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Background Information Study Tour Ethiopia 2007 Landscape Transformation and Sustainable Development in Ethiopia Background information for a study tour through Ethiopia, 4-20 September 2006 University of Bern Institute of Geography 2007 Cover photographs Left: Digging an irrigation channel near Lake Maybar to substitute missing rain in the drought of 1984/1985. Hans Hurni, 1985. Centre: View of the Simen Mountains from the lowlands in the Simen Mountains National Park. Gudrun Schwilch, 1994. Right: Extreme soil degradation in the Andit Tid area, a research site of the Soil Conservation Research Programme (SCRP). Hans Hurni, 1983. Landscape Transformation and Sustainable Development in Ethiopia Background information for a study tour through Ethiopia, 4-20 September 2006 University of Bern Institute of Geography 2007 3 Impressum © 2007 University of Bern, Institute of Geography, Centre for Development and Environment Concept: Hans Hurni Coordination and layout: Brigitte Portner Contributors: Alemayehu Assefa, Amare Bantider, Berhan Asmamew, Manuela Born, Antonia Eisenhut, Veronika Elgart, Elias Fekade, Franziska Grossenbacher, Christine Hauert, Karl Herweg, Hans Hurni, Kaspar Hurni, Daniel Loppacher, Sylvia Lörcher, Eva Ludi, Melese Tesfaye, Andreas Obrecht, Brigitte Portner, Eduardo Ronc, Lorenz Roten, Michael Rüegsegger, Stefan Salzmann, Solomon Hishe, Ivo Strahm, Andres Strebel, Gianreto Stuppani, Tadele Amare, Tewodros Assefa, Stefan Zingg. Citation: Hurni, H., Amare Bantider, Herweg, K., Portner, B. and H. Veit (eds.). 2007. Landscape Transformation ansd Sustainable Development in Ethiopia. Background information for a study tour through Ethiopia, 4-20 September 2006, compiled by the participants. Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern, Bern, 321 pp. Available from: www.cde.unibe.ch. Centre for Development and Environment, Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Switzerland. Contents PREFACE XI PART I - SOCIO-ECONOMIC OVERVIEW 13 1 Agriculture and rural setting of Ethiopia 14 Compiled by Daniel Loppacher and Sylvia Lörcher 14 1.1 Overview 14 1.2 Problems faced by agriculture 17 1.3 Governmental approaches 18 1.4 Education and agriculture 19 1.5 The definition of rural in Ethiopia 20 1.6 Rural land holding in Ethiopia 20 1.7 Conclusion 23 References 24 2 Secondary and tertiary sector in Ethiopia 26 Compiled by Manuela Born 26 2.1 General overview 26 2.2 Causes for the secondary sector’s stagnation 28 2.3 An idea to support further development 34 References 35 3 History and culture of Ethiopia 38 Compiled by Lorenz Roten 38 3.1 Pre-historic period 38 3.2 Ancient history 41 3.3 The Medieval Period (1270 – 1632) 44 3.4 The Gonder period – order and disorder (1632 – 1769) 45 3.5 Zemene Mesafint – Era of Princes (1769 – 1855) 46 3.6 Modern history (1855 – 1974) 47 3.7 Culture 53 References 61 v Landscape Transformation and Sustainable Development in Ethiopia 4 Urbanisation and transport network in Ethiopia 63 Compiled by Michael Rüegsegger with feedback from Alemayehu Assefa 63 4.1 Urbanisation 63 4.2 Transportation network 68 References 71 5 Ethiopia in the international context 72 Compiled by Antonia Eisenhut 72 5.1 Historical dimension - Foreign influences on Ethiopia during the last two centuries 72 5.2 Ethiopia as a member of the UNO 74 5.3 Ethiopia as a developing country 76 5.4 Ethiopia and Switzerland 79 5.5 Conclusion 81 References 81 PART II – BIOPHYSICAL OVERVIEW 85 6 Geology and soils of Ethiopia 86 Compiled by Stefan Zingg and Tadele Amare 86 6.1 Geology 86 6.2 Soils 89 References 95 7 Hydrology of Ethiopia 97 Compiled by Andres Strebel 97 7.1 Drainage 97 7.2 Rivers 99 7.3 Lakes 101 7.4 Some aspects of the water balance 101 7.5 Water resources and use 102 7.6 International interest in the Nile basin 104 References 105 8 Vegetation and wildlife of Ethiopia 106 Compiled by Franziska Grossenbacher 106 8.1 Introduction 106 8.2 Vegetation 106 8.3 Wildlife 114 8.4 National Strategy for Conservation 123 vi References 127 9 Climate and weather of Ethiopia 129 Compiled by Veronika Elgart with feedback from Elias Fekade 129 9.1 Introduction 129 9.2 Kiremt (main rainy season) 132 9.3 Bega (main dry season) 140 9.4 Belg (small rainy season) 141 References 142 10 Paleoecology and climate change in Ethiopia 144 Compiled by Christine Hauert and Gianreto Stuppani with feedback from Berhan Asmamaw 144 10.1 Introduction 144 10.2 Early Climate change in Africa and Ethiopia 145 10.3 Climate change from the last Ice Age to the Present Day 151 References 155 PART III – SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES 157 11 Ecological dimension of sustainable development: degradation and land management in Ethiopia 158 Compiled by Eduardo Ronc 158 11.1 Introduction 158 11.2 Physical potentials and human limitations of land use 160 11.3 Soil conservation measures 161 11.4 Human limitations for implementation and adoption of conservation measures 164 11.5 Conclusion and recommendations 167 References 167 12 Social dimension of sustainable development: ethnic and cultural tensions and reconciliation in Ethiopia 169 Compiled by Ivo Strahm 169 12.1 Introduction and Definitions 169 12.2 Formation of Ethnic Conflicts 170 12.3 Regulating Ethnic Tensions 171 12.4 Ethnic Identity in the Ethiopian State 172 12.5 Democratisation and the ethnic regional federalism in Ethiopia 174 12.6 Social Sustainability concerning ethnic and social tension in the Ethiopian State 176 vii Landscape Transformation and Sustainable Development in Ethiopia References 177 13 Economic dimension of sustainable development: market failure and development in Ethiopia 178 Compiled by Kaspar Hurni with feedback from Tewodros Assefa 178 13.1 Overview of the Ethiopian economic situation 178 13.2 The agricultural sector and development 181 13.3 Land tenure system 183 13.4 External Factors 186 13.5 Conclusions 190 References 191 14 Political dimension of sustainable development: historical and governance issues in Ethiopia 192 Compiled by Andreas Obrecht 192 14.1 Introduction 192 14.2 Early political culture 192 14.3 Hayle Selasses Reign 195 14.4 The Derg Period 196 14.5 Current Politics 198 14.6 The 2005 Government 200 14.7 Assessment of the actual political landscape 203 References 205 15 Institutional dimension of sustainable development: traditional and modern state issues in Ethiopia 208 Compiled by Stefan Salzmann 208 15.1 Introduction 208 15.2 Institutional dimensions 210 15.3 Conclusion 217 References 218 PART IV – SPECIAL THEMES ALONG THE STUDY TOUR 219 16 Stations of the Soil Conservation Research Programme (SCRP) in Ethiopia 220 Compiled by Karl Herweg, Hans Hurni and Brigitte Portner 220 The following components of Chapter 16 have been taken from SCRP Reports (SCRP 2000a-d) 220 16.1 Andit Tid in North Shewa 228 16.2 Maybar in Wello 233 16.3 Anjeni in Gojam 238 viii References 244 17 Wirgesa and its environs: land use and land management dynamics in an Ethiopian case study 247 Amare Bantider 247 17.1 Basic data 247 17.2 Overview map 249 17.3 Dynamics of land use / land cover, land management and land degradation 250 17.4 Gullies in the area 253 18 Simen Mountains World Heritage Site in Northern Ethiopia 255 Hans Hurni and Eva Ludi 255 18.1 General overview 255 18.2 Overview map 259 18.3 Specific topics 260 References 263 PART V – DAILY REPORTS OF STUDY TOUR THROUGH ETHIOPIA 265 Overview map of the study tour 266 Addis Abeba and its environs 267 Tuesday 5 September 2006, Sylvia Lörcher 267 From Addis Abeba to the Tarmaber Escarpment 270 Wednesday 6 September 2006, Berhan Asmame and Gianreto Stuppani 270 The lowlands between Debre Sina and Kombolcha 272 Thursday 7 September 2006, Elias Fekade and Lorenz Roten 272 Trekking from Kombolcha to Maybar 275 Friday 8 September 2006, Kaspar Hurni 275 Around Lake Maybar 278 Saturday 9 September 2006, Andreas Obrecht and Ivo Strahm 278 Trekking from Maybar to Desse 288 Sunday 10 September 2006, Melese Tesfaye and Stefan Salzmann288 New Year in Desse and onwards to Weldiya 290 Monday 11 September 2006, Michael Rüegsegger 290 The Chinese Road 293 Tuesday 12 September 2006, Franziska Grossenbacher 293 From Woreta to Gonder and onwards to Debark 296 ix Landscape Transformation and Sustainable Development in Ethiopia Wednesday 13 September 2006, Alemayehu Assefa and Veronika Elgart 296 Detour from Debark to Dip Bahr and back to Debark 300 Thursday 14 September 2006, Christine Hauert and Solomon Hishe300 Visiting the Simen Mountains National Park 303 Friday 15 September 2006, Antonia Eisenhut and Andres Strebel303 Outlook at Sankaber Camp and back to Debark 307 Saturday 16 September 2006, Daniel Loppacher 307 From Debark to Gonder and onwards to Bahr Dar 310 Sunday 17 September 2006, Manuela Born 310 Visiting Anjeni Research Station in Gojam 313 Monday 18 September 2006, Eduardo Ronc 313 From Debre Markos through the Blue Nile Gorge to Addis Abeba 318 Tuesday 19 September 2006, Stefan Zingg 318 List of Participants 320 x Preface Preface This report presents background material used by participants in a joint Ethiopian- Swiss study tour through the north-central highlands of Ethiopia. The main theme of the tour was 'land transformation and sustainable development'. The tour took place from 4-20 September 2006, starting in Addis Abeba and continuing through North Shewa, Wello, Gonder and Gojam. This report is a structured compilation of information gathered by MSc candidates and scientists from the University of Bern prior to the study tour, and supplemented with daily reports by all participants after the study tour was completed. The tour was prepared, organised and supported by members of the Institute of Geography, University of Bern, the Regional Coordination Office (RCO) of the Joint Areas of Case Studies (JACS) ‘Horn of Africa’ of the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) ‘North-South’ in Addis Abeba, and the ‘East and Southern Africa Partnership Programme’ (ESAPP) of the Centre for Development and Environment, Institute of Geography, University of Bern.
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