Uncovering the drivers, impacts, and urgent solutions to soil erosion in the Ethiopian Highlands: a global perspective on local challenges

Frontiers in Environmental Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: Jan. 23, 2025

Soil erosion in the Ethiopian Highlands is a critical environmental challenge, driven by both natural and anthropogenic factors such as deforestation, overgrazing, unsustainable agricultural practices, climatic variability. Addressing this issue essential for safeguarding region’s productivity, biodiversity, socio-economic stability. This review aims to synthesize evaluate existing research on extent, impacts, mitigation strategies of soil across Highlands, with focus informing sustainable land management practices policy interventions. The draws findings from 129 peer-reviewed studies reports, providing comprehensive national-scale assessment erosion. selected literature encompasses empirical field studies, remote sensing analyses, evaluations. reviewed highlights severe degradation, rates some areas exceeding 200 tonnes per hectare annually, resulting loss over 1.5 billion topsoil each year. degradation reduces productivity 5%–10% annually causes economic losses $1 billion, approximately 2% Ethiopia’s GDP. impacts extend water quality, rural livelihoods. Mitigation terracing, stone bunds, agroforestry have demonstrated potential reduce up 60%, stabilize slopes, enhance organic matter. underscores urgency integrated scalable approaches combat erosion, combining supportive frameworks, active community engagement.

Language: Английский

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Geo-environmental and socio-economic impacts of artisanal and small-scale mining in Ethiopia: challenges, opportunities, and sustainable solutions

Frontiers in Environmental Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13

Published: March 28, 2025

Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) in Ethiopia plays a vital role the national economy, contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings employment, particularly rural regions such as Oromia Benishangul-Gumuz. It provides livelihoods for millions, with many households experiencing enhanced income levels compared those reliant solely on agriculture. However, ASM is accompanied by substantial geo-environmental socio-economic challenges that pose risks both environment local communities. These include widespread environmental degradation, pollution, health hazards, social issues child labor poor working conditions. This review aims systematically evaluate key impacts of Ethiopia, focusing its benefits consequences. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across academic databases including Google Scholar, Scopus, Web Science, PubMed Science direct, utilizing keywords like “artisanal mining,” “small-scale “geo-environmental impacts,” “socio-economic challenges,” “sustainable practices,” “Ethiopia.” Studies published between 2015 2024 were selected based relevance rigor, findings synthesized into themes covering impacts, risks, benefits, barriers sustainable practices. The reveals while contributes positively areas, it also leads severe consequences soil erosion, mercury contamination, water deforestation, biodiversity loss. Additionally, respiratory HIV prevalence, challenges, high school dropout rates, are prevalent mining regions. Despite existing regulatory efforts, inconsistent enforcement, limited capacity, lack resources hinder effectiveness policies. emphasize need balanced, solutions address economic mitigating costs. Strengthening regulations, adopting cleaner technologies, improving safety standards, enhancing community engagement critical ensuring long-term sustainability Ethiopia.

Language: Английский

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Geological and hydrometeorological hazards affecting livestock production in Ethiopia: a systematic review of impacts, mitigation, and adaptation strategies

Frontiers in Earth Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13

Published: April 28, 2025

Introduction Ethiopia’s livestock sector is critically vulnerable to a wide range of geological and hydrometeorological hazards that undermine animal health, productivity, the livelihoods pastoral communities. The country’s geographic location along East African Rift System increases its susceptibility threats such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, while climate variability exacerbates risks including droughts floods. Methods This systematic review adheres PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews Meta-Analyses) guidelines employs structured search strategy across major academic databases Scopus, Web Science, Google Scholar. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion exclusion criteria ensure relevance quality literature reviewed. Results synthesizes findings from high-quality studies qualitatively assess compound impacts production in Ethiopia, particularly within agro-pastoral systems. Drought emerges most significant hazard, with more than 6.8 million deaths reported since 2020 due successive failed rainy seasons. Floods have also caused severe damage; instance, 2006 flooding Southern Nations, Nationalities, Peoples’ Region (SNNPR) resulted loss approximately 15,600 livestock. In contrast, direct data eruptions earthquakes remain limited, though their indirect effects—such ashfall grazing lands, water contamination, disruption routes—further compromise productivity resilience. Discussion highlights critical gaps research, regarding hazards. It identifies key adaptation mitigation strategies, early warning systems, hazard mapping, veterinary service enhancement, diversification, promotion insurance schemes. Strengthening policy frameworks, community engagement, economic instruments essential build resilience sector. Evidence-based interventions are urgently needed safeguard livelihoods, food security, promote sustainable hazard-prone regions.

Language: Английский

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Rainfall, air temperature, and reference evapotranspiration variability and trend and their implication for agroforestry development in the Lake Tana sub-basin of Ethiopia

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 6, 2025

This study investigated the variability and trends of precipitation (P), air temperature, reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) in Lake Tana sub-basin Ethiopia from 1980 to 2023, assessing their implications for water resources, agriculture, forestry development. The sub-basin, a crucial ecological socio-economic zone within Upper Blue Nile Basin, is increasingly vulnerable climate change impacts. Using long-term monthly data five sources, including MSWX-Past, MERRA-2, ERA-5, CRUTS4.06, TerraClimate, spatiotemporal were analyzed. Penman-Monteith (FAO56) method was employed estimate ET₀, statistical techniques, trend linear regression, CV, standardized anomaly, used assess variability. Results indicate significant increasing annual Kiremt (June-September) rainfall, while Belg (February-May) Bega (October-January) seasons showed non-significant decreasing trends. Air temperatures exhibited significantly trends, with highest March. ET₀ values higher northern part during season. Rainfall low but moderate high Bega, indicating unpredictability drier seasons. also examined climatic balance which seasonal Increased rainfall rising temperature & pose challenges sustainable resource management. Enhanced monitoring, integrated management, climate-resilient practices are mitigating impacts

Language: Английский

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