Fjölrit RALA - 05.12.1999, Page 87

Tamirie Hawando
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• Disaster prevention and preparedness programme has been approved and im-
plemented.
• Ethiopian Forestry Action plan has been prepared.
• Environment Protection Agency has been established.
• Agricultural development and environment rehabilitation are given first priority
in the Govemment of Ethiopia’s Economic Development Policy.
RECOMMENDATIONS - FUTURE DIRECTION
Combating and reversing the desertification process requires comprehensive and cost
effective programme. Environment rehabilitation is better attained and sustained at
lower cost if:
• It is fully integrated into main stream agricultural and mral development pro-
grammes and activities starting right from the beginning.
• Bottom-up participatory planning, implementation and monitoring by the real
stake holders at grassroots are practiced.
• Conservation practices increase sustainable farm productivity levels and the in-
centives for rural households to constmct and maintain effective conservation
structures are well established with clear right of ownership stmctures.
• Appropriate technologies are adopted and integrated with local/traditional prac-
tices that are known to be effective in conservation of the land resources, in-
crease food and fodder production, and are cost effective.
• Proper land use, farming practices, and appropriate technologies are planned
and integrated at grassroots for each specific agro-ecological zone.
The impact from such integrated agricultural and rural development programmes
will be much greater than that can be achieved by bunding and re-afforestation alone -
which are the core components of soil and water conservation programme presently
implemented in Ethiopia.
The following actions are recommended:
• Conservation Based Sustainable Development (CBSD) Strategy appropriate for
each agro-ecological zone with core components to sustain resources, increase
yield, and conserve environment.
• Appropriate technologies adopted and integrated with local practices to in-
crease sustainable yield and rehabilitate the environment.
• Increase productivity of the land resources and conserve the environment.
• CBSD emphasizes increased vegetative cover on the land as the most im-
portant conservation component followed by bunds and terrace constmction.
Land cover has been found to be more important in controlling soil erosion
under Ethiopian conditions than physical conservation measures.
• Land use policy and ownership right of land, physical constmctions, trees and
water wells/reservoirs with appropriate policy instmments should be estab-
lished.
• Intensification of agricultural production with the integration of proven local
practices and appropriate technologies should be pursued in dry sub-humid and