An Assessment of Watershed Management Practices in Lower Guder Micro-Watershed, Southern Ethiopia
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2013-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AAU
Abstract
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.
Description
Keywords
watershed, management practices, perception, factors, challenges, opportun iti es, and Lower Guder M icro-Watershed