Long-term changes in soil-based ecological services at three sites in Ethiopia
Ethiopia faces land degradation as one of its major environmental problems. In response to the degradation, massive land rehabilitation and conservation activities have been undertaken since the mid-1970s. In spite of these efforts, the impacts of long-term land management have not been examined fro...
| Autores principales: | , , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
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Academic Journals
2013
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/33804 |
| _version_ | 1855538018089172992 |
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| author | Shiferaw, A. Hurni, H. Zeleke, G. |
| author_browse | Hurni, H. Shiferaw, A. Zeleke, G. |
| author_facet | Shiferaw, A. Hurni, H. Zeleke, G. |
| author_sort | Shiferaw, A. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Ethiopia faces land degradation as one of its major environmental problems. In response to the degradation, massive land rehabilitation and conservation activities have been undertaken since the mid-1970s. In spite of these efforts, the impacts of long-term land management have not been examined from soil-based ecological services perspective. This study assesses soil-based ecological services over the past 30 years at three sites (Gununo, Anjeni and Maybar) in the Ethiopian Highlands. The study used key informants, household questionnaires, group discussions, rankings and indicator-based assessments. Ecosystem assessment frameworks and past research documents were also reviewed. In all three sites, since the 1980s, despite some reduction in tree plant bio-diversity, soil-based ecological services have increased, while disservices decreased. Assessment showed increased services and reduced disserves more in the better-managed watersheds than in the less-managed watersheds. Increased soil-based ecosystem services were reflected in increased crop yield, plant cover, conserved area and reduced flood risk, vulnerability to drought and eroded area in all three sites. The descending rank order in achieving benefits from long-term land management is: Gununo > Maybar > Anjeni. The study recommends further assessment at larger scales and with a focus on soil nutrients in the areas.hree sites (Gununo, Anjeni and Maybar) in the Ethiopian Highlands. The study used key informants, household questionnaires, group discussions, rankings and indicatorbased assessments. Ecosystem assessment frameworks and past research documents were also reviewed. In all three sites, since the 1980s, despite some reduction in tree plant bio-diversity, soilbased ecological services have increased, while disservices decreased. Assessment showed increased services and reduced disserves more in the better-managed watersheds than in the less-managed watersheds. Increased soil-based ecosystem services were reflected in increased crop yield, plant cover, conserved area and reduced flood risk, vulnerability to drought and eroded area in all three sites. The descending rank order in achieving benefits from long-term land management is: Gununo > Maybar > Anjeni. The study recommends further assessment at larger scales and with a focus on soil nutrients in the areas. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace33804 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publishDateRange | 2013 |
| publishDateSort | 2013 |
| publisher | Academic Journals |
| publisherStr | Academic Journals |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace338042024-04-25T06:01:41Z Long-term changes in soil-based ecological services at three sites in Ethiopia Shiferaw, A. Hurni, H. Zeleke, G. soil ecology Ethiopia faces land degradation as one of its major environmental problems. In response to the degradation, massive land rehabilitation and conservation activities have been undertaken since the mid-1970s. In spite of these efforts, the impacts of long-term land management have not been examined from soil-based ecological services perspective. This study assesses soil-based ecological services over the past 30 years at three sites (Gununo, Anjeni and Maybar) in the Ethiopian Highlands. The study used key informants, household questionnaires, group discussions, rankings and indicator-based assessments. Ecosystem assessment frameworks and past research documents were also reviewed. In all three sites, since the 1980s, despite some reduction in tree plant bio-diversity, soil-based ecological services have increased, while disservices decreased. Assessment showed increased services and reduced disserves more in the better-managed watersheds than in the less-managed watersheds. Increased soil-based ecosystem services were reflected in increased crop yield, plant cover, conserved area and reduced flood risk, vulnerability to drought and eroded area in all three sites. The descending rank order in achieving benefits from long-term land management is: Gununo > Maybar > Anjeni. The study recommends further assessment at larger scales and with a focus on soil nutrients in the areas.hree sites (Gununo, Anjeni and Maybar) in the Ethiopian Highlands. The study used key informants, household questionnaires, group discussions, rankings and indicatorbased assessments. Ecosystem assessment frameworks and past research documents were also reviewed. In all three sites, since the 1980s, despite some reduction in tree plant bio-diversity, soilbased ecological services have increased, while disservices decreased. Assessment showed increased services and reduced disserves more in the better-managed watersheds than in the less-managed watersheds. Increased soil-based ecosystem services were reflected in increased crop yield, plant cover, conserved area and reduced flood risk, vulnerability to drought and eroded area in all three sites. The descending rank order in achieving benefits from long-term land management is: Gununo > Maybar > Anjeni. The study recommends further assessment at larger scales and with a focus on soil nutrients in the areas. 2013-08-15 2013-10-10T06:58:14Z 2013-10-10T06:58:14Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/33804 en Open Access Academic Journals Shiferaw, A., Hurni, H. and Zeleke, G. 2013. Long-term changes in soil-based ecological services at three sites in Ethiopia. Journal of Ecology and the Natural Environment 5(8): 172-180. |
| spellingShingle | soil ecology Shiferaw, A. Hurni, H. Zeleke, G. Long-term changes in soil-based ecological services at three sites in Ethiopia |
| title | Long-term changes in soil-based ecological services at three sites in Ethiopia |
| title_full | Long-term changes in soil-based ecological services at three sites in Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Long-term changes in soil-based ecological services at three sites in Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-term changes in soil-based ecological services at three sites in Ethiopia |
| title_short | Long-term changes in soil-based ecological services at three sites in Ethiopia |
| title_sort | long term changes in soil based ecological services at three sites in ethiopia |
| topic | soil ecology |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/33804 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shiferawa longtermchangesinsoilbasedecologicalservicesatthreesitesinethiopia AT hurnih longtermchangesinsoilbasedecologicalservicesatthreesitesinethiopia AT zelekeg longtermchangesinsoilbasedecologicalservicesatthreesitesinethiopia |