Ethiopia: Sustainable Management of Natural Resources Reduces Poverty and Vulnerability

The Sustainable Land Management Programme (SLMP) in Ethiopia, which is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and supported by several donor organisations, is implemented in a total of six of the Ethiopian federal states and in 176 woredas (districts). SLMP is carried out in water catchment areas (watersheds) characterised by high soil erosion and degradation, which make people living mainly from agriculture highly vulnerable. The measures supported by SLMP include the organisation of the population concerned for the planning, management and implementation of measures at various administrative levels and their further training. The water catchment areas are improved with biophysical land resource (soil, water, etc.) conservation measures such as the rehabilitation of erosion gullies, the afforestation of hilltops, the terracing of slopes and the planting of grass strips along the slope contour lines. In addition, degraded areas are enclosed for rehabilitation through natural ways and enrichment planting with multipurpose tree and grass species. Additional project activities include drilling wells for drinking water, building access roads and promoting small-scale irrigation and animal husbandry to generate income. A basic prerequisite that gives farmers legal security in the management of their fields is the registration of land and the granting of land titles to married couples. Participation in the project has led to a tremendous increase of groundwater discharge. It also led to a higher income for all families surveyed in the INEF study by increasing the production of the treated areas and thus offers a way out of poverty.