnerability indices. Vulnerability indices computed for three conserved watersheds were compared with one non-conserved watershed using one-way ANOVA test. LVI score for ecosystem related indicators was significantly low for Adef Wuha compared to the non-conserved watershed. Similarly, LVI scores generated from agriculture, wealth and social indicators were low for Tija Baji and Guansa watersheds. On the other hand, the IPCC-LVI result did not show significant differences in exposure; however, sensitivity scores of conserved watersheds were significantly lower compared to the non-conserved. The adaptive capacities of two conserved watersheds (Guansa and Tija Baji) were also significantly lower as compared to the non-conserved. The overall (composite) vulnerability of watersheds generated from both methods (LVI and IPCC-LVI) showed that the conserved watersheds were less vulnerable to climate change compared to the non-conserved. The findings suggest that CBWD is an important strategy to reduce vulnerability of smallholder farmers to the ongoing and future climate change.     

Trees and rural households’ adaptation to local environmental change in the central highlands of Ethiopia

This study assesses the role of trees in adaptation strategies of rural households to local environmental change in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Change in tree cover was assessed by producing Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) maps using satellite remote sensing images, and household survey was conducted to generate socioeconomic data. The results show that tree cover has increased over the last 30 years, mostly in the form of eucalyptus woodlots around homesteads. Eucalyptus reportedly helps households pass through livelihood shocks and provide protection against negative effects of climate change and variability. Despite some concerns on the part of local agricultural experts that planting eucalyptus may affect future food production, farmers are converting their croplands into eucalyptus woodlots. We conclude that land use planning and proper allocation of land resource is important to improve local livelihoods while also supporting adaptation of communities to local environmental change in general and climate change in particular.     

Smallholder farmers’ coping and adaptation strategies to climate change and variability in the central highlands of Ethiopia

This study describes the different coping and adaptation strategies used by smallholder farmers to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change and variability in the central highlands of Ethiopia. A distinction was made between coping and adaptation strategies, respectively, as short-term and longer term measures. The study surveyed 200 farm households in three districts, and three focus group discussions and three key informant interviews were conducted in each district. All the surveyed farmers perceived at least one aspect of change in the local climate. Their perception of an increasing trend of temperature was supported by meteorological records, while their perception of declining annual rainfall was not supported by actual records in two of the three districts, where positive trends in rainfall were observed. Farmers identified changes in rainfall and drought as their major climate change-related risks. In response, farmers used different strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and variability. The most widely used coping strategy was selling livestock (85% of the respondents), followed by changing consumption pattern (76% of the respondents). Changing crop planting dates was the most preferred adaptation option (89% of the respondents), while irrigation as an adaptation strategy was used only by 10% of the surveyed farmers. Shortage of water for irrigation (83% of the respondents) and shortage of money to buy necessary inputs (77% of the respondents) were the major barriers to effective adaptation frequently cited in the study area. We conclude that adaptation policy should build on existing coping and adaptation strategies and focus on addressing barriers to the adoption of coping and adaptation measures at different scales.     

Variability and trends in rainfall amount and extreme event indices in the Omo-Ghibe River Basin,Ethiopia

This study evaluates variability and trends in rainfall amount and extreme event indices in the Omo-Ghibe River Basin of Ethiopia based on observed records from six stations. Nine daily rainfall indices were defined and analyzed based on the World Meteorological Organization guideline. Sen’s slope estimator and Mann–Kendall’s trend test were used to determine the magnitude and statistical significance of the rainfall changes, respectively. The results show complex patterns of rainfall variability and local-scale trends. Statistically significant increasing changes were observed at Key Afer for most of the indices. On the other hand, the increasing trends in the number of very heavy rainfall events (R20 mm) were statistically significant at three (Jinka, Key Afer and Wolaita Sodo) out of the six stations. On the other hand, significant decreasing trends were found at Sawla for the maximum one day (Rx1 day) and the number of very heavy rainfall event (R20 mm). No systematic trends were found for the number of wet and dry day-related rainfall indices. However, the annual total rainfall averaged for the entire basin and at two stations (Key Afer and Wolaita Sodo) showed statistically significant increasing trends, both at the 0.01 level. Generally, the results of this study contradict with previous studies that reported significant declining trends in annual and Kiremt (main rainy season) rainfall amounts over this part of the country, suggesting the reviving of rainfall during the last two decades. Also, the results of this study agree with previous researches that reported the absence of systematic patterns of trends in daily rainfall indices in different parts of the country. The study has important implications for an effective management of water resources and climate risk management particularly in view of the fact that five hydropower plants and large-scale sugarcane plantations are planned, and some are under construction in the basin.