Practices and challenges of integrated watershed management in the Amhara region of Ethiopia: case study of Gonji Kolela District

Abstract

Ethiopia faces serious threats in food production and rural livelihoods, mainly due to population growth and unsustainable use of natural resources. The general objective of the study was to examine the practices and challenges in integrated watershed management in the Gonji Kolela District of the Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as the chi-square test, independent T test and binary logistic model were employed to present and analyze the collected data. Study results indicated that terracing, area enclosure, agro-forestry, and soil and stone bunds were major watershed management activities in the study area. In conclusion, law awareness of the participants in the management of watersheds, associated with top-down approaches, were found to be obstacles to the sustainable use of the technologies. The study suggested that soil and water conservation structures have to be carefully designed and constructed taking into account realities.

Keywords:

• Practices
• challenges
• participation
• watershed management
• conservation structures

Notes

1 The lowest administrative unit in Ethiopia