Wetlands Management
Part 2 Wetlands of Ethiopia
Wetlands of Ethiopia
Structure of the lecture:
Part 1 – Introduction, wetland extent, types,
classification and biomes (1 lecture hour)
Part 2 - Threats to Ethiopian wetlands, underlying
causes/factors that accelerate wetland loss (1
lecture hour)
Part 3 - consequences of wetland loss and relevant
stakeholders (1 lecture hour)
At the end of this unit, students will be able to:
Describe the extent and types of wetland in Ethiopia
Discuss distribution of wetlands in Ethiopia
Identify threats to wetlands of Ethiopia
Discuss underlying causes/factors that accelerate
wetland loss in Ethiopia
List the relevant stakeholders in Ethiopia
1.1 Introduction
Wetland-naming in Ethiopia
Words meaning “wetland” in different areas or
languages:
Chefie (Afaan Oromo)
Reg-reg, max/t, cheke-chek (Amharigna)
Charia (Wolaitigna) etc.
Introduction
Ethiopia is endowed with diverse ecosystems in which
diverse flora and fauna as well as microbial resources are
found.
The major ecosystems include:
Afroalpine and subafroalpine,
Wetland,
Montane dry forest and scrub,
Montane moist forest,
Acacia-Comiphora woodland,
Combretum-Terminalia woodland,
Lowland humid forest, Aquatic,
Montane grassland, and
Desert and semi-desert ecosystems.
Introduction
Although wetlands in Ethiopia cover only a
small area, they are among the most
productive ecosystems, and have immense
economic, social, and environmental benefits.
Wetlands are often considered waste lands,
The potential of wetlands to sustainable
development has not been well understood
until recently.
1.2 Extent, types and distribution
The ecological diversity of Ethiopia, characterized by altitude range
from 4620m above sea level to 125m below sea level, enables it to
have all types of wetlands (riverine, lakes, marshes, swamps) except
marine related ones.
1.2.1 Extent
Wetlands of Ethiopia are roughly estimated to cover 18,580 km2
(around 2%) of the total surface area of the country.
The major riverine flood plains of Ethiopia include:
Wabeshebele-Genale flood plains in South-eastern Ethiopia
Awash River flood plain extended from central to North- eastern,
Omo river flood plain in South-west,
the permanent swamps and flood plains along Akobo, Baro and Gilo
rivers in the west along the border of Sudan.
Extent continued
Human made wetlands include:
Hydropower dams e.g. Koka, Fincha, Gilgil
Gibe
Water supply reservoirs e.g. Gefersa near
Addis
Artificial impoundments
Add pictures [Koka picture available – see 2008
- 06]
Wetland extent and distribution by
region
Regions Total area (ha) Wetlands (ha) % wetlands
Gambella 3,203,280 247,556 7.73
Amhara 15,764,744 431,695 2.74
SNNPRS 11,064,200 152,900 1.38
Afar 9,526,567 131,000 1.38
Oromia 35,961,996 397,853 1.11
Somali 29,151,596 250,612 0.86
Benishangul-
Gumuz 5,033,592 22,466 0.45
Tigray 5,085,784 8,053 0.16
Total 114,791,759 1,642,135 1.43
* Source Woody Biomass Project (2002)
1.2.2 Wetland categories based on
biomes
1. the Afro-tropical highlands biome,
2. the Somali-Masai biome,
3. the Sudan-Guinea and
4. the Sahelian transitional zone wetlands
(extreme north eastern part of Ethiopia)
1.2.2
Wetland
Sahelian Transition
Zone wetlands categories
based on
The Afro-Tropical biomes
Highland wetlands
The Sudan
Guinea wetlands
Somali-Masai wetlands
i The Afro-Tropical Highland Wetlands
Lakes and swamps of central and
north eastern highlands
such as lake Tana and Hayik
Floodplains such as Berga and
Cheffa
Headwater swamps of
Abay, Gojeb, Gibe and Boro
Wetlands in the South-eastern
Highlands of Arsi, Bale and Hararge
ii. The Somali-Masai wetlands
Wetlands in the Central Rift
valley – Lake Ziway, Langano,
Abijata, Shalla Awassa and
Chelekleka marsh
Wetlands in the southern Rift
valley - Abbaya, Chamo Chew
Bahir and the surrounding
marshes
Wetlands in the Awash Basin
complex including lake Bishoftu
The floodplains of Lower
Wabeshebele and Genalle
Rivers
iii. The Sudan-Guinea wetlands
Includes wetlands in the
Western lowlands of
Ethiopia, stretching from the
Turkana delta in the south-
west along the Ethio-
Sudanese border
• The Baro-Akobo
floodplains
• The Dabus and Beles
floodplains
• The Metema and
Tekeze floodplains
iv. The Sahelian Transitional zone wetlands
Fresh & saline water
wetlands found in the
north-eastern extreme
such as lakes
Afambo, Afdera,
Gamari and Asali
1.2.3 Lakes and flood planes of Ethiopia
Lakes are the most commonly found types of
wetlands in Ethiopia
i. Volcanic Lakes of the Ethiopian highlands
Tana, Hayik, Ardibu, Ashenghe, Wonchi
Zengena, Bishoftu complex
ii. Rift Valley lakes
Ziway
Abijata
Langano
Shalla
Awasa
Abaya
Chamo
Chew
Bahir
Turkana
iii. Saline Lakes of Afar depression
Afambo
Gemari
Afdera
Asale
Abe
iv. Alpine Lakes of high mountains
Arsi-Bale mountaines
The Major Riverine Flood plains of Ethiopia
Awash River flood plain
Baro- Akobo- Gilo
Rivers flood plain
Wabeshebele-Genale
River flood plains
Omo River flood plain
Other Flood plains
Begra flood plain
Becho flood plain (upper Awash)
Cheffa (Borkena) flood plain
Fogera-Dembia flood plain
Beles Floodplain
2.1 Threats to Wetlands of
Ethiopia
Except for a few wetlands located in remote and
sparsely populated areas, most wetlands in
Ethiopia have been altered by human activities.
Major threats
drainage for agriculture (Fig. 2),
over grazing (Fig. 3),
degradation of catchment lands,
over harvesting of their resources settlement
and urban expansion,
pollution, water diversion, tree plantation (Fig.
4) and
invasion of alien species (Fig. 5).
Figure 2. Wetland drainage for agriculture (Chelekleka
near Debre Zeit)
Figure 4. Overgrazing
Figure 5.Eucalyptus plantation
Figure 6. Invasion of alien species (Parthenium in the CRV)
2.2 Factors (underlying causes)
that accelerate wetland loss in
Ethiopia
Policy related issues
Institutional arrangement related issues
Capacity shortage
Unwise use of wetlands (on site
management problems)
Problems originating in the catchments
(off site management problems)
Ecological issues
Policy related issues
Ethiopia lacks a specific policy on wetlands
that enshrines wetlands of the land from
deleterious actions that affect their
contribution to the national development
Institutional issues
In Ethiopia different stakeholders such as local
communities, governmental and non-
governmental organizations, use wetlands in
uncoordinated manner and this approach is
affecting the vigor of wetlands and speeding up
their degradation.
Different users view wetlands from their own
perspective and institutional objective.
Wetland management methodologies practiced
so far have their own drawbacks to sufficiently
address wetland management problems.
Capacity shortage
Wetland management in Ethiopia also suffers
from capacity limitations such as lack of
skilled manpower, finance and technology.
Unwise use of wetlands (on site
management problems)
In most parts of Ethiopia adequate attention is
not given to wetland management and its wise
use.
People use recklessly only with the objective
of obtaining immediate benefits such as
draining for agriculture, overgrazing,
excessive resource exploitation, growing
destructive plants such as eucalyptus and so
on.
Ecological issues
Invasive species: incidental and intentional introduction
of invasive alien species is another emerging issue
severely affecting the wetlands of the country.
Some of the world’s worst invasive species, that are
threatening Ethiopia’s wetlands, include:
Mimosa pigra (catclaw mimosa) in the Baro-Akobo
Basin, and
Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) in Koka and
Abasamuael reservoirs and in Baro-Akobo Basin
Problems originating in the catchments
(off site management problems)
Wetlands are not isolated entities in the environment.
In most parts of Ethiopia the catchments that drain
into the nearby wetlands have been seriously
degraded by human activities that merely focus on
exploitation without proper land husbandry.
Deforestation, poor farming methods in the uplands
and overgrazing by domestic stock are the major
factors that degrade watersheds/catchments.
3.1 Consequences of wetland
loss in Ethiopia
Impacts on rural livelihoods, food security
and water availability
Contribution to climatic variability
Impact on biodiversity
Impacts on rural livelihoods: food
security and water availability
Wetland dependent communities in different
parts of Ethiopia survive by the virtue of wetland
resources such as fisheries, dry season food
crops, raw materials for construction, water,
feed for animals, medicinal plants, income from
sale of the products including handicrafts, etc.
Contribution to climatic variability
Wetland loss also aggravates climatic disturbances by
increasing carbon build up in the atmosphere.
As Ethiopia is prone to desertification and recurrent
drought the effects of wetland loss could be more
visible in complicating the situation locally.
It can also affect hydrological cycle or rainfall patterns.
Rivers and streams may lose their strength
It creates shortage of water and narrow opportunities
for irrigation based agriculture.
Impact on biodiversity
Wetlands of Ethiopia are prominent shelters
for aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity.
Endemic fishes, birds and other life forms
depend on wetlands.
The loss of these wetlands is devastating to
several endemic species and particularly to
wetland dependent species.
3.2 Relevant stakeholders in Ethiopia
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Ministry of Water Resources-
Ministry of Tourism and Culture
Environmental Protection Authority
Ministry of Health
Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation
Institute of Biodiversity Conservation
Local Communities
NGOs and CBOs
Research & Education Institutions
Private sector/investors
THANK YOU
