Perception-based Assessment of Ecosystem Services of Abijata-Shalla National Park Wetlands in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Abstract Abijata-Shalla Park was established as one of Ethiopia's national parks to safeguard wetlands and ecosystem services (ESs). Some of the ESs that are offered by the wetlands are currently depleting and disappearing rather than being protected. Understanding the drivers behind these changes can help individuals and policymakers design mitigation measures. The objective of this case was to assess ESs and the drivers of change with highlighting on the Abijata wetland. In addition to a household survey and group discussion, personal interviews and field observation were employed to collect data. Using these data, the various ESs were assessed and ranked from 1-10 according to local perception. Grading scales such as very high (−2), high (−1), neutral (0), low (+1), and very low (+2) were employed to analyse the drivers of ESs change. Analyses of the study revealed that some of the ESs, including fish, papyrus, water reeds, hunting and spiritual services, existed before 1991, but have since disappeared from the site. Twenty ESs are available; 11 services pertain to provisioning, followed by 4 regulating, 3 cultural and 2 supporting services. Wetland for cultivation ranked highest, followed by domestic water supply and pasture. All services, with the exception of arable land and pasture, are on the decline. Water abstraction is the primary driver of ESs change, followed by population growth and deforestation. The park existed as a "paper park." Water withdrawals from the Ziway-Shalla sub-basin should be restricted. Instead, focus on water conservation strategies to make better use of abstracted water.

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Impact of Land Use Change Study on Reservoir’s Sediment Yield using SWAT Model Platform

International Innovative Research Journal of Engineering and Technology ◽

10.32595/iirjet.org/v6i2.2020.137 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. C-8-C-16

Author(s):

Girma Kebebew Tufa ◽

◽

Bogale G/ Mariam ◽

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Land Use Change ◽

Sediment Yield ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Swat Model ◽

Mitigation Measures ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Dam Site ◽

Change Impact ◽

Model Platform

The overall goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of land use on reservoir’s sediment yield by applying Arc SWAT model interface with GIS and identify the vulnerable sub basin in Neshi dam watershed. Different input data were collected from different sources including Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy, and Ethiopia National Meteorological Agency. The study was done using historical records of nineteen years for Neshi Watershed. The calibrated flow and sediment for the 1992-2001 years gave R2 0.77, 0.92 and NES 0.64, 0.96, respectively. The validated flow and sediment for the 2002-2008 years gave R2 0.72, 0.93 and NES 0.75, 0.95, respectively.In this study the SWAT model yields average annual sediment load of 634.49, 516.82 and 542.56 ton/ha/yr for land use change of 1990, 2010 and 2017, respectively at Neshi outlet dam site. Therefore, the issue of land use change impact on sediment yield on reservoir as part of the integrated adaptation mitigation measures program in order to achieve sustainable development is very relevant. The output of this study can help planners, decision makers and other stakeholders to plan and implement appropriate soil and water conservation strategies.

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The role of water conservation strategies and benchmark ecotopes for increasing yields in South Africa’s semi-arid croplands

Water SA ◽

10.17159/wsa/2019.v45.i3.6736 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 45 (3 July) ◽

Author(s):

Malcolm Hensley ◽

Pieter AL Le Roux ◽

J Jacobus Botha ◽

Leon D Van Rensburg

Keyword(s):

Water Conservation ◽

New Technologies ◽

Rainwater Harvesting ◽

Arable Land ◽

Daily Rainfall ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Cumulative Probability ◽

Study Results ◽

Semi Arid

Recently published results regarding South Africa’s cropping potential show that about one third of the arable land is of low potential, located mainly in semi-arid areas, with the main problem being water shortage. This is therefore an appropriate time to review priorities and procedures, for selecting benchmark ecotopes to represent marginal areas, and for research needs with regard to water conservation strategies to mitigate the problems of low yields. Relevant international principles encapsulated in the words agro-ecology, sustainability and socio-economic conditions, are discussed. Relevant new technologies are described, namely: digital soil mapping that will facilitate the identification of benchmark ecotopes; a stochastic procedure to predict rainfall intensity data from daily rainfall that will facilitate runoff predictions; a crop yield cumulative probability procedure that enables sustainability to be described quantitatively. As a case study, results from a successful field experiment using the infield rainwater harvesting production technique on benchmark ecotopes in a semi-arid area, inhabited by subsistence farmers, are presented. The objectives of the study, procedures used and the method of expressing the results are recommended as guidelines for contributing towards mitigating the problem of low crop productivity across a large portion of the arable area in South Africa.

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Impact of Land Use Change Study on Reservoir’s Sediment Yield using SWAT Model Platform

International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology - Regular Issue ◽

10.35940/ijeat.e9877.1010120 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 199-206

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Land Use Change ◽

Sediment Yield ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Swat Model ◽

Mitigation Measures ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Dam Site ◽

Change Impact ◽

Model Platform

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INVESTIGATION OF FARMERS' PERCEPTION ON THE PROBLEM OF SOIL EROSION AND CONSERVATION KNOWLEDGE IN ANLEMO WOREDA, HADIYA ZONE, SNNPR

International Journal of Legal Studies ( IJOLS ) ◽

10.5604/01.3001.0015.2289 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 121-138

Author(s):

Alemu Ersino Ersedo

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Group Discussion ◽

Household Survey ◽

Soil And Water Conservation ◽

Conservation Practices ◽

Educational Training ◽

Conservation Measures ◽

Soil And Water

Soil erosion which causes degradation of land is one of the major challenges of rural households which hinder the developments of agricultural sector. With regard to this, different conservation measures were proposed by government and non-governmental organizations. But, the problems persisted in different parts of the country including Anlemo woreda’s due to lack of an appropri-ate use of soil and water conservation practices by farmers that emanated from different socio-economic, physical, institutional and psychological factors. The study attempted to assess the perception of farmers on erosion problem and adoption of introduced soil and water conserva-tion measures and determinants of farmers’ use of soil and water conservation practices in the study area. The required data for the study were collected through questionnaire, interview, focus group discussion and field observation. The household survey questionnaire data have been tabulated and summarized by utilizing the statistical package for social science (SPSS). From the finding of this study, multidimensional factors of demographic and socio-economic characteristics were responsible for farmers’ differential perception to the problem of soil ero-sion. In order to effectively plan for soil conservation measures application and introduce new techniques there is a need of involve local farmers and modifying educational/training programs which were provided for farmers by considering the existing knowledge and practices.

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Ecosystem Services Assessment of National Parks Networks for Functional Diversity and Carbon Conservation Strategies Using Remote Sensing

Earth Observation of Ecosystem Services ◽

10.1201/b15628-14 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 199-220

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Functional Diversity ◽

National Parks ◽

Conservation Strategies

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Prehistoric Reservoirs and Water Basins in the Mesa Verde Region: Intensification of Water Collection Strategies during the Great Pueblo Period

American Antiquity ◽

10.2307/281885 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 62 (4) ◽

pp. 664-681 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Richard H. Wilshusen ◽

Melissa J. Churchill ◽

James M. Potter

Keyword(s):

Water Conservation ◽

Large Scale ◽

American Southwest ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Domestic Water ◽

Mesa Verde ◽

Temporal Placement ◽

Collection Strategies ◽

Mesa Verde Region

More than 20 examples of probable prehistoric water basins with minimum storage capacities of 10,000–25,000 gallons of water are known in the Mesa Verde region of the American Southwest. The temporal placement of these artificially constructed basins, their exact uses, and their importance as public architecture have been poorly understood. We summarize the general literature on these features, give a detailed account of the excavation results of a dam and basin that we tested and dated, and then synthesize all available data from the gray literature on prehistoric water basins in our area. We argue that water basins and reservoirs in the northern Southwest typically stored domestic water for particular communities and that the first evidence of these public features is probably associated with Chaco-era communities. These features represent early experiments with large-scale water conservation and suggest a long-term commitment to locales by specific communities. Their locations along the canyon edges foreshadow shifts in settlement and increased water conservation strategies that become more pronounced in the later Great Pueblo-period villages-the last villages in this area before the migration of Puebloan people to the south after A.D. 1280.

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Adoption Decision and Sustainable Utilization of Soil Conservation Technologies: Empirical Evidence from North West Ethiopia

JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN AGRICULTURE ◽

10.24297/jaa.v10i0.8283 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

pp. 1853-1863

Author(s):

Kassaye Gurebiyaw Legese ◽

Taye Melese ◽

Tadie Mire ◽

Abebe Birara ◽

Kefale Eniyew

Keyword(s):

Water Conservation ◽

Soil Conservation ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Household Survey ◽

Ecological Processes ◽

Related Factors ◽

Severe Problem ◽

North West ◽

Household Heads ◽

North Gondar Zone

Soil is a crucial and precious natural resource that govern numerous ecological processes. However, in Ethiopia particularly in north Gondar zone, soil erosion is a severe problem and a major cause of the decline of agricultural productivity. The adoption and diffusion of soil and water conservation practices (SWC), as a way to tackle this challenge, has become an important issue in the development policy agenda in the zone. Therefore, this study was to identify factors affecting Soil conservation investments in the North Gondar zone. Data was collected through interviewed schedule, filed observation and focus group discussion. The multistage sampling technique was employed to select 206 sample households. Both descriptive and econometrics model was used to analyze the collected data. A multivariate profit (MPV) model was used to analyze the effect of demographic, socioeconomic, market, institutional and biophysical related factors on the interdependent investment decisions of SWC practices using household survey. The MPV model analysis indicates that farmers invest a combination of practices at parcel level by considering substitution and complementarity effects of the practices. The results also revealed that age of household heads, literacy status of household heads, off-farm activity, distance of farmlands from homesteads, tropical livestock unit, and access to training were influence farmers’ investments in SWC practices. The overall results indicate that the identified physical, socioeconomic, and institutional factors influence promote or hinder investments in SWC practice so, policymakers should take into consideration these various factors in designing and implementing SWC policies and Programmers.

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Integration of Ecosystem Services in Strategic Environmental Assessment of a Peri-Urban Development Plan

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13010122 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 122

Author(s):

Teodoro Semeraro ◽

Benedetta Radicchio ◽

Pietro Medagli ◽

Stefano Arzeni ◽

Alessio Turco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Urban Development ◽

Environmental Assessment ◽

Green Infrastructure ◽

Strategic Environmental Assessment ◽

Development Plan ◽

Mitigation Measures ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

South Italy ◽

Urban Plan

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) can support decision-makers in constructing more sustainable plans, programs, and policies (PPPs). To be more coherent with new frontiers of sustainable cities, PPPs need to include conservation objectives and to increase ecosystem service (ES) strategies. The ES concept is not intrinsic to the SEA process; therefore, it is necessary to develop an approach and methodology to include it. In this paper, we propose a methodology to integrate the concept of ecosystem services in all phases of the SEA process for a sub-urban plan, including the design of mitigation measures. The case study is represented by a peri-urban development plan in the municipality of Gallipoli in South Italy, characterized by a strong tourism economy and valuable agro-ecosystems. The analysis shows the priority ecosystem services that are selected considering the sustainable development and environmental goals, the context of referment, and the aims of the peri-urban plan. After, we highlight the potential ecosystem services developed considering the design of mitigation actions like green infrastructure, which could be implemented in the peri-urban plan. The capacity to develop green infrastructure in SEA processes can configure the SEA as a tool for ecological urban design that is integrated with urban planning. This requires the ability to transfer ecological and planning theories into practical actions and the capacity of different disciplines to work in a transdisciplinary approach.

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Improving the knowledge of plant potential biodiversity-ecosystem services links using maps at the regional level in Southern Patagonia

Ecological Processes ◽

10.1186/s13717-021-00326-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yamina Micaela Rosas ◽

Pablo L. Peri ◽

María Vanessa Lencinas ◽

Romina Lasagno ◽

Guillermo J. Martínez Pastur

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Plant Species ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Vascular Plant ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Cultural Ecosystem Services ◽

Important Indicator ◽

Ecological Requirements ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Southern Patagonia

Abstract Background Biodiversity supports multiple ecosystem services, whereas species loss endangers the provision of many services and affects ecosystem resilience and resistance capacity. The increase of remote sensing techniques allows to estimate biodiversity and ecosystem services supply at the landscape level in areas with low available data (e.g. Southern Patagonia). This paper evaluates the potential biodiversity and how it links with ecosystem services, based on vascular plant species across eight ecological areas. We also evaluated the habitat plant requirements and their relation with natural gradients. A total of 977 plots were used to develop habitat suitability maps based on an environmental niche factor analysis of 15 more important indicator species for each ecological area (n = 53 species) using 40 explanatory variables. Finally, these maps were combined into a single potential biodiversity map, which was linked with environmental variables and ecosystem services supply. For comparisons, data were extracted and compared through analyses of variance. Results The plant habitat requirements varied greatly among the different ecological areas, and it was possible to define groups according to its specialization and marginality indexes. The potential biodiversity map allowed us to detect coldspots in the western mountains and hotspots in southern and eastern areas. Higher biodiversity was associated to higher temperatures and normalized difference vegetation index, while lower biodiversity was related to elevation and rainfall. Potential biodiversity was closely associated with supporting and provisioning ecosystem services in shrublands and grasslands in the humid steppe, while the lowest values were related to cultural ecosystem services in Nothofagus forests. Conclusions The present study showed that plant species present remarkable differences in spatial distributions and ecological requirements, being a useful proxy for potential biodiversity modelling. Potential biodiversity values change across ecological areas allowing to identify hotspots and coldspots, a useful tool for landscape management and conservation strategies. In addition, links with ecosystem services detect potential synergies and trade-offs, where areas with the lowest potential biodiversity are related to cultural ecosystem services (e.g. aesthetic values) and areas with the greatest potential biodiversity showed threats related to productive activities (e.g. livestock).

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