WETLANDS AND FOOD SECURITY IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA

POLICY AND EXTENSION BRIEFING NOTE 1

Wetlands, food security and livelihoods

Summary: In the western highlands of Ethiopia, perennial swamp and seasonal wetlands play a vital role in the lives of people by helping them achieve food security during the “hungry season”. Different groups of people interact with wetlands in different ways and gain diverse benefits. Overall it may be said that the majority of rural people, and also many urban people, benefit directly and / or indirectly from wetlands and their products. Direct Contributions to Food Security: Wetlands are very valuable areas for rural communities in the highlands of western Ethiopia. They contribute directly to food security through the production of green and mature maize and vegetables. The main harvest from these areas, in the early rainy season, is ready just when the supply of food from the upland fields is running out for many families and the “hungry season” is starting. Indeed wetland cultivation at this time of year can be seen as a critical survival mechanism and as a source of food security, especially for those people whose upland harvest was poor. See Table 1.

differential access to wetlands and varying ownership of resources with which to use these areas. The spatial variations by study area are to do with the wetland environment and the availability of other sources of food production and activities from which income used for food purchases is obtained. In addition, many of the rural people obtain the other essential requirement for life, drinking water, from wetland edge springs. The functioning of these sources of relatively safe water is dependent on the water table level which is maintained by the wetland.

TABLE 1: FOOD SECURITY – MONTHS OF FOOD SUPPLY FROM WETLANDS Illubabor Jimma W. Wellega E. Wellega Rich 1-3 4 Chokorsa

7 Gera 5-6 Lalo Aseba 2-3 Gimbi

1-2

Middle Income 1-3 2-3 Ch 3-5 Ge

3 ½ LA 2 Gi

1-2

Poor 0-1 0 Ch 4 Ge

3 ½ LA 1-1½ Gi

0

Source: PRA findings However, it is clear that the amount of food security provided by wetlands varies with the study area and by socio-economic status. For instance in Gera up to seven months of food security comes from wetland sources for the rich, whereas in Illubabor and Eastern Wellega this is only one to three months for the rich. In all areas the poor obtain much less food security from the wetlands and in some cases nothing at all. These variations by socio-economic group are to do with

Indirect Contributions to Food Security: Wetlands also contribute indirectly to food security by providing products which people can collect and sell to provide them with cash for purchasing food. Some of the poorer people make a living from collecting craft materials which they either sell or use for making craft items for sale. Medicinal plants are also found in wetlands and these items contribute to the well-being of households through direct use or through sales (Table 2). The role of such sources of income was quite significant in the past, when even livestock could be purchased with such income. However, this has declined significantly in recent years and is almost non-existent where wetland agriculture has increased.

accessible to the towns of Jimma and Agaro, in Jimma Zone, where the urban growth is most rapid and coffee earnings contribute to higher incomes.

TABLE 2: WETLAND USES AND THEIR RELATIVE IMPORTANCE Uses Estimate of Households Benefiting Social /ceremonial use of sedges 100% (including urban dwellers) Thatching sedges 85% (most rural households) Temporary crop guarding huts of sedges 30% Dry season grazing most cattle owners, c 30 % of popn. Water for stock most cattle owners, c 30 % of popn. Cultivation 25% Domestic water from springs 50% - 100% (depending on the locality) Craft materials (palm products & sedges) 5% Medicinal plants 100% (mostly indirectly by purchase from

collectors / traditional doctors Source: Ethiopian Wetlands Research Programme, Field Records, 1997-2000. Wetlands have been used increasingly for the grazing of cattle, as their number has grown in recent decades. This is partly due to coffee income, and as the interfluves (uplands) in the highlands of western Ethiopia are becoming degraded or intensely cultivated. However, in some areas this trend towards wetland grazing is being reversed as the demand for wetland agriculture increases and as recognition grows of the negative impact of cattle upon wetlands due to soil compaction. The loss of wetland grazing is partly compensated for by some fodder crop production. Wetlands are also beginning to be used for brick making as urban housing standards rise. This is mainly occurring in the areas

A Web of Livelihood Benefits: With respect to many of the wetland benefits, there is a web of linkages from the initial user of the wetland to the final consumers of the wetland products. (See Overall Beneficiaries and Wider Impacts in Table 3). These linkages mean that virtually every household in the western highlands obtains some benefits from the wetlands. Gender & Socio-Economic Characteristics of Beneficiaries: The people who use wetlands in these different ways are of different socio-economic status and gender. Some of the typical characteristics of these wetland users are outlined in Table 3. It is clear that the predominant users of wetlands are men, with

TABLE 3: USE BENEFITS FROM WETLANDS AND BENEFICIARIES IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA

Benefits Users’ Gender

Collectors’ Status

Overall Beneficiaries Wider Impacts

Water Women All, except rich (who employ water collectors)

All

Health

Sedges and wetland grasses

Men Often poor but also middle class farmer roofing (Rich use tin)

All for roofing and for floor covering, especially women for mat making

Shelter, (supplementary income)

Men Mid-rich, non-aged All through small- scale sales and domestic use

Domestic (and wider) food security

Agricul-ture

Men Poor share-cropping Poor households Food for survival Medicine Men Skilled All, especially poor,

including livestock owners keepers.

Health

Grazing Men Richer Households with cattle Facilitates wealth accumulation

Palm fronds

Men Often poor All, especially poor women

Supplementary income

Brick making

Men Very rich Rich and poor daily labourers

Contributes to shelter for rich

women usually only collecting water from wetland fringe springs. In most cases poor people use wetlands for collecting activities, which do not lead to much alteration of the wetlands, although those engaged in share cropping are involved in wetland transformation. In the case of the rich and middle income men, their use of wetlands for agriculture, grazing and brick making involves major transformation of these areas, and can threaten their survival. Wetland transformation can lead to conflicts between different users, for instance where sedge beds or other sources of craft materials are destroyed by farmers, or where drainage for cultivation causes springs to dry up. Perspectives on Wetland Uses: The various ways in which wetlands contribute to food security and the potential for degradation which can occur as a result of the increased use of these areas, suggests that a major initiative is needed to help ensure the sustainable use of these areas. In addition, recognising the role of wetlands in moderating stream flow, especially in the

rainy season, but also in maintaining the flow during the dry season, show the clear need to look at the role and functioning of wetlands not just for immediate food security and livelihood benefits, but also for the wider community. This requires consideration of all stakeholders in the catchment, especially downstream users (such as hydro-power plants) as well as those just upslope from the wetlands who are also affected by the altered hydrology. It is with these multiple goals in mind that the management of wetlands needs to be concerned.

Wetlands and Food Security in Western Ethiopia This project has explored how important wetlands are for food security in four zones, Illubabor, Jimma, Western Wollega and Eastern Wollega, all in the Western Highlands of Ethiopia, and within Oromia Region. In the light of the findings from this study, lessons have been drawn which show how wetlands can be used sustainably, contributing to both local and wider needs for food production and other activities which contribute to rural livelihoods, as well as showing how environmental functioning can be retained. An integrated landscape approach to environmental management is proposed based on local institutions and indigenous knowledge, with external support provided to help raise productivity within these land use systems. WENREG : The present study builds on a ground breaking research undertaken in Illubabor Zone during the period 1997 to 2000 by the University of Huddersfield’s Wetlands and Natural Resources Research Group (WENREG) whose staff contributed to the design of this study and its implementation. Wetland Action: The study has been managed by Wetland Action which is a not-for-profit European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) which includes WENREG as one of its three founding members. Wetland Action has an on-going programme of applied research and technical assistance for participatory wetland management in a number of countries including Ethiopia, Rwanda and Zambia, where it supports communities and local NGOs in the sustainable use of wetlands. Ethio-Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA). In Ethiopia, Wetland Action’s local partner and associate member is the Ethio-Wetlands and Natural Resources Association. This Association has been operating for three years and has experience of a range of community-based studies and development projects. Wetlands International: This study has been funded by Wetlands International through its Partners for Wise Use of Wetlands Programme. This is supported by the Directorate-General for International Cooperation of the Netherlands Government. Ramsar Convention: This project also links to the Resolution 34 of the Ramsar Convention’s COP 8 in Valencia in 2002 which explores how to resolve the conflicts between agriculture use in wetlands and the maintenance of wetland characteristics. For further details about this project and other work on sustainable wetland and catchment management work in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zambia and other African countries where Wetland Action is working please contact: Prof. Adrian Wood, Director, Wetland Action, Tel: 00 44 1484 473010 Fax: 00 44 1484 472347 Email: adrian@wetlandaction.org / a.p.wood@hud.ac.uk For details of the work undertaken by EWNRA, please contact: Afework Hailu, Director, EWNRA, email: ewrp@telecom.net.et

WETLANDS AND FOOD SECURITY IN SOUTH-WEST ETHIOPIA

POLICY AND EXTENSION BRIEFING NOTE 4

Wetland Institutions and Sustainable Use

Summary Wetland use usually involves people with different, and possibly competing, interests, working within a linked system where the action of one person can affect the benefits to others. There can easily be conflicts between different wetland users and so some coordination of activities is necessary to ensure that benefits are maximized and losses minimized. These coordination activities may be managed by formal or informal mechanisms, which can build on local knowledge and traditional institutions, or be of more recent origin. Such institutional developments are essential for the sustainable use of wetlands and the sound management of their catchments. The Need for Coordination: Wetland management requires coordination amongst different users in order to obtain the best returns from these areas in a sustainable manner. Wetlands are inter-linked systems and actions in one area can lead to changes elsewhere in the wetland which can impact upon other users. For instance drainage for cultivation can lead to springs drying up and to damage to wetland margin palm trees, sedge beds and medicinal plants. Cultivation in wetlands also needs coordination, especially to manage the water table and the work of clearing and blocking drains to achieve this. In addition guarding of wetland crops from predators such as monkeys and wild pigs and managing the grazing of livestock in wetlands also requires coordination and cooperation amongst wetland users. Abba Laga System: In the 18th century, when the Oromo people first occupied the south-west highlands, they introduced their system of community organization based around the age group, “gadda”, system and an administrative structure with different leaders, or “Abbas” – fathers, responsible for different types of resources and issues. One of the leaders was an “Abba Laga” who was responsible for the rivers and water resources in the areas.

Such leaders were also responsible for the wetland areas and as these began to be cultivated the Abba Lagas became responsible for organizing the use of these areas. In particular they were responsible for coordinating the drainage of these areas, ensuring that all farmers fulfilled their responsibilities so that no areas were either under-drained or over-drained. Organising crop guarding in wetlands is the other major responsibility of the Abba Laga and the effectiveness of such arrangements is one of the main ways in which the success of these instiutions is measured

Farmer Group Clearing Sedges under Abba Laga Supervision

It is also from these traditional institutions that come some by-laws for wetland management. One of these, which is widely

reported, is that selected sedge beds are protected from drainage in order to ensure a supply of thatching materials for the community. Another by-law, develop by Ministry of Agriculture staff in response to the impact of wetland drainage by resettled people after the 1984 famine, seeks to prevent cultivation near to springs and to leave 50 metres at the head of a wetland undrained. Other parts of the Oromo community management system still exist in places and have relevance to wetland management. These include the Aba Ule system in Chokorsa wetland Jimma Zone through which wetland grazing is managed. Formerly the responsibility of the Aba Ule included the organization of a rotational grazing system, focused on the allocating of common access resources to individual herders, resolving conflicts and organizing the guarding of livestock. Currently, the rotation system is not longer considered by the Aba Ule, resulting in a very heavy overgrazing of the wetland and compaction of its soils. Wetland Management Coordinating Committees (WMCC) : Following the 1974 revolution and the removal of the landlords in the west of the country, WMCCs were established in some places. These sought to fill the gap left by the removal of the landlords agents as administrators and planners of rural land use. These institutions effectively undertook tasks similar to those of the Abba Lagas but relied heavily upon the kebeles / farmers’ associations established by the Derg government at that time.

Coordination of land preparation and drainage

Like the Abba Laga system these are very local level institutions, below the kebele level. They also concentrate on drainage for wetland cultivation and guarding against wildlife predators. In some cases they have also focused on the need for sustaining the productivity of the wetlands and considering the competing interests of different groups, especially for protecting the sedge beds.

Cattle grazing in wetlands should be managed by WMCCs to prevent damage

Such institutions have developed their own by laws related to drainage, guarding, sedge bed protection and drain blocking for flood management. These are usually enforced through peer pressure but there may be formal sanctions and use of the local community court, even though this is now part of the government’s kebele structure. WMCCs rely on the power of the kebele for conflict management, but since the fall of the Derg they have often found little support from the new

Members of a Wetland Management Coordinating Committee

arrangements at the kebele level.

Local Institutions and Local Knowledge: Local institutions are built upon local, community based knowledge which has been accumulated through experience over the generations. As such they have a key role in compiling this knowledge and disseminating it amongst their members. This knowledge is not static and will evolve over time as understanding of the processes and mechanisms in wetlands change as a result of farmer experiments and experience. Because of this close linkage with the communities, such institutions and their by- laws have credibility and are respected. Challenges and Support for Local Institutions: Traditional institutions were viewed negatively during the Derg regime and seen as a threat to the state. The situation is

somewhat better today but recognition of their potential is still limited and the necessary support from the local administrative system in actually less. In particular, the support from local courts to enforce their by-laws has been greatly reduced in the last 12 years. As a result, there seems to be a need for renewed attention to be given to wetland management institutions. There seems to be an interesting opening now to link the WMCCs to the ‘local development committees’ which are to be set up in the decentralization context. With leaders locally elected these development committees should want to include all stakeholders in the local level development planning / implementation process, and the WMCCs could be promoted as some sort of sub-committee for wetland management in this context.

Wetlands and Food Security in South-west Ethiopia This project has explored how important wetlands are for food security in four zones, Illubabor, Jimma, Western Wollega and Eastern Wollega, all in the South-west Highlands of Ethiopia, and within Oromia Region. In the light of the findings from this study, lessons have been drawn which show how wetlands can be used sustainably, contributing to both local and wider needs for food production and other activities which contribute to rural livelihoods, as well as showing how environmental functioning can be retained. An integrated landscape approach to environmental management is proposed based on local institutions and indigenous knowledge, with external support provided to help raise productivity within these land use systems. WENREG : The present study builds on a ground breaking research undertaken in Illubabor Zone during the period 1997 to 2000 by the University of Huddersfield’s Wetlands and Natural Resources Research Group (WENREG) whose staff contributed to the design of this study and its implementation. Wetland Action: The study has been managed by Wetland Action which is a not-for-profit European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) which includes WENREG as one of its three founding members. Wetland Action has an on-going programme of applied research and technical assistance for participatory wetland management in a number of countries including Ethiopia, Rwanda and Zambia, where it supports communities and local NGOs in the sustainable use of wetlands. Ethio-Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA). In Ethiopia, Wetland Action’s local partner and associate member is the Ethio-Wetlands and Natural Resources Association. This Association has been operating for three years and has experience of a range of community-based studies and development projects. Wetlands International: This study has been funded by Wetlands International through its Partners for Wise Use of Wetlands Programme. This is supported by the Directorate-General for International Cooperation of the Netherlands Government. Ramsar Convention: This project also links to the Resolution 34 of the Ramsar Convention’s COP 8 in Valencia in 2002 which explores how to resolve the conflicts between agriculture use in wetlands and the maintenance of wetland characteristics. For further details about this project and other work on sustainable wetland and catchment management work in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zambia and other African countries where Wetland Action is working please contact: Prof. Adrian Wood, Director, Wetland Action, Tel: 00 44 1484 473010 Fax: 00 44 1484 472347 Email: adrian@wetlandaction.org / a.p.wood@hud.ac.uk For details of the work undertaken by EWNRA, please contact: Afework Hailu, Director, EWNRA, email: ewrp@telecom.net.et

WETLANDS AND FOOD SECURITY IN SOUTH-WEST ETHIOPIA

POLICY AND EXTENSION BRIEFING NOTE 5

Wetlands, Degradation and Desertification

Summary: The recent drought, predictions about the impact of climate change and the continuing degradation of the resource base have drawn attention to the dangers of desertification in Ethiopia. The experience in the South-west Highlands shows that the formerly favourable environmental conditions are deteriorating rapidly. Parts are developing similar conditions to those areas of the degraded Northern Highlands where famine is now recurrent. In some parts of the South-west Highlands there is already such serious degradation of upland areas that the wetlands are providing over half of the food production. This increased pressure upon the wetlands is leading to environmental degradation there as well and crop yields have fall by 50 to 65% over the last 20 years. An integrated landscape approach to catchment and wetland rehabilitation is required in order to reverse the trend toward desertification in this area and improve livelihoods and well-being. Drought and Desertification in Ethiopia: The recent drought, revised predictions about the impact of climate change and continuing degradation of the resource base in Ethiopia have drawn attention to the dangers of desertification in the country. In 1998 a National Action Plan (NAP) was drawn up to combat desertification in 2002/03 all government departments were required to draw up three year plans to provide solutions to the problem of drought and food insecurity. Recently there has been concern expressed about the problems of land degradation and falling yields in the traditionally food secure parts of the country,

Degraded wetland and catchment

and the Roadmap for the NAP has pointed specifically to the problems in the South-west Highlands. It is thus clear that the survival of the Ethiopian people, let alone their development is dependent upon controlling desertification and improving the productivity of the country’s natural resources. This requires a major transformation of the management of the natural resource base and the development of new sustainable use regimes which improve production whilst also protecting the resource base. Such approaches have to be carefully researched and built on an understanding of the local knowledge systems and institutions. The outline for one such approach has been developed through this study and could form a pilot project as part of the process of creating a more favourable environmental and development situation in one part of Ethiopia. The Degradation of a Productive Environment: The South-west Highlands of Ethiopia were originally forested and that forest included

coffee as an under-storey in some locations. Clearance of the forest has been selective with the coffee forest retained but other areas cleared for cultivation. The farming system which has evolved includes some root crops typical of the forest areas but has become dominated by the northern plough culture and its crops, including teff. While forested areas remain in Illubabor and Jimma zone, in Eastern and Western Wellega clearance is more extensive and little natural forest remains. In particular, in the northern and central parts of Western Wellega there has been serious degradation on the uplands and upper slopes between the valleys where teff has been cultivated on soils derived from granitic rocks. In this area, upland erosion has become so severe that some communities have only the valley bottom wetlands remaining as areas for cultivation and these areas alone cannot provide adequate food supplies for the population living in these areas.

Degraded catchment and wetland

suffering desertification In addition, there is degradation of wetlands in all four zones studied. Typically this involves intensive cultivation in the wetland – with multiple cropping, over-drainage, uncontrolled, heavy cattle grazing leading to soil compaction and the deposition of subsoil in the wetlands as a result of upland erosion. The situation is made worse where upland degradation reduces the water storage in these areas and supply of water to the wetlands. The result is that the springs in the wetland dry up and the wetlands can provide

Degraded wetland with remnant channel

only rough grazing during the rainy period and early dry season. All the other benefits which used to be obtained from these areas are no longer available.

Overdraining of head of wetland

In some cases the degradation of the wetlands is also encouraged by the planting of eucalyptus trees in these areas or by the

Brick making in a degraded wetland

mining of these areas for clay for brick making. These are what might be termed “end uses” of wetlands as they make it very difficult for rehabilitation to be achieved. The Need for an Integrated Landscape Approach to Rehabilitation : This situation needs to be addressed in an integrated manner whereby land use in the catchment and the wetland are seen as parts of a linked system. As outlined in Briefing Note 3, there is a need to ensure that the organic matter content of upland soils is improved so that yields can increase and water infiltration improve. Soil and water conservation measures are also necessary not only to improve the upland productivity, but also to increase water storage in the catchment in order to improve the functioning of the wetlands. The sustainable use of the wetland will however also need actions to address water and fertility management within then as outlined in Briefing Note 2, while upland productivity increases are required to reduce the pressures on the wetlands to a level which is sustainable. This will allow the re-establishment of some natural vegetation in the wetlands, so that a mixed land use regime can exist within the wetlands to help improve the hydrological conditions and increase the range of benefits which these areas can provide.

Mulitple use wetland

Such an integrated approach to land rehabilitation will produce wider benefits of regional significance with more stable flows in the Nile tributaries. This is important in the context of the Nile Basin Initiative with its search for increased productivity through

better water management, and is also important given the need to reverse the increased seasonality of water supply as desertification increases. Building on Local Knowledge and Institutions: Such an integrated approach to wetland management should build on the local institutions and knowledge base where they exist, or support the development of these. Local institutions are necessary for coordinating the patterns of land use in these areas and can build on experience with NGOs in Southern Region and the LUPO project in Oromia where participatory land use planning has been on-going for some years. What both of these projects show is that while local knowledge can provide a basis for working out what is feasible for local communities and what they seek, there will remain the need for supportive inputs from external expertise to help address problems which local knowledge cannot address. Way Ahead: In this situation it would seem that a pilot project should be undertaken to explore how to operationalise these ideas for an integrated landscape approach to rehabilitation, focusing on sustainable catchment and wetland management. The need for such an initiative has been clearly expressed in the various community and wereda level workshop which this project has undertaken. The focus of this work may be the local wetland institutions, which will have to develop so that they can also address related upland issues. Alternatively the up-coming development committees can provide the focal point and use the existing wetland institutions as one key player. This work must also explore the market linkages of the farming systems in these South-west Highlands as the coffee price collapse is having a serious impact on the environmental management and the loss of these forests will further speed the desertification process.

Wetlands and Food Security in South-west Ethiopia This project has explored how important wetlands are for food security in four zones, Illubabor, Jimma, Western Wellega and Eastern Wellega, all in the South-west Highlands of Ethiopia, and within Oromia Region. In the light of the findings from this study, lessons have been drawn which show how wetlands can be used sustainably, contributing to both local and wider needs for food production and other activities which contribute to rural livelihoods, as well as showing how environmental functioning can be retained. An integrated landscape approach to environmental management is proposed based on local institutions and indigenous knowledge, with external support provided to help raise productivity within these land use systems. WENREG : The present study builds on a ground breaking research undertaken in Illubabor Zone during the period 1997 to 2000 by the University of Huddersfield’s Wetlands and Natural Resources Research Group (WENREG) whose staff contributed to the design of this study and its implementation. Wetland Action: The study has been managed by Wetland Action which is a not-for-profit European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) which includes WENREG as one of its three founding members. Wetland Action has an on-going programme of applied research and technical assistance for participatory wetland management in a number of countries including Ethiopia, Rwanda and Zambia, where it supports communities and local NGOs in the sustainable use of wetlands. Ethio-Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA). In Ethiopia, Wetland Action’s local partner and associate member is the Ethio-Wetlands and Natural Resources Association. This Association has been operating for three years and has experience of a range of community-based studies and development projects. Wetlands International: This study has been funded by Wetlands International through its Partners for Wise Use of Wetlands Programme. This is supported by the Directorate-General for International Cooperation of the Netherlands Government. Ramsar Convention: This project also links to the Resolution 34 of the Ramsar Convention’s COP 8 in 2002 which identified the need to explore how to resolve the conflicts between agriculture use in wetlands and maintaining wetland characteristics. For further details about this project and other work on sustainable wetland and catchment management work in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zambia and other African countries where Wetland Action is working please contact: Prof. Adrian Wood, Director, Wetland Action, Tel: 00 44 1484 473010 Fax: 00 44 1484 472347 Email: adrian@wetlandaction.org / a.p.wood@hud.ac.uk For details of the work undertaken by EWNRA, please contact: Afework Hailu, Director, EWNRA, email: ewrp@telecom.net.et