The Northern Ethiopian highlands have been exposed to severe soil erosion and land depredation in the last millennia due to over-utilization and poor land use system. Plain and fertile grazing and farm areas have been converted into degraded and infertile gorges. As a result, the people in those areas have become victims of poverty.
Grazing land degredation due to soil erosion (Photo: Abiyot B.)
In response to the problem, the Wereda Agriculture and rural development unit demarcated a buffer zone between streams and grazing/farm areas on the eve of the New Ethiopian Millennium (May 2007). After four months, a significant change was observed…vegetation regeneration such as grasses, acacia and other indigenous species started on the degraded sides of streams. This is an excellent example to rehabilitate degraded areas elsewhere. Our institute congratulates the region as well as the Quarit Wereda district for their great effort! Hopefully, their effort will continue on similar areas (see photos below).
Buffer Zone between the stream and farm/grazing land fenced (Photo: Abiyot B.)
Grass regeneration on the buffer zone (Photo: Abiyot B.)
Acacia and grass regeneration on the buffer zone (Photo: Abiyot B.)
