ASSESSMENTS OF THE EFFECTS OF LAND DEGRADATION ON FRESHWATER AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES PARTICIPATION IN ESSERA DISTRICT, DAWRO ZONE, SOUTH WESTERN ETHIOPIA

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of land degradation on freshwater and local communities’ participation in case Essera districtMethodology: This study was carried out in Essera Woreda of Dawuro zone in Ethiopia. Essera district was selected using purposive sampling technique because of the extensive problems of effect of land degradation on freshwater biodiversity and local community’s participation. The study was conducted using a combination of qualitative and participatory methods of data collection, including formal and informal interviews, semi-structured interviews; Key informant interviews (KI) as well as focus group discussion (FGD) with elderly people, model farmers, DAs and other concerned government bodies. The study was employed both primary and secondary data source. Primary data was collected from personal interview transect walking, and direct observation of the study area. The secondary data included information from natural resource office, other stakeholder office and review of different written document reports. The study data was collected through key informant interview and questionnaire. Microsoft excel 2010 was used for analyzing data and generating tabulated reports and charts. Tabular and categorization method was used as a method of data analysis for qualitative information.Results: The problem of land degradation could not be solved without addressing the socio-economic problems of the area. Demand based technologies; people’s participation, effective conservation, education and sense of ownership are the key elements essential for the sustainable management of natural resources. Simple and low cost technologies are more acceptable for farmers rather than expensive and labor intensive conservation techniques. Farmers need technologies which they can easily understand and implement on their farms with minimum cost.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: Sustainable and participatory soil and water conservation structures must be developed to reduce degradation and achieve the productivity of the eroded land. Further, the government or NGO’s should provide alternative source of fuel (Electricity, Natural gas etc.), so that natural vegetation and crop residue would be saved and used for soil and water conservation.