ARBAMINCH UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL

SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

REVIEW ON THE ROLE OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT FOR NATURAL

RESOURCE RESTORATION IN ETHIOPIA

SINUOR SEMINAR TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

MANAGEMENT IN PARTIAL FULLFILLMENT OF REQUREMENT FOR
BACHELOR OF SCINCE IN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

BY:

TEKLIT HAILAY IDNO RAS/368/10

ADVISOR AYELE CHORA (MSC)

DECEMBER,
2019 ADVISOR AYELE CHORA (MSC)

ARBAMINCHI, ETHIOPIA

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Acknowledgment

First I like to thanks my God to give strength in My life process ,next I thanks to my advisor,
AYELE CHORA (MSc) and corrections in detailed review on my project from begging up to
accomplished, thirdly and finally we thanks to our classmate students by shared different idea.
,

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENT.................................................ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................. 6

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... 7

1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 8

1.1. Background .............................................................................................................................................................. 8

1.2. Objectives ............................................................................................................................................................... 10

1.2.1 General objectiv

1.2.2 spcific objective

2. LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................................... 10

2.1. Concepts, definitions and roles of watershed management ................................................................................ 10

2.2. Watershed management ...................................................................................................................................... 11

2.3. Elements and characteristics of watershed management ................................................................................... 12

2.3.1. Biological (land, water and vegetation) ............................................................................................................ 14

2.4. Roles of watershed management .......................................................................................................................... 14

2.4.1. Socio-Economic role of watershed management .............................................................................................. 14
2.4.2. Bio-physical role of watershed management .................................................................................................... 15
2.4.3. Economic role of watershed management: ....................................................................................................... 16
2.4.4. Environmental role of watershed management: ............................................................................................... 16
2.4.5 .Role of watershed management on agricultural productivity ........................................................................... 16
2.4.6. Role of watershed management on soil conservation ....................................................................................... 16

2.5. WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN ETHIOPIA ...................................................................... 17

2.5.1. Physical soil and water conservation ................................................................................................................ 17
2.5.2. Biological Soil and Water Conservation .......................................................................................................... 18

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 2.5.3. Area Enclosure ................................................................................................................................................. 19

2.6. Concepts and Definitions of Community Based Watershed management ........................................................ 19

2.7. Sustainable watershed management practices in Ethiopia ................................................................................... 21

3. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION..................................................................... 22

3.1. CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................................................... 22

4. RECOMMENDATION ............................................................................................................................................ 23

5. REFERANCES ....................................................................................................................... 25

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 Acronyms/Abbreviations
FAO……... Food and Agricultural Organization.
FFW………Food For Work
IWM………Integrated Watershed Management.
MERET……Managing Environmental Resources to Enable Transition.
MoA……….Ministry Of Agriculture.
MoARD……Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
NGO………...Non Governmental Organization.
SNPP……….Productive Safety Net Program.
SWC………..Soil and Water Conservation.
 ABSTRACT
In Ethiopia, watershed management programs commenced in a formal way in the 1970s.From that
time up to the late 1990s, implementation was typically a government-led, top-down, incentive
based (food-for-work) approach that prioritized engineering measures. During this phase, the
programs focused primarily on reducing soil erosion.In the early 2000s, community-based
integrated watershed development was introduced to promote watershed management as a means
to achieve broader integrated natural resource restoration and livelihood improvement objectives
within prevailing agro-ecological and socioeconomic environments.Watershed management
implies the wise use of natural resources like land, water and biomass in a watershed to obtain
optimum production with minimum disturbance to the environment.We review this latter phase of
watershed management in Ethiopia to understand the extent to which the related interventions have
supported improved productivity, and environmental and smallholder lively hood outcome.
Watershed management has a positive impact on natural resource restoration, crop-livestock
production and productivity, socioeconomic conditions and livelihoods. Well managed watershed
helps to improve agricultural productivity, conserves soil and water and maximizes socio-
economic level of income.

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 1. Introduction

1.1. Background
Watershed management in Ethiopia is one of the main constraints for agriculture productivity.
Resulting from the interaction of natural and anthropogenic factors, including; erratic rainfall
rugged topography and unsustainable land management practices (Serttse,2007, Darghuth etal,
2008).
In general, watershed management resulted in long-term reduction in the quantity and quality of
water and land resources, which negatively impact on the livelihoods of the rural poor who rely on
these resources for their subsistence and livelihoods. This project later evolved into a development
program known as ‘Managing Environmental Resources to Enable Transitions’ (MERET), linking
short-term food assistance with long-term development opportunities and sustainable livelihoods.
Most of the SWC activities between the 1970s and 1990s were tailored towards reducing soil
erosion rather than enhancing agricultural production (Bishaw etal.,2001).
Watershed management is the study of the relevant characteristics of a watershed aimed at the
sustainable distribution of its resources and the process of creating and implementing plans,
programs, and projects to sustain and enhance watershed functions that affect the plant, animal,
and human communities within a watershed boundary. Watershed, especially in thedeveloping
country like Ethiopia has increasingly been managed and developed for poverty alleviation and
environmental conservation (FAO, 2006).
Watershed management is a landscape-based strategy that aims to implement improved natural
resource restoration systems for improving livelihoods and promoting beneficial conservation,
sustainable of natural resources. Integrated watershed management (IWM) has been promoted in
Ethiopia as a suitable strategy for improving productivity and sustainable intensification of
agriculture (Bekele, 2007).
The solution to achieve sustainable development in the developing countries like Ethiopia lies in
the efficient management of water and other natural resources for increasing the productivity.
Along with water, other natural resources such as soil, vegetation, and biota can also be managed
efficiently by adopting integrated watershed management approach. Watershed development seeks
to manage hydrological relationships to optimize the use of natural resources for conservation,

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productivity, and poverty alleviation. Achieving this requires the coordinated management of
multiple resources within a watershed; including forests, pastures, agricultural land, and surface
water (Kerr, 2002).
Planning the development of watersheds for Ethiopia started in the 1980’s. Watershed
management is the process of organizing the use of natural resources on a watershed to provide
necessary goods and services to people, while mitigating the detrimental impacts of land-use
activities on soil and water resources. Integrated watershed management has come to be
recognized as an important holistic approach in Ethiopia to natural resource restoration, which
seeks to promote the concept of sustainable development (FAO, 1998).Promoting integrated
watershed development programs through the effective participation of local people is intended to
prevent further ecological imbalance.(Mountain, 2002).
Ethiopian Experience has shown that natural resource development must be replaced by an
integrated management approach with multiple stakeholders’ participation to address the
environment issues and livelihoods cultural and other rural communities (UNCED, 1992).

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1.2. OBJECTIVES

1.2.1 GENERAL OBJECTIVE

The overall objective of this paper is to review the role of watershed management for natural
resource restoration in Ethiopia.

1.2.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE

To review concept of watershed management in Ethiopia

To review watershed management for used to restoration in Ethiopia

2. Literature Review

2.1. Concepts, definitions and roles of watershed management

A watershed can simply be defined as any surface area from which run off from rainfall collected
and drained to a common outlet. It is synonymous with a drainage basin or catchment area. At
socioeconomic level a watershedincludes people, their farming system and interactions with their
land resources, coping strategies, social, economic and cultural aspects (Lakew et.al.,2005).
Watershed is also defined as an area that water at surface or subsurface flow to a given drainage
system or common outlet. It is the basic building block for land and water planning.Watershed is
defined as a geo hydrological unit draining to a common point by a system of drains. Watershed is
considered as a biological, physical, economic and social system too. Hence it comprises of a
catchment area (recharge zone), a command area (transition zone) and a delta area (discharge
zone). The topmost portion of the watershed is known as the “ridge” and a line joining the ridge
portions along the boundary of the watershed is called a “ridgeline” Achouri (2002).
A watershed is thus a logical unit for planning optimal development of its soil, water and biomass
resources (Kerala Calling, 2004).

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A watershed is defined as any surface area from which runoff resulting from rainfall is collected
and drained through a common confluence point. A watershed resources, coping strategies, social
and economic activities and cultural aspects A watershed is madeup of the natural resources in a
basin, especially water, soil, and vegetative factors. A watershed is a topographically delineated
area that is drained by a stream system i.e. all of the land draining its rain, snowmelt and ground
waterinto a stream or river (Corn, 1993; Swallow et al., 2001).
The importance of watersheds as ecological units in the context of natural resource management
and conservation cannot be overstated. They are hydrologic units that are oftenused as biophysical
and socio-economic or political units for theplanning and management ofnatural resources (Brooks
et al., 1991).

2.2. Watershed management

Watershed management has emerged as a new paradigm for planning, development and
management of land, water and biomass resources with a focus on social and environmental
aspects following a participatory approach in Ethiopia (Kerala calling, 2004).
Watershed management is more a philosophy of comprehensive integrated approach to natural
resources management. It aims at integration of social resources management with natural resource
management. The approach is generally preventive, progressive, corrective and curative.
Watershed management involves the judicious use of natural resource with active participation of
institutions, organizations, in harmony with the ecosystem (Kerala Calling, 2004).
From the 1990s until now, watershed management operations in Ethiopia typically targeted
resource use productivity, livelihood improvements, and poverty reduction objectives beyond
resource conservation. WORLD BANK. (2008). NGO’s help, extensive soil and water
conservation activities in Ethiopiasuch as: stone and soil bunds, hillside terraces, area exclosure,
establishment of tree nurseries and tree planting through food for work were extended into many
parts of the country.( Zenebe Adimassu,2013).
Watershed management has evolved as a comprehensive development concept for sustainable and
efficient utilization of natural resources for the benefit of the local community with special
attention to the rural country.(TESFA WORKU,2015).
Broadly, it is "the process of guiding and organizing land and other resources use in a watershed to
provide desired goods and services without adversely affecting land resources (FAO,

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2004).Watershed management in Ethiopia is not only for managing or conserving natural resources
in a holistic manner, but also to involve local people for betterment of their lives (Mountain, 2002).
The objective was to implement watershed management projects with the aim of land
improvement, soil and water conservation, and forest management in Ethiopia (Pretty and Shah,
2000). They were focused more on soil conservation activities applying technical measures such as
terracing, contour-bunding, landslide and gully control and plantation on degraded land (Rhoades,
1998; Pretty and Shah, 2000; Johnson et al., 2001).
Althoughthe concept of watershed management shoud be integrated and interdisciplinary
(Montgomery et al., 1995; UNEP, 2004).
Watershed Management which emerged in the 1980s can be defined as a comprehensive multi-
resource management planning process, involving all stakeholders withinthe watershed, who
together as a group, cooperatively work toward identifying the watershed’s resource issues and
concerns, as well as developing and implementing awatershed plan with solutions that are
environmentally, socially and economically sustainable (Botero, 1986; UNEP, 2004).
Watershed management has evolved into a participatory multi-stakeholder exercise requiring
institutional and organizational coordination to take in to account the economic,social, political
and cultural dimensions (Peraz and Tschinkel, 2003).

2.3. Elements and characteristics of watershed management

Watershed management has emerged as a new paradigm for planning, development and
management of land, water and biomass resources with a focus on social and environmental
aspects following a participatory approach. Watershed management in Ethiopia is more a
philosophy of comprehensive integrated approach to natural resources restoration. It aims at
integration of social resources management with natural resource management. The three main
components in watershed management are land management, water management and biomass
management (Kerala Calling, 2004).
Water management: Water characteristics like inflows (precipitation, surface water inflow, Ground
water inflow) water use (evaporation, evapo-transpiration, and irrigation drinking water) outflows
(surface water outflow, ground water out flow) storage (surface storage, groundwater storage, and
root zone storage) are the principal factors to be taken care of in sustainable water management.
The broad interventions for water management in Ethiopia are: Rainwater harvesting, ground
water recharge, maintenance of water balance, preventing water pollution, economic use of water.
Rainwater harvesting forms the major component of water management (Kerala Calling, 2004).

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Land management: Land characteristics like terrain, slope, and formation, depthandtextureand
moisture and infiltration rate and soil capability are the major determinants of land management
activities in a watershed. The broad category of land management interventions can be as follows:
structural measures, vegetative measures, production measures and protection measures (Kerala
Calling, 2004).
Biomass management: The major intervention areas for biomass management in Ethiopia
areecological preservation,biomass regeneration, forest management and conservation, plant
protection and social forestry, increased productivity of animals, income and employment
generation activities, coordination of health and sanitation programmers, better living standards for
people, eco-friendly life style of people, formation of a learning community etc. (Kerala Calling,
2004).
The other components of watershed managements are:

2.3.1. Biological (land, water and vegetation)

The watershed includes climate (rainfall, altitude, and winds), drainage and water, soil, vegetation,
specific topographic features (gradient and length of slope, shape and direction andpast/current
erosion features (rill, gullies, landslides, and the like). Land use includes homesteads, cultivated
land, grazing land, forest (naturaland artificial), degraded areas used for various purposes. Some
areas have more potential than others. However,watershed development in Ethiopiaapplies to
potential as well as less potential areas, as both are not only interconnected but also can recover or
improve their productivity with specific set ofmeasures and management.(Betru Nedessa,2007).

2.4. Roles of watershed management

Considering the potentialroles of watershed management in Ethiopia are indicates the watershed
contribution to cope with climate change risks and hazards. Watershed management contributes to
all sectors (agriculture such as crop production and livestock, water availability and quality, health,
ecosystem service, socio economic and all human livelihood activities) directly or indirectly
through chain reaction available between sectors (MOARD, 2005).

2.4.1. Socio-Economic role of watershed management

Increased recreational opportunities, strengthening of community institutions,Improved

conservation/erosion knowledge, Conflict mitigation, Improved situation of socially and

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economically,compensate disadvantaged groups (gender, age, status, ethnicity),Improved food
security and self-sufficiency, reduced dependence on external support. The socio-economic effects
of watershed management in Ethiopia were assessed based on income, income diversification,
assets owned by farm households, employment opportunities, food security, health and education.
Most of the key informants interviewed suggested that their socio-economic conditions improved
since watershed management activities began in their communities.Vegetationcover and
biophysical stability. Increased demand for labor, as a result of increased irrigation and cropping
intensity, created employment opportunities. Due to improved income, a considerable change was
observed in the livelihoods and asset ownership of farm households. Moreover, successful
watershed management triggered farm household investment and technology adoption. On the
other hand, on-site, socio- economic, biophysical and off-site benefits are closely related with
watershed management, implying that successful watershed management in Ethiopia results in an
improvement in these benefits. The highest performance levels in terms of on-site, socioeconomic,
biophysical and off-site benefits (Kerala Calling, 2004).

2.4.2. Bio-physical role of watershed management

Reduced surface runoff, Improved excess water drainage, Recharge of groundwater table,
Reduced climate risks (floods, droughts, storms), Reduced wind velocity, Improved soil cover,
Reduced soil loss, Reduced soil crusting, Reduced soil compaction, Reduced salinity, Increased
animal diversity, Increased plant diversity, Reduced invasive alien species, Increased beneficial
species (earthworms and pollinators),Increased biological pest/disease control ,Increased/maintains
habitat, Increased Groundwater table, Available surface water, Increased water quantity, Increased
water quality, and increased Biodiversity, Reduced evaporation.

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2.4.3. Economic role of watershed management:

Improve the income of the people through increase the level of production of crop and other
natural resources.Provides sustainability and proper growth of forest resources like wood and
timber.(Purohit and Rajan,2005).

Improves the economic status of the community who are participated in management
activities.Bring significant change in the improvement of socio economic status of the people and
environmental conditions in Ethiopia specially in three regions like Tigray, Amhara and Oromia
(Gebre hawaria gebre Egzihabher, 2012)

2.4.4. Environmental role of watershed management:

Watershed management can serve as sink function.It can also maintain environmental health and
development.It also regulates earth temperature and maintains hydrological cycle.It can also used
as micro climate amelioration in the soil and this result in improvement of water holding capacity
of the soil(Decksha and ketewa, 2008).

2.4.5 .Role of watershed management on agricultural productivity

The effect of watershed management is not only in agriculture but also in commercial and
industrialoperation. Thesebenefits are produced by increase in the expected income generated by
either reducing production cost or increasing productivity in Ethiopia (Boardmeetal, 1996).

Watershed management can modify quantity and quality of water that is available for irrigation,
resulting reduction in the cost of producing irrigated crops or in the yield or quality of these crops
will benefit the farm operator by increasing net farm revenues. The example of benefit is user
benefit .these is benefit experienced nonuse benefit from watershed planning. These are individual
who value the environmental for reasons other than their direct use of environmental amenities.
Economics identify a number of distinct nonuse values that can be magnified through watershed
management (Boardmen et al., 1996).

2.4.6. Role of watershed management on soil conservation

Conservation of soil resource in Ethiopia is a significant socio environmental issues that affects the
well being of people in Ethiopia. It increases crop yield and prevents further deterioration of land.

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On the other hand, the failure of farmers to adopt soil conservation practices has contributed to the
degradation of a significant portion of agricultural land.In Ethiopia, soil erosion is the most
dangerous ecological process observed and has been given a very important place in the countries
soil conservation programs. In spite of the efforts attempted in the country, it remainswidespread
and the treats become expanding. Over the last three decades, different soil and water conservation
(SWC) activities have been undertaken in Ethiopiaby government and World Food Programme
(WFP) underthe food for work(FFW)schemes.Currently, in more than 79 districts of the region,
different physical andbiological SWC measures are implemented by community through
Productive Safte Net Program (PSNP).Moreover, the government has devised green economy
strategy like community based integrated watershed management in Ethiopiato rehabilitate
severely degrades land and then to maintain the natural resourcebase. However, soilerosion
problem still persists and become major threats for the eco-system and causes for food insecurity
vulnerability of people of Ethiopia. . Thus, this study was conducted to assess and identify major
constraints and challengesexisting in SWC system of the region and ultimately recommending
strategies for sustainable soil and waterconservation intervention so as to halt soil erosion and
improve agricultural productivity in Ethiopia.To overcome this conservation problem, scientists
used different watershed conservation practices (Azene Bekele, 1995).

2.5. WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN ETHIOPIA

2.5.1. Physical soil and water conservation

Physical soil and water conservation are methods which aimed to reduce the velocity of surface
runoff and minimize soil erosion by shortening the length and minimizing the gradient of the
slope.They also aimed to retain water when it is needed or safely dispose excess runoff. These
have been traditionally implemented over 400 years and some were introduced as modern
technologies since four decades (Daniel, 2010).

According to Daniel (2010), fanayajuu were the dominant structures under construction in
cultivated fields. Even though different soil and water conservation structures in Ethiopia have
been extensively introduced over the past decades, sustained implementation and use of the
measures has been not as expected. This is due to misunderstanding of the main factors that can
influence adoption of these measures (Amsalu T and Mengaw A, 2014). In general structural soil

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and water conservation measures are more effective if they are combined with biological or
agronomic measures. Conceptual framework demonstrating effectiveness of integrated SWC
measures in degraded land rehabilitation adopted from adoption of soil and water conservation
measures (Binyam A and Desale K, 2014).
The main constraints to apply soil and water conservation structures are the socioeconomic and
biophysical factors. Such as: land tenure insecurity, land fragmentation, labour force shortage,
inability, illiteracy and off-farm income are among the major socioeconomic factors whereas;
agro-ecological location and slope of cultivated fields, soil type, plot size and distance of farm land
from the residence are among the main determinants of the biophysical factors.
Access to extension services and education, technical support and resources endowment, access to
credit, and the presence of soil and water conservation projects, research and development
organizations are the factors also could be influence the adoption of Soil and Water Conservation
measures (Buzuayehu T and Tariku A, 2004).

2.5.2. Biological Soil and Water Conservation

Biological soil and water conservation measures in Ethiopia mainly involve tree planting in the
form of afforestation or reforestation in Ethiopia. Vegetation has a curative and protective
value.Tree planting activities has a long history in Ethiopia. According to historical records,
afforestation started in Ethiopia. In 1995 Constitution in Ethiopia and subsequent national
economic policy and strategy was recognized natural resources management as a key prerequisite
for sustainable development. For example: Article 92 mainly indicates about ‘environmental
issues’. Even though there is no specific provision concerning to increase forest covers in the
constitution, some of the existing policies and laws (rural land, environmental, energy, investment,
wildlife, etc) indirectly contributes forest cover increase in Ethiopia (Jonse B, 2008).

An ecosystem approach was emerged early as a central strategy for the Integrated Natural
Resources Management that promotes conservation and sustainable use through equitable sharing
of benefits (Gadisa C. 2016).
2.5.3. Area Enclosure

Area closure involves the protection and resting of severely degraded land to restore its productive
capacity. This could be via natural rehabilitation or enhanced by additional vegetative and
structural conservation measures in Ethiopia. Thus, the establishments of area closures have been
promoted in Ethiopia as the strategy to control watershed degradation and restore the natural
vegetation. In 2014/15, land area rehabilitated under closure was reached about 11.7 million ha in
the Ethiopian country .FAO (2015).Various research results indicated that area enclosures are
veryadvantageous, effective and optimistic than other methods of degraded land rehabilitation
inEthiopia (MengistuA. 2015and MengistuT,2004).
Because of area enclosure is the fast, cheap and lenienttechnique. It is effective to improve soil
properties andnutrient content (Wondie Mebrat, 2015) and (Mekuria w and Aynekulu.E, 2011).
It is also effective in restoringtrees, herbs and grasses species composition and biomass production
(Ibrahim m, 2016) and (Lemma Tiki, 2015).
According to (Gebre Hiwot T and Veen D, 2014), indicated that area enclosure is an important
policy instrument in Ethiopia to allow degraded land recovery. After area enclosure with
watershed management interventions the total honey yield has increased almost by two fold and
the annual revenue increased by 6.5 folds in Galessa watershed of protected area in Dendi district,
West Shewa Zone, Oromia (Mekuria Argaw,2015).
In general, area enclosures have becoming significant contributions to generate ecological and
socioeconomic benefits in Ethiopia. But some time they restrict use of communal resources; in a
case it highly required ensuring the socioeconomic wellbeing of local communitywhile
maintaining natural resources in a watershed (Mulugeta L and Habtemariam K, 201)].

2.6. Concepts and Definitions of Community Based Watershed management

Community Based Water shed management in Ethiopia is serve as a tool to harmonize the use of
water, soil, forest and pasture resources in a way that conserves these resources while raising the
agricultural production both by conserving moisture in the soil and by increasing irrigation through
tank and aquifer based water harvesting (WB, 2005 as cited in IGES, 2008).

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central characteristics of current community development in Ethiopia is its institutionalization in
formal programs of physical renewable of neighborhoods and estate of economic and social
regeneration, and of environmental protection and management (ASE, 2007).
Community-Based Institutions are established with to empower the community and thereby help it
become master of its own destiny by mobilizing and using it own resources (knowledge, material,
money, social capital, etc. It is an approach that provides equal opportunity to the members of the
community without discriminating against one of them based on gender, race or anything else
(Edgar and Robert, 1972 as cited in ASE, 2007.A
The integrated watershed management in Ethiopia has number of direct and indirect benefits ;to
mention some of the benefits are; reduce soil erosion, better water availability and quantity, reduce
deforestation, enhance forest produce availability, enhanced cattle milk production , improved
livestock production, better crop production more bio mass and fuel wood availability. Moreover,
the overall benefit includes; reduce migration, create more employment, improved the health
condition, improved adaptive capacity to climate change and contribute a lot for social
development (IGES, 2008).
More recently, watershed management programs in Ethiopia sought to embed the local
participatory planning processes initiated as part of the participatory watershed initiatives within
broader social and political processes more explicitly (FAO, 2006.
Governments and NGOs in Ethiopia have recognized that protection of watersheds cannot be
achieved without the willing participation of local people (Pretty and Ward, 2001). In most of the
centrally planned projects, like Ethiopia, soil and water conservation programs are promoted with
standard technical solutions such as terracing, contour bunding etc. (Pretty and Shah, 1999, cited
in: Johnson et al., 2001, MoARD, 2005).
A participatory approach implies a major role for the community and involves partnerships with
other interested groups, from bottom to top, and with policy makers (Johnson, 2001).
2.7. Sustainable watershed management practices in Ethiopia

Watershed management implies the wise use of natural resources like land, water and biomass in a
watershed to obtain optimum production with minimum disturbance to the environment. In the
past, the concept of watershed management focused mainly on the management of these resources
in medium or large river valleys, designed to slow down rapid runoff and excessive soil erosion
and to slow the rate of siltation of reservoirs (Paul, 1997).

At present, the overall objectives of watershed development and management programs in

Ethiopia take the watershed as the hydrological unit, and aim to adopt suitable measures for soil
and water conservation, provide adequate water for agriculture and domestic use, and improve the
livelihoods of the inhabitants. Managing watersheds for sustainable rural development in
developing countries is a relatively new concept. It is concerned not only with stabilizing soil,
water and vegetation, but also with enhancing the productivity of resources in ways that are
ecologically and institutionally sustainable (Farrington et al., 1999).

Watershed management is practiced as a means to increase rain fed agricultural production,

conserve natural resources and reduce poverty in the semi-arid tropical regions of Ethiopia
characterized by low agricultural productivity, severe natural resource degradation, and high level
of poverty (Kerr, 2002).

Following the sustainability pattern, „appropriate‟ would require that a technology should be
ecologically protective, socially acceptable, economically productive, and economically viable and
reduce risk (Hurni, 1997).

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3. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

3.1. CONCLUSION
Natural resource restoration can be a powerful tool in watershed restoration. Success in applying
water restoration a watershed protection tool is more likely if a number of issues are considered at
the beginning of the watershed restoration process, and if all interested parties are consulted. In
many situations, natural resource restoration can make a significant contribution to resolving
watershed issues. Consideration of the role of natural resource restoration should be built in up
front into the watershed planning process.The focus of this seminar is the role of watershed
management for natural resource restoration in Ethiopia. Watershed management activity is a base
to improve and conserving natural resource for improving livelihoods. By the helping of NGO the
local community participating in watershed activity the participation of the watershed community
household manifested in different stage of project activity. After the implementation of watershed
management activity the agricultural productivity increase because of agricultural land is improve
by different soil and water conservation activity such as strip cropping, contour farming and check
dam tree planting and others. It has been noted that participating in watershed management activity
is an outcome on households by raise income, and agricultural productivity.

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4. RECOMMENDATION
To ensure watershed management sustainability in Ethiopia,
 Both biophysical and socio-economic characteristics should be considered.
 The upstream-downstream linkage of the watershed should be considered.
 Any interventions aimed to implement in a watershed should be in an integrated.
 Multi sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach should be fulfilled.
 Both scientific and indigenous knowledge should be equally paid attention.
 Strengthening awareness creation, capacity building, real community participation and
 Equitable benefit sharing are also requiring attention.
 In general, the effectiveness of watershed management practices must be evaluated in terms
of environmental soundness, economic viability and social acceptability.

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24
5. REFERANCES

25
(Bekele,2007). . Integrated watershed management (IWM) has been promoted in many countries
as a suitable strategy for improving productivity and sustainable intensification of
agriculture
(Bekele,2007). . Integrated watershed management (IWM) has been promoted in many countries
as a suitable strategy for improving productivity and sustainable intensification of
agriculture
(Bishaw, 2001, Eyasu, 2002, Bekele, 2003).Managing Environmental Resources to Enable
Transitions’ (MERET), linking short-term food assistance with long-term development
opportunities and sustainable livelihoods. Most of the SWC activities between the
1970s and 1990s were tailored towards reducing soil erosion rather than enhancing
agricultural production.(Bishaw, 2001, Eyasu, 2002, Bekele, 2003).
(Bishaw, 2001, Eyasu, 2002, Bekele, 2003).Managing Environmental Resources to Enable
Transitions’ (MERET), linking short-term food assistance with long-term development
opportunities and sustainable livelihoods. Most of the SWC activities between the
1970s and 1990s were tailored towards reducing soil erosion rather than enhancing
agricultural production.(Bishaw, 2001, Eyasu, 2002, Bekele, 2003).
(Boardmen etal., 1996).Role of watershed management on agricultural productivity.
(Boardmen etal., 1996).Role of watershed management on agricultural productivity.
(Botero,1986; UNEP, 2004). . Watershed Management which emerged in the 1980s can be
defined as a comprehensive multi-resource management planning process, involving
all Stakeholders within the watershed.
(Botero,1986; UNEP, 2004). . Watershed Management which emerged in the 1980s can be
defined as a comprehensive multi-resource management planning process, involving
all Stakeholders within the watershed.
(Brooks et al., 1991).The importance of watersheds as ecological units in the context of natural
resource management and conservation
(Brooks et al., 1991).The importance of watersheds as ecological units in the context of natural
resource management and conservation
(Daniel 2010). Physical soil and water conservation are methods which aimed to reduce the
velocity of surface runoff and minimize soil erosion by shortening the length and
minimizing the gradient of the slope.

26
(Daniel 2010). Physical soil and water conservation are methods which aimed to reduce the
velocity of surface runoff and minimize soil erosion by shortening the length and
minimizing the gradient of the slope.
(Decksha and ketewa, 2008).Environmental role of watershed management.
(Decksha and ketewa, 2008).Environmental role of watershed management.
(FAO, 1998). Integrated watershed management has come to be recognized as an important
holistic approach in Ethiopia to natural resource restoration, which seeks to promote
the concept of sustainable development.
(FAO, 1998). Integrated watershed management has come to be recognized as an important
holistic approach in Ethiopia to natural resource restoration, which seeks to promote
the concept of sustainable development.
(Kerala Calling, 2004). Watershed is considered as a biological, physical, economic and social
system.
(Kerala Calling, 2004). Watershed is considered as a biological, physical, economic and social
system.
(Kerr, 2002). Sustainable watershed management practices in Ethiopia
(Kerr, 2002). Sustainable watershed management practices in Ethiopia
(Mountain. 2002). Promoting integrated watershed development programs through the effective
participation of local people is intended to prevent further ecological imbalance.
(Mountain. 2002). Promoting integrated watershed development programs through the effective
participation of local people is intended to prevent further ecological imbalance.
(Zenebe Adimassu,2013). Watershed management has evolved as a
comprehensive development concept for sustainable and
efficient utilization of natural resources for the benefit of the local community with
special attention to the rural country.
Amsalu Taye, A. (2006) Caring for the Land: Best Practice in Soil and Water Conservation in
Beressa Watershed,
Highlands of Ethiopia. Wageningen Universiteit.
Azene Bekele.(1995).Soil and water conservation strategy for Wollo agricultural support
project.SOS Sahel, Meket woreda, North Wollo

27
Azmeraw Ayehu. (2010). Effectiveness and Governance of Community Based Participatory
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RELMA’s Work
with Farmers in Eastern Africa.Working Paper No. 22.
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Enable Transition to More sustainable Livelihoods, Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
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Enclosures in Rehabilitating Degraded Vegetation: A Case of Enderta
District, Northern Ethiopia.
German, L.; Mansoor, H.; Alemu, G.; Mazengia, W.; Amede, T.; Stroud, A. 2007. Participatory
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Hurni, H.(1985) Erosion-Productivity-Conservation Systems in Ethiopia. Proceedings of 4th
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in Ewa Woreda of Afar Region State, Ethiopia: J Biodiversity Endanger Species.
Jonse B.,(2008). Biological soil and water conservation measures in Ethiopia mainly involve tree
planting in the form of afforestation or
reforestation in Ethiopia.
Makela, M.1999. Community Based Environmental Protection and Natural Resources
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and Lessons 620–636.
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Sediments 1(2): 117-123.
Wondiemebrat. (2015). natural regeneration practice in degraded high lands of ethiopiathrough
areaenclosurerInternational Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy.
FAO. 2006. Participatory integrated watershed management project in upland areas. Terminal
statement prepared for the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. TCP/ TAJ/2903.
Lakew, D., Carucci, V., Asrat, W., Yitayew, A. (eds) (2005). Community Based Participatory
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Corn, M. L., 1993. Ecosystems, Biomass, and Watersheds: Definitions and Use. Washington, DC.:
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.), Fertile ground: The impact of participatory watershed management. Tesfa, W., & Tripathi.
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