Evaluating an integrated watershed management in the Northern Ethiopia

摘要

The advanced version of land rehabilitation strategy being practiced particularly in Northern Ethiopia is the application of the concept of participatory watershed management, which is the judicious use for all resources i.e. land, vegetations and water of the watershed to achieve maximum production with a minimum hazard to the natural resources and for the well being of the people. This has been practiced in some selected watersheds of the region since the last decade. In participatory integrated watershed management, the approach can be qualified through two aims. The process must be participatory and integrated. There is a significant increase in plantation and area closures at the expense of grazing and bush land. Sheet and rill erosion and runoff reduced by 89 and 26 % while gully channels refilled by 96 %. Cover factor (C) and practice factor (P) of the USLE decreased by 48 % and 29 % respectively, while average runoff coefficient (RC) decreased by 53 %. This result was achieved with the full participation of community at planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation phases of the project.