Tafesse Final Msc Thesis
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Integrated Assessment of ecosystem services and stakeholder analysis of Abijata-Shalla Lakes National Park, Ethiopia Tafesse Kefyalew Estifanos MSc Thesis in Environmental Sciences April 2008 Supervisors: Dr. Rudolf S. De Groot Environmental systems Analysis group Dr. Huib Hedgsdijk Plant Research International (PRI) Integrated Assessment of ecosystem services and stakeholders analysis of Abijata-Shalla Lakes National Park, Ethiopia By Tafesse Kefyalew Estifanos MSc Thesis in Environmental Sciences April 2008 “No part of this thesis may be reproduced without contacting the Environmental Systems Analysis Group” 1st Supervisor and Examiner: 2nd Examiner Dr. Rudolf S. De Groot Prof.dr.Rik Leemans Environmental systems Analysis group Environmental systems Analysis group Wageningen, UR Wageningen, UR P O Box 47 6700, AA Wageningen, P O Box 47 6700, AA Wageningen, The Netherlands The Netherlands Tel: +31-317-482247, Fax: -484839 Tel: +31-317-484812, Fax: -484839 E-mail [email protected] E-mail [email protected] 2nd Supervisor Advisor Dr.Ir. Huib Hedgsdijk Ir.P.C. Petra Spliethoff Plant research International (PRI) Wageningen International (WI) P O Box 6708, PD Wageningen P O Box 47 6700, AB Wageningen The Netherlands The Netherlands Tel: +31-317-480559 Tel: +31-317-495256, Fax: -495395 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Preface I have done my thesis on Abijata Shalla Lakes National Park in Ethiopia because of its biodiversity, particularly important for avifauna. The Park provides various socio- cultural, ecological and economic benefits to different stakeholders. However, these services have neither received much attention by most stakeholders nor are embedded in the management of the Park. Therefore, illegal human activities and overexploitation of the Parks’ natural resources have led to large scale environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity. An integrated assessment of the Park functions and services contributes to the identification of their benefits to different stakeholders. In addition, management of the Park is complicated because of the conflicting interests of different stakeholders. Therefore, analysis of the interests of different stakeholders could help to identify synergies and initiate a conservation platform of stakeholders with joined interests possibly resulting in payment for environmental (ecosystem) services schemes and sustainable utilization of natural resources. Thus this thesis could contribute to the conservation and management of the Park by analyzing the services to stakeholders. For realization of my thesis different people helped me. But first and for most I thank the almighty God for giving me this chance, enthusiasm and strength to start and finalize this thesis. Next, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisors: Dr. Rudolf S. de Groot, Dr.ir Huib Hengsdijk, and Ir Petra Spliethoff for guidance, continuous follow up and giving critical and constructive comments in the entire process of the thesis. This thesis would not have this shape without continuous constructive comments of the advisors. I thank Ato Rezennom Almaw, Conservation and anti-poaching head of the Park, for his assistance in the field and providing me information. I am thankful to the Horn of Africa Regional Environmental Centre/Network and the project ‘Ecosystems for water, food, and economic development in the Central Rift Valley’ for financial support. I thank Dr. Satishkumar Belliethathan and Mr. Bart Jan van Beuzekom from Horn of Africa Regional Environmental Centre/Network for their kind cooperation and facilitating of the budget. In addition, my grateful extends to Ethiopian Wildlife Association and members, Dr. Yirmed Demeke, Ato Kassaye, Ato Dereje W/Yohannes, W/o Muluwork and Ato Mengistu Wondafrash for facilitating and administering my budget. I am thankful to the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Department of Applied Biology from Hawassa University, for assisting me in administration issues and transport facilities for my study. I would like to mention our great time that I and Mr Mengistu Assefa had in our field work and sharing the same room. I thank him for his friendly, politeness and dedicated friend of mine who helped me a lot. My thanks extend to those individuals and organizations that supported me directly or indirectly in the field work. Last but not least, I like to address my deepest acknowledgment to my lovely Dad (Kefyalew Estifanos) and Mom (Belayinesh Temesgen) for raising me to this stage and supported me to pursue my study. i Table of Contents Pages Preface ................................................................................................................................. i Table of Contents................................................................................................................ ii Summary..............................................................................................................................v 1. Introduction......................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Problem statement......................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Research objective ........................................................................................................ 3 1.4 Research questions........................................................................................................ 3 1.5 Structure of the report ................................................................................................... 3 2. Description of the study area ...........................................................................................5 2.1 Abijata Shalla Lakes National Park .............................................................................. 5 2.2 Arsi Negelle Woreda..................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha Woreda .......................................................................... 7 2.4 Population characteristics ............................................................................................. 8 2.5 Water resources............................................................................................................. 9 2.5.1 Lakes, rivers and hot springs ............................................................................. 9 2.5.2 The wetlands ...................................................................................................... 9 3. Methodology and literature review................................................................................10 3.1 Conceptual framework used in the study.................................................................... 10 3.1.1 Typology of ecosystem functions and services ............................................... 11 3.1.2 Ecosystem services typology used in this study .............................................. 15 3.1.3 Stakeholder Analysis ....................................................................................... 17 3.2 Sampling procedure .................................................................................................... 18 3.3 Data collection methods.............................................................................................. 19 3.4 Data analysis ............................................................................................................... 21 4. Identification of the different landscape units ...............................................................22 4.1 Acacia woodland......................................................................................................... 22 4.2 Abijata and Shalla Lakes ............................................................................................ 23 4.3 Shalla hot springs........................................................................................................ 24 4.4 Homestead................................................................................................................... 25 4.5 Farmland ..................................................................................................................... 26 4.6 Wetlands ..................................................................................................................... 26 4.7 Fallow land.................................................................................................................. 27 4.8 Shalla Islands .............................................................................................................. 28 4.9 Rivers and streams ...................................................................................................... 28 4.10 Riverine forest........................................................................................................... 28 5. Identification of ecosystem services..............................................................................29 5.1 Provisioning services .................................................................................................. 30 5.1.1 Food ................................................................................................................. 30 5.1.2 Fresh water......................................................................................................