Fjölrit RALA - 05.12.1999, Page 86

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Desertification in Ethiopian highlands
in Awash Valley and in Central Rift-Valley lake area, almost 10% (11,000 ha) are
feared to have been salinized and have already gone out of production.
IMPACT ON PRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENT REHABILITATION
The major impacts of dryland degradation on production and environment rehabilita-
tion include:
• Soil loss caused by erosion reduces soil depth, consequently decreasing the
amount of soil moisture and leading to the loss of plant nutrients. This contrib-
utes to the loss of grain production in the order of 80,000-180,000 tons per year
(NCS 1992, FAO 1984). In addition, if the present soil erosion rates stay at their
current levels, it is projected that land covered by soil less than 10 cm deep will
increase from 20,000 km2 in 1985 to 100,000 km2 by 2010, contributing to large
losses to crop production potential.
• The estimated soil movement ranges from 1,248 to an average value of 7,800
million tons per year causes a loss of organic matter of the order of 1.17-7.8
million tons, nitrogen from 0.39 to 1.17 million tons and phosphorus 1.17-3.9
million tons per year. The yearly loss of nitrogen and phosphorus from 780,000
km2 of cultivated, pasture and rangelands in Ethiopia is estimated to be equiva-
lent to 327-1064 million US dollars per year (Hawando 1995).
• The recurring droughts and low, erratic rainfall are responsible for the loss of
thousands of human lives, millions of livestock and annual crop loss of up to
20% during severe drought years in-terms of grain produced (1,8 million tons
per year).
• The present buming of animal dung and crop residues for fuel is estimated to
represent a loss in crop production of 700,000 tons of grain (NCS 1992).
• The estimated annual loss of forests of between 150,00 and 200,000 ha is
equivalent to about 6% of the remaining natural high forest. At this rate the
natural forests will be gone in 15-20 years (EFAP 1994).
STEPS TAKEN TO COMBAT LAND DEGRADATION
• Soil and Water Conservation Programme. To combat the land degradation
problem, the Ethiopian govemment launched a massive soil conservation pro-
gramme in the middle of 1970’s. The following physical and biological conser-
vation measures were carried out between 1976 and 1992 (Hawando 1989,
1995, World Aragaye Berehe 1996, EFAP 1994).
• 78,000 ha ofsoil and stone bunds.
• 253,000 ha of hill side terraces and afforestation.
• 15,400 km of clock dams in gullied lands.
• 410,000 ha of closed areas of natural regeneration (area enclosure).
• 465,000 ha of land planted with different tree species.
• 580,000 ha of bench terraces.
• National conservation strategy has been completed and ratified.
• Action plan to combat desertification is under way.
• National population policy is adapted.