Environmental and Development Studies

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Demographic & Socio-economic Determinants of Squatter Settlements in Jijiga Town, Somali Region
(Addis Ababa University, 2010-07) Getu, Endalkachew; Subramaniyam, Vijaya (PhD)
Currenlly Jijiga town exhibits faster growth rate (5% per annum) as compared with other urban centers of Ethiopia. As a result, the town has been growing horizontally in an unplanned situation. This condition seems to contribute its share for the rapid proliferation of squatter settlements at the periphery of the town. This study focuses on the squatter settlements in Jijiga town, Somali region, The main objective of the study is to assess the demographic and socioeconomic determinant factors that contribute in favor of squatter settlement. Besides this, the study tried to address the forms of land acquisition, housing condition and availability of social services and amenities. Hence, to achieve the study objective open and closed ended questionnaires for 90 squatter household heads were carried out in the sampled kebele OJ and kebele 06. The major finding of this study is that squatting in study area is of recent phenomena that came into existence since J983E. C. Major demographic and socio economic factors identified by researcher in aggravating squatting activity are family size, marital status, headship status, education, occupation, income, poverty, administrative bottlenecks, rising house rents, over crowding, etc. Furthermore, direct occupation, the practice of illegal land purchase and other administrative factors contributed to the emergence and growth of squatter settlements in the study area. Moreover, majority of the squatter settlers were internal migrants coming in search of employment opportunities. Besides this, squatters in study area were both poverty and non poverty driven, occupied large plots of area, have poor quality housing condition, poor social and infrastructural services. Thus, due to poor land management together with rapid growth of urban population and high urban land demand for house construction, problems of squatting is getting serious in study area.
The Sustainability of Rural Water Supply System: A Case in Homosha Wereda; BGRS, Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2011-04) Mamuye, Aschalew; Alemu, Getnet /PhD/
The Livelihood of the Forest Dependent Populations: A Case Study of the Women Fuelwood Carriers in Woreda 1 of the Gulele Subcity in Northern Addis Ababa
(Addis Ababa University, 2011-05) Domingos, Arlindo P.; Senbeta, Feyera (PhD)
The present study is aimed at assessing the living conditions and the socioeconomic situation of Women Fuelwood Carriers and their interaction with the forest resources, and the effect on the forest as well, due to filelwood harvesting, as a result of the great demand for energy supply. The cumulative effect of the illegal activity carried out by the WFCs on the reserved fo rest, as the major or sole means of their livelihood, has filrther repercussions. It contributes to increase depletion of the plantations, destroys the sustainable supply of filelwood and ultimately puts at stake, not only the very survival of WFCs themselves, but also the household energy needs of end-users at large. Without education or training, or other way of supporting themselves and their families, these women subsist on filelwood carrying and trading, as their primary source of income, at a considerable cost both to their own health and personal safety, and to the sound management of the forest resources. The general objective of the research is to assess the livelihood conditions of the women filelwood carriers in northern Addis Ababa as well as their activities within the forest, in order to determine ways and means to make it sustainable and environmentally friendly. To do so, the researcher had to employ both quantitative and qualitative research methods to gather the necessmy data for conducting the study. Th ese included descriptive surveys using structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and FGDs with informants by employing interview guidelines and/or checklists, observations and documentary analyses to generate pertinent primmy and secondary data from primary and secondary sources, with a view to ensuring the quality of data. To this end, a total of 92 sample respondents were selected out of 2000 target population, using systematic sampling techniques. This study found out that the socio-demographic and economic characteristics of the surveyed population depict exactly the state of poverty these WFCs are living in. They are essentially young adults and married migrants from different parts of the country and they are illiterate; having no significant assets to make a positive impact in their lives, although some of them claim to have assets of some sort back home. Their perception about the forests and its importance is, therefore, limited. Living in groups in tiny housing units and filthy environment, without any meaningfiil alternative income-generating activities, these Orthodox people, by religion, take all risks to gain a loft of bread out of the forests. The existing forests protection enforcement mechanisms and policies are inefficient to keep then at bay and inadequate to ensure good forest conservation practices in the study area. This is very often due to inadequate number of personnel to patrol the forest, lack of smooth communication, lack of clear guidelines and of coordination among the Government local authorities responsible for making it happen. Consequently, awareness creation is needed at all levels on the importance of a sound forest conservation system; and provision should be made of an adequate number of forest security guards in the study area with encouraging incentives in order to guaranty an effective forest protection. Local authorities and relevant stakeholders should commit themselves not only to provide WFCs with access to schools to acquire new life skills and alternative generating income, but also with decent housing units to allow them fit in the society in dignifying manner. Given the fact that effective management of forests is of paramount importance, there is a need for all parties concerned to pursue collective participatolY forest management initiatives in such a way as to safeguard the interest of all, the environment and, particularly of the poor, who are the most reliant on the continued access to resources for filelwood supplies.
The Practices of Integrated Water Resources Management and its Stumbling Blocks in the Catchments Area of Gafarsaa Water Supply Dam
(Addis Ababa University, 2011-06) Fufa, Tamiru; Mohammad, Mebruk (PhD)
GefJersa water supply dam is one of the water supply dams of Addis Ababa city. It is located within the Burayu Town and Walmara Aanaa Administration in the special zone ofOromiyaa surrounding Finjinnee. Within the catchment areas of this dam there are very high anthropogenic activities that can afJect the sustainability of water in the reservoir. Due to this, the study area is selected to be investigated under the study title "The practices of IWRM and its stumbling blocks in the catchment area of GefJersa water supply dam ". The main objective of this study is to check whether there are integrations or not among the stakeholders of GefJersa water supply dam and its catchment area toward the practice of IWRM. It encompasses the specific objectives such as assessing whether IWRM is being practised or not in the catchment area, identifYing the problems that hinder practicing of IWRM in the catchment area of GefJersa Water supply dam, recognizing compatible developmental activities appropriate to the catchment area and proposing alternative policy recolllmendation that help to guide implementation of IWRM in the catchment area. The research was conducted through mixed research method (qualitative and quantitative data coliection methods) i.e. focus group discllssion, questionnaires, direct jield observation and document analysis. The relevant data was collected from different population group thot interact within the catchment area. Purposive sampling was used to select head administrator of relevant sectors of Burayu Town and Walmara Aanaa Administrations, and Addis Ababa City Water Supply and Sewerage Service Authority and investors in the catchment area. Systematic sampling was lIsed to select the farmers found in the catchment area. To get the necessCIIY inforlllation about the land use changes of Gafarsaa catchment area starting from prior years of the dam construction for watershed analysis, the top jive persons with highest age found around the dam were selected purposively for in-depth interview using semistructured questions. The urbanized area that is approximately inhabited with 550 HHs was treated only by taking jield observation and through focus group discussion with the representatives of BTA in order to gather information about the existing storm water control and sewerage disposal facilities. The relevant data sources were assessed in order to get information about land uses of the study area and national water resources policy. The human activities that threaten water in the dam are the land related activities proceeding within the catchment area such as agriculture, livestock rearing, deforestation, investments, uncontroliedwaste disposal and urbanization. The miss uses of lands by the inhabitants of the catchment area emanate from lack of integration among the stockholders of the GCA. This shows that there is lilllited understanding of the concepts of IWRM. Hence, the study conjirmed that the IWRM has not practiced in the catchment area of GWSD. Therefore, the catchment area of GWSD should have independent management unit in which all the stockholders should involve in IWRM from planning to illlplementation.
The Role of Local Institution in Forest Resource Management: The Case of Debre Llbanos Monastery Forest
(Addis Ababa University, 2012-06) Sahilu, Menbere; Sen beta, Feyera (PhD)
Since the forest resource of Ethiopia is under great treat. Government and non governmental organizations are lIying to improve the condition. But on the ground their effort is not successjitl. This study concerned about the role of institution in forest management. Because currently institutions are serving as a solution for natural resource management problem in general and forest in particular .For that mailer the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is playing greatest role in managing the ruminant forest resource of Ethiopia. However, this doesn't mean that the rules and regulations concerning forest management in the EOTC totaily respected by the sounding communities. Rather, there is a challenge in managing the monastelY forest also. In order to investigate the role of Debre Libanos MonastelY in forest management different tools of data collection like: structured questioner, focus group discussion and key informant interview were held. Then the data was analyzed using SPSS program. The result indicated that Debre Libanos Monastery played the greatest role in managing its forest resources. However, the result of the study reveled that there are good and bad practices that enhance and hinder forest management by the monastery. Besides the monastelY formulate rules concerning forest management and try to enforce it. Nevertheless, as the forest is a common pool resource characteristic of CPR excludability and subtractability are problems in managing the monastelY forest also. On the other hand one of the allributes of the community such as user group size and hetroginty doesn't affect fo rest management by Debre Libanos Monastery. On the other hand dependability of the local community on forest resource is velY low. It was also found thaI 'Gizit' is a velY important religious value that plays the main role in management of Ihe monaslelY forest. There fore, Ihese church forests didn'l come 10 exisl just by mere chance. Results indicated that it is by the commitment of the church based on strong theological thoughts and a biblical basis. It was found that, most of the time, the local community respects church forests, and considers the church as a central institution. In general, from the results, it was concluded that forests conserved by EOTC and its tradition provide an opportunity to establish conservation sites forforest resources and distribution of seedlings of indigenous tree.
An Assessment of Watershed Management Practices in Lower Guder Micro-Watershed, Southern Ethiopia
(AAU, 2013-06) Darebo, Bereket; Senbeta, Feyera(Dr
Watershed degradation effects have represented a serious threat not only to the environment but also to the survival of millions of people living in upland as well as downstream areas. Although different types of watershed management technologies have extensively been introduced and implemented over the past decades in Ethiopia, implementations of the measures were not aflractive. This study was conducted to assess ·watershed management practices in accordance with preventing soil erosion in Lower Guder micro-watershed, Lema District ol J-Iadiya ::.one. A purposive sampling procedure was used to identifY study micro-watershed. The data were collected Fom 118 sample household's selected using simple random sampling technique. Qualitative data were generated using focus group discussions, key il?iormant interviews amI fi eld observation using checklists, while quantitative data were col/ected using structured household interview. Descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, and independent sample t-test were used to analyze the data collected Fom sample households and qualitative data were narrated. The results indicate that, age, educational status, and size offarm holdings are aJllong the major factors that significantly affect implementation of watershed management practices. When the economic condition of a community deteriorates, it leads to over exploitation and degradation of watershed resources. It is necessary for people to understand the relationship between their poverty and the degradation of watershed they live. Environmental regeneration is possible only when the concerned people realize a needfor it and are empowered to have control over the process of resource utilization, management and conservation.
Socio-Economic Effects of Prosopis Charcoal Production and Marketing: The Case of Gewane Woreda, Afar Region
(Addis Ababa University, 2014-06) Detona, Mohammed; Simane, Belay( PhD)
The main purpose of this research is to understand how and to what extent charcoal production and trade has been affecting the livelihood of pastoral communities in 'Galeila Dora' Kebele Administration, Gewane Wereda, Afar Regional State. The study focused on how the local coml'nunities respond to the negative effects of charcoal production Fom indigenous trees. Household surveys, focus group discussion, and key informant interviews were made to collect some valuable data and information relevant for this sludy. Besides, observation was also made to verify what has been actually happening to Ihe prosopis and indigenous trees in Ihe sludy siles. The resulls reveal that Ihe benefits and profils obtained ji-om charcoal produclion ji-om prosopis tree, which was formally initiated in this area, allracled the in/eresl of local communities, manage /0 improve the sla/lis of/heir livelihood!urlher allracled by this business which laler turned their face 10 the illegal CUlling and burning of indigenous trees for beller incomes ji-am Ihe sale 0/ charcoals of high qualily and highly demanded by the consumers in urban areas. As lillie goes on, the illegal culting 0/ indigenous Iree currently reached an alarming stage requiring corrective action 10 be laken. Owing 10 Ihis fOCI; Ihis study suggesled 11701 Ihe regional and local governmenl officials need to design syslemalic approaches on how to manage the indigenous Irees. Moreover, laking legal aclion on charcoal praducers ji-om legally prohibited indigenous Irees olher than the permitted prosopis Iree is urgently needed. Therefore, all government officials at all levels of adminislration need 10 discharge Iheir polilical commitment in close conslillation with the local communities in ensuring /0 encounter {he aggressive removal of indigenous Iree belore their complete destruction.
Assessment of Tourism Facilities, Opportunities and Challenges in the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2016-05) Mebratu, Geremew; Begashaw, Kassaye (PhD)
Ethiopia has a lot of Tourism attractions which includes all types (natural, man-made and cultural). Regardless of the attractions availability, in the country, tourism development is low due to the tourism facilities under development. Bale Mountains National Park which endowed with miracles natural attractions also lacks expected tourism development and contributes minimum amount to the country’s economy due to government’s low investment towards providing sufficient tourism facilities. The challenge herein is not merely providing the necessary facilities to sustain tourism activities but rather a pro-active approach towards establishing and subsequently maintaining the facilities at its optimal level. The aim of this paper therefore is to identify critical aspects that need to be in place to further enhance the Bale Mountains National Park tourism development. Thus, this research examine practices in tourism infrastructures, services and promotions development, identifies gaps, analyzes the current infrastructures, services and promotion of the park and recommends a framework for identifying, prioritizing, and funding tourism-specific infrastructures, services and promotions of the destination tourism development. If the park management and other concerned bodies implement the result of this research with the utilization of the opportunities, tourism facilities will get progress. Key words: Tourism, Infrastructure, Service and Promotion
An Assessment of Potentials, Challenges, and Opportunities of Oromo Cultural Center for Tourism Product Development
(Addis Ababa University, 2017-06) Amlaku, Nebyou; Amsalu, Desalegn (PhD)
The main purpose of this study was to find out potentials, challenges, and opportunities of Oromo Cultural Center (OCC) for tourism product development. Hence, an attempt has been made to identify potentials over which tourism product development can be enhanced, challenges that act as impediments, and opportunities that promote tourism product development at OCC. To achieve this objective, data have been collected by using observation, key informant interview, and focus group discussion with selected informants working at OCC and Oromia Culture and Tourism Bureau. Then after, collected data have been analyzed by transcribing, then reading and re-reading the transcribed material, and then using thematic analysis techniques based on, categories that emanated from the research objectives. Likewise, the analyzed data has been discussed in the context of prevailing literature. As revealed in the study findings, OCC has untapped potential for tourism product development that includes: MICE tourism development, incorporation in the city tour package of Addis Ababa, standard food and beverage service, souvenir shops, and exhibitions, marketing promotion and technological inputs like website design and database management system development, availability of concerned stakeholders, and demand of visitors. Conversely, lack of awareness about tourism product development, financial constraints, lack of skilled manpower, absence of tour guiding service and interpretation of heritages, loose interdepartmental connection and threat of theft have been identified as the major challenges hindering tourism product development in the cultural center. Then after, growth of domestic tourism, distinctive presence and strategic location of OCC, and cultural policy of Ethiopia that promotes the growth and preservation of indigenous cultures are deemed important opportunities for tourism product development at OCC. And lastly, conducting a research based on tourism product development, MICE tourism development, reviewing the existing marketing and promotion strategies, training manpower, working harmoniously with the concerned stakeholders, and a careful examination of opportunities present in order to best utilize resources were implications drawn for future intervention. Key Words: Tourism Product, Tourism Product Development, Potentials, Challenges, and Opportunities, Oromo Cultural Center, Addis Ababa
Opportunities and Challenges of Community Based Ecotourism Establishment: The Case of Kahitestsa Forest and Environs Awi Zone, Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2017-06) Fiseha, Ayana; Feseha, Mulugeta (PhD)
The study was conducted to assess the opportunities and challenges for the establishment of CBET in Kahitesta Forest and the environs, Northern Ethiopia. Descriptive research design was employed and 91 samples selected out of 957 households through simple random sampling technique for quantitative data; however purposive sampling technique for qualitative data. The data were collected through questionnaire survey, key informant interview, field observation and secondary data sources. Over all thematic data analysis method was used. Data collected through questionnaire was analyzed through using Uni-variate descriptive statistics (range, frequency and percentage) while qualitative data was mainly used to triangulate the study to reach in to conclusion. The finding shows that the area is rich in natural and cultural tourism resources for CBET development. Moreover, accessibility and availability of accommodation in Injibara town and the community’s positive attitude towards tourism and tourists that can be developed in the area were identified as opportunities. In spite of opportunities, community’s dependency on natural resources, lack of collaboration among stakeholders, lack of financial capacity and high need of construction of infrastructures are among the challenges that can hinder the establishment of community based ecotourism in the area. It is recommended that environmentally sound, culturally friendly and economically feasible community-based ecotourism can be developed in the destination. Key words: Awi Zone, Challenges, Community-based ecotourism, Opportunities, Pro-poor tourism, Tourism Product development.
Exploring the Tourism Potentials In and Around Debre Libanos Monastery, North Shewa, Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2017-06) Beyene, Fanta; Zeleke, Tesfaye (PhD)
This thesis is intended to explore tourism potential in and around Debre Libanos Monastery. To achieve the objectives the researcher employed qualitative research method. Both primary and secondary data were used to explore the potentials. To collect the primary data, interview and focus group discussions were undertaken with selected community elders, Monastery administrators, government official and other concerned individuals. In addition, deep and continuous personal observation was conducted to fill the gaps of interview and other sources gathered from various literatures. The analysis of the study revealed that Debre Libanos Monastery has huge natural, cultural, spiritual and historical tourism potentials. Among these the natural potentials are plants, animals, landscapes. There are also various cultural heritages such as artifacts, buildings, songs, cultural food, holy water and others. Even though the Monastery has these tourism potentials and diversified values, they have not yet been developed and utilized due to various impeding factors such as lack of awareness about the tourism potentials, lack of tourist facilities, accommodations, limited budget to promote, scarcity of skilled man power, legal frameworks and gaps in heritage conservation are among the factors that hinder tourism development of the area. Therefore, it is recommended that there is need to promote the potentials and collaboration of the administrations of the monastery with different stakeholders such as Debre Libanos Woreda and North Shewa Zone Culture and Tourism Offices, local people, private sector and agriculture offices as all are responsible to develop and exploit tourism potentials of the study area. Key words: Natural Tourism Potentials, Cultural Tourism Potentials, Destination Development, Stakeholders Participation, Community Awareness, Challenges of Tourism Development, Debre Libanos Monastery and Ethiopia.
Opportunities and Challenges for The Development of Community Based Ecotourism in Southern Ethiopia: The Case of Loka Abaya National Park
(Addis Ababa University, 2017-06) Temesgen, Fasika; Tefera, Tamirat (PhD)
This study was conducted to assess the opportunities and challenges for the development of community based ecotourism in Loka Abaya National Park (LANP), which is found in SNNP region, Sidama zone, Loka Abaya woreda. A random sampling method was used to collect primary data from 94 sample households found in three adjacent kebeles to the park. The instruments used for data collection include questionnaire, in-depth interviews, focus group discussion and field observation. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were applied to analyze the collected data. The findings revealed that there are high opportunities to develop CBET in LANP. The presence of many physical features, such as natural resources including scenic features, forest, bird life, wild animal, hot springs and sharing of some proportion of water from Lake Abaya, create favorable conditions to develop CBET in the area. Many cultural features including showing cultural dances and hair style, traditional festivals and food and drink preparation system, are also available in LANP. The commitment of the government, safety and security, the location of the park within one regional state, its proximity to Hawassa city and hospitability of the local community are also among the opportunities to develop CBET within the LANP. Nonetheless, there are some challenges to develop CBET in the area. The challenges found out in the study include: park community relationship (e.g., temporal settlement within the park, conflict over the use of park resources and encroachment of the surrounding community to the park's territory), lack of community involvement in the park issues, lack of trained man power, lack of cooperation among stakeholders, lack of promotion and lack of infrastructure and accommodations. It is concluded that if all stakeholders work together collaboratively, the opportunities can be exploited and the challenges can be minimized for a successfully development of a CBET in Loka Abaya National Park, which was only established in 2009.
Challenges and Opportunities for Tourism Development in Hadiya Zone: A Case Study of East Badawacho Woreda, Southern Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2017-06) Desta, Asrat; Tefera, Tamirat (PhD)
This thesis was conducted with the objective of identifying tourism challenges and opportunities for tourism development in Hadiya Zone, east Badawacho Woreda. For achieving the objective of the study, both primary and secondary data were generated by employing qualitative and quantitative methods. Purposive and stratified simple random sampling techniques were used to select 4 tourism sites and 100 sample households respectively. The quantitative data was analyzed using frequency, percentage and mean when appropriate while qualitative data was used to triangulate and authenticate the study. The tourism potential of the study area which has a power to develop tourism industry was studied. On the other hand, the study also identified several factors, which suggest the need for improvement and strong effort. Such as, lack of safety to visitors, shortage of infrastructural development, lack of community awareness toward tourism, shortage of ensuring tourism products, lack of promotion and marketing, lack of collaboration among stakeholders, limited role of government, limited roles of NGOs, shortage of training institutions, lack of contribution from host community, were identified as challenges for tourism development in the study area. On the other hand several opportunities like strategic location of the sites, tourism potential, tourism policy and hospitality of host community were identified as success factors for tourism development in the study area. Results and recommendations of the study explore ways to improve and enhance the capacity of local government and other stakeholders to develop tourism industry in the study area. Key words; challenges, development, Hadiya Zone, opportunities, tourism, tourism potential, Southern Ethiopia
Adaptive Capacity of Woodland Dependent Households to Climate Change in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2018-05) Mesfin, Demamu; Simane, Belay (PhD)
Ethiopia stands among the most vulnerable and worst affected countries in the world to the impacts of climate change mainly because of its low adaptive capacity. The Central Rift Valley (CRV) of Ethiopia is one of the most vulnerable areas in the country. However, studies to understand the perception and adaptive capacity of rural households to climate change in the semi-arid areas of the CRV are limited. This study examines the perception and adaptive capacity of rural households to climate change in the CRV. Mixed research methods approach was adopted to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. Household survey, focus group discussion (FGD), key informant interview (KII), field observation, and remote sensing and GIS techniques were used to collect data. The study found out that a large majority of households perceived climate change and its impacts and adopted an array of adaptation practices. It was also found that the adaptive capacity (AC) of households in the CRV was generally low and varies among households living in different Kebeles. From five major components that contributed to adaptive capacity, institutions and entitlements, knowledge and information, and innovation were found to contribute better than decision making and governance, and asset-base. Moreover, the composite indices for sub-components indicated that woodlands contributed to AC better than grazing land, farmland, and water resources, respectively. However, it was also found that woodlands are declining. Forty years ago, the study area was virtually covered with woodlands and forests (95%) and agriculture was just starting (1%). Now, it is reversed that agriculture covered nearly half of the study area (45%), while woodlands covered 42% and forests virtually disappeared. The socioeconomic and environmental impacts of these changes have also been perceived by households. Furthermore, seven proximate and ten underlying causes of woodland decline have been identified and ranked by households. It is concluded that adaptive capacity has broader dimensions and assessments and interventions need to be made in a holistic and integrated manner. Moreover, interventions need to acknowledge local differences and be tailored accordingly to suit local contexts. Key words: Climate change, perception, adaptive capacity, woodland, impacts, proximate causes and driving forces.
Determinants of Green Areas Management under Urban Landscape Dynamics in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2018-06) Telelew, Bizuayehu; Assefa, Engdawork (PhD)
Urbanization causes land use change and as a result of urban environmental conditions disturb natural surfaces and replace them by urbanization due to this, the thesis was aimed to investigate the impact of urbanization to green areas development and management. A multi stage systematic random sampling was employed to draw 138 samples households from three sub-cities of Bahir Dar City. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Moreover, satellite images have also been used to investigate the trends of green areas in Bahir Dar. The land use pattern of the city indicated that coverage of built up area is increasing radically from 1986-2016 whereas that of crop land, plantation and grassland was decreased from time to time. From 1986-2016, plantation land use class decreased from 5453.5 ha (25.1%) to 2501.8ha (11.5%). The study also tried to assess the perception of community towards benefit of green areas to wellbeing of the society. Descriptive statistics applied to look their perception in environmental, socio economical and health categories, based on this majority of respondents’ perceived benefit of green areas. The statistical model namely binary logit were employed to establish the factors affecting green areas management. The result of binary logit model directed that age of household head, average income of household, sufficient number of green areas available, sufficiency of budget allocated to green area management and hour to reach the nearest green area from resident are significant factors that affect green area management negatively while marital status of household head, participation in tree planting campaign and stakeholders collaboration are significant factors that affect green areas management positively. The study recommended that development of green areas should emphasize new settlement areas to make more accessible beside this existing communal green areas management should be more participatory. Key words: Green areas, Green areas management, Urbanization
Conservation of Cultural Values of Tiya Stelea and Challenges for Sustainable Tourism Development
(2018-06) Elias, Helebo; Muleta, Shiferaw (PhD)
This thesis endeavor is to identify the Cultural Values of Tiya World Heritage Site in Ethiopia from the perspective of cultural value conservation and its challenges. It recommends the Cultural Values of Tiya World Heritage Site and conservation management theoretical frame work for sustaining the physical condition, authenticity, and integrity of heritage. The linkages between cultural value and conservation will help to understand and helps to undertake measure for conserving cultural value from the conservation management perspective in Tiya World Heritage Site. The thesis adapted the Critical Realist approach in understanding the world by distinguishing the reality from factual and empirical, and recognizing the social structures in the phenomenon. The Matrix Thematic mapped the main elements of the study (cultural value, conservation practitioners, and conservation documents) in a robust manner. Expert Interviews, observation and Document Reviews were the main tools used in gathering the data. The raw qualitative data was then analyzed via Content Analysis. This thesis identifies the cultural value of Tiya World Heritage Site as being social, economic, political, historic, aesthetical, scientific, age, and ecological. These were associated and epistemologically constructed with conservation management perspectives of people, place, process, and technology. The embedded levels of respondents from the conservation practitioners have explained and elaborated on the association between the characteristics of cultural value of Tiya World Heritage Site and conservation management practice in identifying the challenges and possible solution to sustain the cultural values, the focus of the research. The thesis also provided insights into how the perspective of cultural value conservation is associated with cultural value criteria in conserving Tiya World Heritage Site. To sustainably conserve cultural heritage of Tiya World Heritage Site I suggested that the government should start pre- conservation studies of the heritage as first step in line with preparing conservation documents plan. To do so, both financial and human resources have to be secured for conservation practice.
Accessibility of Five Star Hotels and National Museum for Persons with Disabilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2018-06) Kassa, Iyerus; Tefera, Tamirat (PhD)
The issue of accessible tourism is an area which needs great focus from all sectors of tourism development, specifically in relation to persons with disabilities. We human incur some sort of disability in our lifetime, so we should think about making our tourist attraction areas and services very accessible for all segments of the people; because person with disability have the same desire and need to take part in leisure activities like others. This is why this exploratory study is very important in giving background information on the area, by assessing the accessibility of star hotels and museum for persons with disability found in Addis Ababa city. The sample was gathered through a snowballing technique from associations of disability. The study utilizes semi-structured interviews of 18 visitors with different impairment: 2 uses wheelchairs; 5 are crutches user; 5 are visual impaired 5 are hearing impaired and 1 has hand impairment and none disabled persons from services providers: Museum guide and director (2), front office supervisor (4), waiters (3) and receptionist (3). The data were subject to thematic content analysis and Interpreted by the social model of disability, the results suggest that none of the seven five star hotel was found fully accessible plus the aggregate result shows that the extent of accessibility is 51.1% and 27.9% of accessibility requirement has been found inaccessible at all and 15.6% were the requirement which are found in- partial condition and 5.4% of accessibility requirement has been found not applicable. Moreover accessibility is subjected to change of time, technology and people’s disability awareness. Contradictions were found between the service provider and users on the concept accessibility, all the respondents found the hotels inaccessible by appreciating the exiting inclusiveness however, the hotelier thought they have most accessible place for everyone. This study is limited to only five star hotels found in Addis Ababa and on Ethiopian National Museum. The paper recommended for hotel managers and for government bodies on ensuring the accessibility of specific physical, information and on policy and legal frame works. This study relays the genuine voice of people with disabilities. The findings have relevance to hospitality researchers, educators, executives, and hotel staff as background information. Keywords: Accessible Tourism, and Accessibility Audit, Five star Hotels, Museum
The Impact of Small Scale Biogas Technology on Household Income and Health in Ada’a Woreda, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.
(Addis Ababa University, 2018-06) Tesfaye, Woubakal; Diriba, Dawit (PhD)
Access to modern energy is a key element in rural development. This thesis identified the Impact of Small Scale Biogas Technology on Household Income and Health in Ada’a Woreda, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. 9 kebeles were purposively selected where there are high numberof biogas users. The descriptive statistical significances and the association of the dummy and continuous variables with the dependent variable were tested using chi-square and t-test. Propensity score matching was used to assess the impact small scale biogas technology has on health and income of household. The study found out small scale biogas technology is favorable among users due to; subsidy form the government; relatively cheap comparing to other fuel sources; as it considers the health economic and environmental benefits; as it saves fuel; it being smokeless; its durability; the fact that it cooks quickly; as it effectively uses waste from farm and produces compost for farm use. The result from Propensity score matching indicated that small scale biogas technology has a significant and positive impact on health So, the impact of small scale biogas technology has an average treatment effect of 8249.2 ETB, 5968.5 ETB, 9961.5 ETB, 8652.3 ETB per annum to household income using nearest neighbor, radius, kernel and stratification methods respectively. Looking at the impact of small scale biogas technology on health, the study looked at three outcome variables; cost of the treatment for the victims in the households; the number of days spent for fuel collection per week and; total members of the household affected by indoor air pollution (IAP). The impact of biogas on cost of treatment has an average treatment effect of 320.2 ETB, 392.5 ETB, 339.2 ETB, and 332.8ETBusing nearest neighbor, radius, kernel and stratification methods respectively. The impact of biogas on number days spent for fuel collection has an average treatment effect of -1.5, -1.4, -1.3, and -1.3 days using nearest neighbor, radius, kernel and stratification methods respectively. Lastly the impact of using small scale biogas technology on total members of household that are affected by the illness -1.2, -1.2, -1.2, and -1.2, member using nearest neighbor, radius, kernel and stratification methods respectively. The result indicated the positive impact of small scale biogas technology on health. As the technology has a great potential in promoting sustainable and renewable energy, much effort should be done in promoting the technology, awareness raising to non-user household and peer education should be done. Key words: Biogas, IAP,Income,Propensity Score Matching, Renewable energy
Climate-Smart Land Management Decisions in a Changing Climate: Exploring Land Productivity and Livelihood Impacts in the Dabus Sub-basin of the Blue Nile River
(Addis Ababa University, 2018-06) Asrat, Paulos; Simane, Belay (PhD)
The objective of this research is to investigate autonomous climate-smart adaptation strategies and the impact of these strategies on the livelihood of the smallholder farmers in the Dabus Sub-basin of the Blue Nile River. The study is based on household and plot-level primary data collected from 734 farm households in the wet and dry lowland agro-climatic zones of the Dabus sub-basin. The LVI approach framed within IPCC is customized for the agro-ecology specific vulnerability analysis. The econometric models employed in this study are beyond a single regression equation that are based on smallholder farmers’ utility maximizing behavior and customized into climate change adaptation and impact research. The models include the Heckman sample selectivity probit model, a two stage probit model, a bivariate probit model, the instrumental variable estimation method, the mean-variance approach, and the Propensity Score Matching Method. In the process, the research assessed vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate change and variability; identified the factors affecting the use of different climate-smart agricultural practices as adaptation strategy; examined the interface among different climate-smart agricultural practices; and identified the impact of the climate-smart land management decisions on crop yield variability and productivity. Based on the results, the dry lowland agro-climatic zone is characterized by a higher exposure and sensitivity to climate stresses with a comparatively limited adaptive capacity as compared to the wet lowland, and this positioned it be more vulnerable to climate change and variability than the wet lowland. Adaptation to climate change in the area is proved to be a two-step process which requires that farmers first perceive climate change and respond in the second step through adaptation. Uses of some external inputs as adaptation strategy are proved to have a negative reciprocal causation on one another implying possibility of substitution between the strategies. Some climate-smart adaptation strategies are also interdependent in terms of sharing the resources at the disposal of the farm households. The study also revealed complementarity between short-term and long-term climate-smart agricultural practices. The climate-smart agricultural practices generally helped smallholder farmers to increase crop productivity through offsetting the production risk at plot and farm level. A positive increase in value of production is realized for those farmers who maintain the physical climate-smart land management practices for longer period. This calls for an intervention that motivate the farmers to make investment in a long-term climate-smart agricultural practices and an incentive mechanism that make them accept longer time horizons in terms of payoff periods. The findings of this study also verbalize that agro-climatic differences determine adaptation decision and hence location specific intervention is required to enhance farmers’ use of climate-smart agricultural practices. Since climate-smart agricultural practices are knowledge and resource intensive, implementation of the practices could be challenged given the limited awareness and resource constraints of smallholder farmers. Hence, scaling up of the practices should be backed by both public and non-public investments to raise awareness and to provide technological support. Failure to do so would adversely affect crop productivity and sustainability of the smallholder agricultural production system. Keywords: Climate change, climate-smart, adaptation, productivity, crop yield variability, impact
The Role of Actors Collaboration Towards Sustainability of Babogaya and BishoftuLakes in Bishoftu City for Tourism Development
(Addis Ababa University, 2018-06) Ebisa, Abraham; Tefera , Tamirat (PhD)
This study is conducted primarily to identify the roles of actors towards the environmental sustainability of Babogaya and Bishoftu Lakes. To achieve the intended objective of the study both qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed. Purposive and random sampling techniques were employed to determine the sample and sample size. The researcher used a semi structured interview and close ended questionnaire to collect data from 230 households. Face to face interview was conducted with 12 government and private tourism businesses. The purposively selected 6 key informants were from government institutions and 6 key informants were purposively selected from private organizations those who are operating in tourist facilities (resort and hotel owners). Data were also collected from both primary and secondary sources, the primary sources were reports, periodicals and other unpublished materials relate to the topic under study. Additionally one FGD was held at the study area with 8 purposely selected local communities. Primary data was collected using key informant interview, questionnaire and observations. The researcher employed descriptive research design to analyze the quantitative approaches and narrative approach for the qualitative. The data were analyzed and the result of the analysis was presented in descriptive statistics formats including frequency, tables, chart, graphs, and percentages. The findings of this study show that there is poor waste management system, incompatible land use system, lack of EIA and lack of respecting rule and regulations of buffer zone along the watershed of Babogaya & Bishoftu lakes. The study concludes that the existing practices of actors are so fragmented and uncoordinated, which resulted from weak strategic plan, absence of leaders(managers) commitments towards initiating collaboration, unstructured/fragmented involvement of actors, lack of clear awareness, lack of predefined shared responsibility and due to lack of transparency among actors. The researcher would recommend that there should be clearly predefined responsibility among actors; BCAM must work hard to encourage collaboration of actors and there should be actors strategic plan towards sustainability of Babogaya & Bishoftu Lakes. Sustainable Tourism development can be achieved through active collaboration of local community, tourism related private businesses and government institutions. Key words: Actors, Collaboration, environment, Sustainability, Tourism development.

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