1,721,079 research outputs found
Restoration of native vegetation following exclosure establishment on communal grazing lands in Tigray, Ethiopia
No full textManagement, use and ecology of medicinal plants in the degraded dry lands of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia
No full textAn ethnomedicinal study was conducted to document the indigenous medicinal plant knowledge on the management, use, and ecology of locally important medicinal plants in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Ethnobotanical data were collected from 250 people, using semi-structured questionnaires, field observation and informal discussion. The ethnomedicinal use of 259 plant species mainly herbs (31 to 51%), shrubs (31 to 46%) and trees (13 to 39%) used to treat 147 human and livestock ailments were documented in the study area. The most frequently used plant part were roots (49%), followed by leaves (37%) and bark (14%)... Crushing (59%), homogenizing with ingredients (17%) and chewing (14%) were the commonly used forms of herbal preparation. Drinking (45%), smoke inhalation (12%) and tie and hold on (10%) were the most frequently used methods of application. Most of the medicinal plants are collected from the wild. The use of more than one species was reported for remedy preparations and some health problems were treated by more than one medicinal plant. Our result showed that the local communities give less attention for the management of medicinal plants as local communities consider medicinal plants as wild, have unattractive market value and lack of knowledge. The mismanagement together with loss of habitat showed that ethnomedicinal plant species used by healers are under serious threat which indicates the need for urgent attention towards their documentation, conservation and sustainable utilization
Management, use and ecology of medicinal plants in the degraded dry lands of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia
No full textAn ethnomedicinal study was conducted to document the indigenous medicinal plant knowledge on the management, use, and ecology of locally important medicinal plants in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Ethnobotanical data were collected from 250 people, using semi-structured questionnaires, field observation and informal discussion. The ethnomedicinal use of 259 plant species mainly herbs (31 to 51%), shrubs (31 to 46%) and trees (13 to 39%) used to treat 147 human and livestock ailments were documented in the study area. The most frequently used plant part were roots (49%), followed by leaves (37%) and bark (14%)... Crushing (59%), homogenizing with ingredients (17%) and chewing (14%) were the commonly used forms of herbal preparation. Drinking (45%), smoke inhalation (12%) and tie and hold on (10%) were the most frequently used methods of application. Most of the medicinal plants are collected from the wild. The use of more than one species was reported for remedy preparations and some health problems were treated by more than one medicinal plant. Our result showed that the local communities give less attention for the management of medicinal plants as local communities consider medicinal plants as wild, have unattractive market value and lack of knowledge. The mismanagement together with loss of habitat showed that ethnomedicinal plant species used by healers are under serious threat which indicates the need for urgent attention towards their documentation, conservation and sustainable utilization
Restoration of Ecosystem Carbon Stocks Following Exclosure Establishment in Communal Grazing Lands in Tigray, Ethiopia
No full textDegraded lands are common in human-influenced tropical semiarid areas, and the potential for C sequestration through rehabilitation of these areas is substantial. In this study, we investigated changes in ecosystem C stocks (ECS) after establishing exclosures on degraded communal grazing lands, and identified easily measurable biophysical and management-related factors that can be used to predict ECS restoration in the highlands of Tigray, Ethiopia. We selected replicated (n = 3) 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-yr-old exclosures and paired each exclosure with an adjacent communal grazing land. All exclosures displayed higher ECS than the communal grazing lands. Differences in ECS between exclosures and grazing lands varied between 29 (±4.9) and 61 (±6.7) Mg C ha−1 and increased with exclosure duration. In exclosures, much of the variability in ECS was explained by a combination of the following variables: precipitation, clay content, vegetation canopy cover, woody biomass, and exclosure duration (R 2 = 0.77–0.90). Precipitation and vegetation canopy cover also explained much of the variability of ECS in communal grazing lands (R 2 = 0.48–0.55). Our results help to establish baseline information for C sequestration projects and to predict the expected ecosystem C sequestration under exclosures. Expansion of exclosures would increase grazing pressure on the remaining communal grazing area. Therefore, the decision to establish additional exclosures should also include an economic analysis and an evaluation of the social consequences
Effectiveness of exclosures to control soil erosion and local community perception on soil erosion in Tigray, Ethiopia
No full textThe study investigated how effective exclosures are in the fight against soil erosion and how they are perceived as a means to control soil erosion by the local community (farmers and local experts). The universal soil loss equation (USLE) used to estimate potential soil erosion. Data on local community perception obtained from a survey of 62 farm households and five local experts. In-depth interview, group discussion and non-participant field observation also carried out to obtain additional information. The USLE results agreed with the farmers’ (67%) and local experts’ opinion that erosion at study area is severe and affects the quality of lives of residents. Insignificant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in the estimated soil loss among treatments. However, the estimated soil loss from free grazing lands was higher by 47% than soil loss from exclosures which illustrated that exclosures are effective to control soil erosion. The majority of farmers (70%) also rated exclosures effectiveness to control soil erosion as high. Local communities were optimistic about the chances to rehabilitate degraded lands and make them productive. The majority of farmers (60%) did not consider population growth as a cause of soil erosion. For the majority of interviewed farmers, poor land management is more important. Efforts to create awareness within the rural communities should focus on the link between high population growth, environmental degradation and poverty. The optimistic view of local communities can be considered as an asset for the planning and development of degraded lands rehabilitation efforts
Effectiveness of exclosures to restore degraded soils as a result of overgrazing in Tigray, Ethiopia
No full textAs a response to land degradation in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, regional authorities have promoted rehabilitation of degraded lands through closed areas since 1991. It is generally assumed that exclosures lead to restoration of natural resources such as soil fertility, vegetation biomass and composition, fauna, and water storage; however, this is not supported by studies. In the present study, our objective was to assess the impact of exclosures on soil properties, and relate the age of exclosures to their effectiveness in improving soil chemical and physical properties. Five and ten years closed areas had significantly (po0:05) higher levels for soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus compared to free grazing lands, and the highest levels in were observed in closed areas at footslope position. Our results show that exclosures are not only effective in restoring vegetation, but also in improving soil nutrient status, and reducing erosion. From a technical point of view, it is therefore recommendable to convert grazing areas into exclosures. However, implementing exclosures leads to an even smaller communal area left for grazing and the socio-economic consequences of this should also be considered. r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Changes in regulating ecosystem services following establishing exclosures on communal grazing lands in Ethiopia: a synthesis
No full textIn four separate studies undertaken in the northern highlands of Ethiopia, changes in regulating ecosystem services, economic viability, and the perception of local communities following establishing exclosures on communal grazing lands were investigated. Replicated ( = 3) 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-year-old exclosures were selected and paired each exclosure with an adjacent grazing land. All exclosures displayed higher ecosystem services than communal grazing lands. Differences between exclosures and grazing lands varied between 29 (?4.9) and 61 (?6.7)Mg C ha-1 for ecosystem carbon stock (ECS), 2.4 (?0.6) and 6.9 (?1.8)Mgha-1 for total soil N stock, and 17 (?3) to 39 (?7) Kg ha-1 for the available P stock, and all differences increased with exclosure duration. Differences in plant species richness and biomass between an exclosure age and communal grazing land were higher in oldest than in youngest exclosures. Over a period of 30 years, sequestered carbon dioxide was 246Mgha-1, total soil nitrogen increased by 7.9Mgha-1, and additional available phosphorous stocks amounted to 40 kg ha-1. The Net Present Value of exclosures ecosystem services under consideration was about 28% (837US$) higher than alternative wheat production indicating that exclosures are competitive to alternative land uses. There are substantial opportunities to mobilize the local communities in efforts to establish exclosures, given that more than 75% had a positive view on exclosures effectiveness to restore degraded ecosystems. Establishing exclosures on communal grazing lands can be effective for restoring degraded ecosystems and the services that they provide
Effectiveness of modular training at Farmers’ Training Center: The case of Fogera District, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia
Full text linkSubsistence farming, climatic change, environmental degradation and low adult literacy ratio are problems of livelihoods. To increase productivity and alleviate poverty in rural areas, farmers need to have training to improve knowledge, attitudes and skills on better farming practices. Attending modular training might lead farmers to produce market oriented commodities. Such trainings are offered in the Farmers’ Training Centers, which are being functional at Peasant Association level throughout Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were to analyze whether modular training addresses the knowledge gap of the farmers and enable them to use the acquired knowledge; institutional linkages and positive deviances of FTCs in performance and their contributions. A total of 120 respondents were selected. Interview schedules, focused group discussions, key informant interviews, personal observations and case studies were conducted for quantitative and qualitative data collection. RAAKS tools, SWOT analysis, Likert scale and teacher-made-test tools were also employed. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools like, percentage, frequencies, chi-square and t-test. The result of the study revealed that, in the study area, Fogera, 7 PAs had delivered modular trainings. Even though, the training time and season was sufficient and convenient, less participation of females and being more theoretical and lecture type of methodology of the training were the major deficiencies. But trained farmers acquired better knowledge, skill, and attitude significantly than untrained farmers. Actors have been identified with different intensity of linkages. Many development actors assessed as strong, medium, weak and no linkage among and between them. The study indicated that, it requires enhancing the linkage of actors and their roles involved in training system. There are actors missed to support and integrate FTCs such as, Fogera Wet-land project, GTZ, CARE, private investors, research centers and ORDA. Positive deviances of FTCs were assessed, and found that there were no as such significant deviations documented at FTC level. Case studies and key informants revealed that, there are individual smallholder farmers who could perform and emerge better than the others as positive deviants and raised their level of living that could be scaled-up
The role of trees in regulating soil erosion
No full textBook Chapter on the role of trees in regulating soil erosio
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