Abstract:
This study compares the local level climate change effects between completely varying
topographies particularly the central highland and central rift valley areas in terms of
rain fall and temperature together with perceived climate change effects, environmental
degradation emphasis to land use land cover dynamics and the coping mechanisms
employed. After the application of different statistical analysis on the metrological data
and classification of images of different years on the basis of predefined major land use
land cover types correlated with climate change was made. The mean annual rain fall
(RF) was 868.2mm and variability for years 1970-2005 reaches 22% at BWW (Bassoworena
woreda). This was greater than ATJKW (Adami-TuluJido Kombolcha woreda)
of 34% mean of 744.2mm. The variation of monthly maximum temperature CV% 16.2% at
Debirebirhan was less than 20.9% at Ziway, apparently CV% of monthly minimum was 2.6%
at Debirebirhan which is quite less than 10.95% at Ziway The rate of forest conversion
between different land use land cover types during 1973-2005,was ranging -
553ha/yr(1973-86) to -1575ha/yr (1986-2005) at BWW and -753.3ha/yr (1986-2005) to
599ha/yr(1973-86) at ATKW and the increasing trend of agriculture expansion ranges
+553ha/yr in (1973-86) to +693ha/yr in (1986-2005)at BWW which is quit greater than
+651.9ha/yr in (1986-2005) to +458.2ha/yr in (1973-86) at ATJKW.
The socio economic survey indicated that there was accelerated environmental
degradation effect assessed in ATJKW than BWW recently. The coping mechanisms
for the perceived climate change effect were practiced due attention only during the time
of the event. Activities like off farm, nonfarm and lively hood diversification including
unemployment induced migration were found to be importantly contributing to support
the livelihood of the community under study. However these techniques of locally
developed should be integrated with assisted coping mechanisms and should be
employed in a well planned and effective way consistently to alleviate related climate
change effects.
Key words: Main words climate, Cover change, Rainfall variability