Challenges and Strategies towards Challenges and Strategies towards Sustainable Land Use in 'North Wollo' Zone of the Amhara National Regional State

摘要

Current pressures of population (both human and livestock) growth and natural resources degradation are having very adverse impacts on food production capacity in Ethiopia. In line with that, sustainable agriculture is an urgent need in the highlands of this country. North wollo zone of the Amhara National regional state covers an area of 12,706 km~2; population is estimated at 1.4 million (density of about 111 person per km~2). More than 90% of the zone's population is dependent upon the land resources for their fulfillment of basic needs (food, fodder, fuel, fiber and timber). The zone is characterized by-rugged terrain, short but torrential rainfall pattern and consequently by advanced land degradation. In line with that the soil erosion is severe, deforestation is very high and crop production is low and unstable. The Ethio-Dutch supported "Environmental support project" conducted a reconnaissance survey of the physical land resources as well as the socio-economic situation of the area with the aim of improving management of natural resources and mapping out strategies that lead to wards sustainable land use in the study area. The paper discusses the potentials and constraints of the socio-economic and physical land resources of the zone and demonstrate the use of assembled natural resource and socio-economic information as a tool to institute sustainable land use in the Zone.