Community-based Knowledge of Indigenous Vegetation in Arid African Landscapes

This article is based on comparative research conducted in three African countries—Mali, Botswana and Kenya—between 2006 and 2007. The research focuses on local perceptions of biodiversity loss and land degradation in grazing pastures as a result of anthropogenic activities. We show that land degradation can be motivated by climate change, while local overuse of indigenous vegetation can lead to resource conflict. We then examine how changes in indigenous vegetation might influence the livelihood and security of local communities. In drawing key findings common to all three countries, we suggest that the sustainability of indigenous vegetation in dryland ecosystems can be maintained through seasonal mobility of herds, preservation of dry season grazing and improved livestock marketing, and that failure to do so can result in far-reaching consequences for rural communities

Effects of grazing intensity to water source on grassland condition, yield and nutritional content of selected grass species in Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract Background Savanna grasslands are globally important ecosystems consisting of one of the most extensive grazing lands with unique biodiversity. The objectives of the study were to assess the effect of grazing intensity on grassland ecosystem condition, herbaceous plant biomass production, and nutritional content of selected grass species. Methods The study was conducted at Chagni Ranch, Northwest Ethiopia. Four transects to water source point at regular intervals of 20 m between sampling plots along transects were used for data collection. The distance between the four transects was 200 m in radius. Data were collected on grass composition, basal cover, litter cover, number of seedlings, and age distribution of dominant grasses (i.e., young, medium, or old in terms of stage of maturity), soil condition in terms of soil compaction, and soil erosion linked to the effects of trampling by grazing animals along transects (hereafter referred to as transect) to water source point. The total sample size for grass species was 160 plots. The grassland ecosystem condition, herbaceous biomass, and grass nutritional content were used as response variables linked to transect from water source point. The effects of transect on grassland ecosystem condition scores and grass nutritional content were analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results Grassland condition factors like grass composition, basal cover, litter cover, age distribution of dominant grasses, and soil condition were significantly (P < 0.05) higher for the furthest transect to water source point than nearest transect. Out of the 28 identified herbaceous species, grasses accounted for 64.3% of the herbaceous community. Within grass species, about 55.6% were highly desirable in terms of palatability and grazing value (as most palatable species are susceptible to heavy grazing intensity). The results showed a significantly (P < 0.05) higher proportion of perennial grasses at the furthest transect to water source point than nearest transect. The dry matter yield at the furthest transect (TD4) and third transect (TD3) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the nearest transect to water source point (i.e., the first transect (TD1) and second transect (TD2)). Ash, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and acid detergent lignin contents of Cynodon dactylon, Sporobolus pyramidalis, and Digitaria ternata were significantly (P < 0.05) higher at the furthest transect to water source point than nearest transect. Grazing intensity had no significant effect on the crude protein content of Cynodon dactylon and Sporobolus pyramidalis at different transects. Conclusions The results showed that the furthest transect to water source point were in good condition. Grass biomass production and the nutritional contents of grasses were higher for the furthest transect to water source point. The results suggested that increased grazing intensity towards water source point greatly reduced the abundance of desirable perennial grasses and the sustainability of grassland for livestock production

EFFECTS OF FARMING SYSTEMS ON SPECIES COMPOSITION, NUTRIENT CONTENT AND DIGESTIBILTY OF FORAGES OF THE NATURAL PASTURE OF ASSOSA ZONE (WESTERN ETHIOPIA)

Forage species of the natural pasture of Assosa Zone of Benshangule-Gumuz (Western Ethiopia) were identified and their chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) determined. Data were collected from two farming systems (shifting cultivation: SC and permanent farming system: PFS) and two grazing types (communal grazing land: CGL, riverside grazing land: RSGL). 18 grasses, 2 legumes, sedge, 2 forbs and 17 trees/shrubs were identified from the natural pasture of both farming systems. Hyparrhenia rufa had significantly lower (

Camel management as an adaptive strategy to climate change by pastoralists in southern Ethiopia

Abstract Introduction Experiences of low rainfall and frequent droughts have had enormous impacts on livestock production and pastoralists’ livelihoods in southern Ethiopia. The Borana pastoralists are dependent on livestock husbandry with the dominance of cattle in their herds for generations. Recently, the Borana communities have engaged in extensive livestock species diversification, with more focus on camel management as an adaptation strategy to the severity of recurrent droughts. Although increasing interests in camel management among the Borana pastoralists are acknowledged, the driving forces for the increase in camel population in the region have not been addressed. The aim of this study was to assess the trend in camel management as an adaptation strategy towards climate change among the Borana pastoral households. The study also investigated evidence of climate change and the driving factors for camel adoption. Methods The study was conducted in three purposively selected kebeles, which is a lower administrative unit in Ethiopia, of Yabello district in Borana Zone in southern Ethiopia focusing on 156 randomly selected camel-owning households. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods whereby data gathering tools such as key informant interviews (KII), focus group discussions (FGD), household surveys (HS), and field observations were used. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS software version 16. Results Pastoralists’ perceptions and the existing meteorological data analysis showed an increasing trend in temperature but a decreasing pattern in rainfall over the last 27 years (i.e., during the last four Gada periods). Both pastoralists’ observations and existing meteorological data analysis showed an increasing incidence of recurrent droughts with decreasing availability of grazing and water resources. Respondents further explained that cattle are more vulnerable during severe droughts. The findings also showed that camel management as an adaptation strategy by the Borana pastoralists began recently and showed a steady increase in trend over the last four Gada periods. Pastoralists’ perceptions and the existing analysis confirmed that camels’ potential for high milk production and their capacities to withstand harsh environmental condition are among the many reasons that contributed to the adoption of camels by pastoralists in southern Ethiopia. Camels were also more preferred with the changing ecology of rangeland vegetation dynamics towards bush encroachment. Conclusions It seems that the high potential of camels for milk production and their abilities to withstand harsh environmental conditions are the major driving forces that contributed to the adoption of camels by pastoralists in southern Ethiopia. Hence, the adoption of camels by pastoralists in southern Ethiopia could be best understood in terms of livelihood diversification option to ensure the food security of pastoral households. We conclude that the increase in camel population in Borana during the last four Gada periods could be attributed to communities’ responses to the impact of climate change and frequent droughts

The Effects of Area Enclosures on Rangeland Condition, Herbaceous Biomass and Nutritional Quality in Southeast Ethiopia

No Abstrac

Unlocking the Agricultural Potential of Manure in Agropastoral Systems: Traditional Beliefs Hindering Its Use in Southern Ethiopia

Manure is often considered a valuable resource for improving productivity in semi-arid tropics. This paper investigated agropastoralist knowledge of the use of manure and barriers that limit manure use in Borana, southern Ethiopia. The potential and actual amounts of manure available on-farm and its relative economic value were estimated. Yield response to manure application was also quantified. Data was gathered using on-farm surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, field observation and on-farm experiments. We found that an enormous amount of manure with substantial fertilizer value and economic benefit had accumulated over the years in studied households in Borana. Our analysis revealed that, on average, more than 74 tons of manure containing 667 kg nitrogen (N)&ndash;more than five times the current requirements&ndash;had accumulated per farm. This manure has an economic value, in terms of N supply, equivalent to ETB (Ethiopian Birr) 16452 (US$802). On-farm trials showed that a considerable scope exists for increasing the yields of these marginal lands by using manure. However, because of the traditional beliefs and associated practices, which have prevailed for centuries in the community, this valuable resource is left unused. Having identified the link between traditional beliefs and non-use of manure, the paper sets out possible areas for intervention

Community-based knowledge towards rangeland condition, climate change, and adaptation strategies: the case of Afar pastoralists

Abstract Introduction Pastoral communities have a comprehensive knowledge of their environments. This knowledge was acquired through extensive observation of the local environment and continuous herding practices. Pastoralists’ wisdom about their local environment and adaptation strategies to climate change is essential for sustainable development. Thus, appreciation of pastoralists’ knowledge about their environment is also important for the integration of indigenous knowledge with the proper application of scientific approach to fit with the prevailing ecological potential of pastoral areas. Methods Data were collected using focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and in-depth interviews. The in-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire that was administered to 100 household heads with the age of above 50 years old. Respondents were randomly drawn from selected Pastoralists Associations (PAs) of two study districts. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as the logit model. The logit model was used to analyze the different coping strategies of pastoralists to overcome the failure of rain during different seasons. This was done by complementing pastoralists’ indigenous knowledge of time-series-based analysis across four seasons (Kerma, Gillal, Hagay, and Sugum) vs. the existing meteorological records. Forty years (from 1971 to 2011) of existing metrological data were used to compare the empirical evidence with pastoralists’ perceptions. Results Respondents mentioned that livestock number was the best indicator for evaluating rangeland condition in Afar region. The existing empirical evidence based on metrological data did not show any significant decline in precipitation for the last four decades between 1971 and 2011 as opposed to the perception of pastoralists where 80% of them reported a decline in precipitation. A one unit increase in labor force suggested about 16.1% decrease in the choice of livestock selling as coping strategy in Afar pastoral areas of North-East of Ethiopia. The non-intervened pastoral households had more preference (3.78%) to practice herd splitting than those pastoral households in the intervened district. Similarly, the non-intervened pastoral households had 4.43% more preference to use crop residue for livestock feeding than pastoral HHs in the intervened areas. Conclusions Communities’ perceptions showed that livestock number was the best indicator of rangeland condition in the study area. Afar pastoralists’ observations with regard to temperature and precipitation trends over the last four decades greatly corresponded with the existing metrological-based empirical evidence. However, pastoralists’ perception in terms of reduced precipitation was not confirmed by the meteorological-based data records for the short rainy season (SRS). Afar pastoralists’ experience showed that the short rainy season was the best indicator for the occurrence of droughts as compared to other seasons in Afar. Our results suggest that most coping strategies are labor force demanding, and the situation worsens during the long rainy season (LRS). We suggest that differences in intervention between the study areas should not be overlooked as a policy tool in tackling the impact of climate change

BUSH ENCROACHMENT CONTROL DEMONSTRATIONS AND MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS ON HERBACEOUS SPECIES IN SAVANNAS OF SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Proper management of bush control methods need to be effectively demonstrated to resource users. In this paper, we evaluated effects of disturbance control (CO) (i.e., government policy approach in the conservation of natural resources), tree cutting and fire (C+F), tree cutting, fire and grazing (C+F+G), the old traditional method of applying fire and grazing (F+G) by herders, grazing with bush cover (GBC) (i.e., current system of land use system by herders in Borana) and tree cutting alone (C) (i.e., Non-governmental Organizations approach in rangeland improvement) on herbaceous species composition, abundance, biomass, basal cover and species diversity in southern Ethiopia. The disturbance control demonstration showed no advantage in terms of biomass and basal cover over other treatments, although herbaceous species richness was improved. Bush removal methods such as tree cutting and fire, tree cutting followed by fire and grazing, fire and grazing, and tree cutting alone improved herbaceous biomass, basal cover and species diversity, while grazing alone greatly reduced herbaceous biomass. Tree cutting and fire treatments seemed superior in terms of herbaceous biomass, while conservation of herbaceous species diversity was improved more by the traditional method of fire and grazing, and tree cutting. With the exception of species richness, protection from disturbance showed no advantage. Only fire and grazing methods can reasonably be applied for the control of bush encroachment with the overall objective of promoting biomass production and species diversity

Are trees of intermediate density more facilitative? Canopy effects of four East African legume trees

Questions: Do East African legume trees differ in their canopy effects? Have species with intermediate canopy density more pronounced facilitative effects on understorey primary production, community composition and diversity? How are canopy effects related to species' encroachment status, and modulated by a local aridity gradient? Location: Upland and lowland environments of the Borana rangelands, an arid thornbush savanna in southern Ethiopia. Methods: We harnessed pastoralists' local ecological knowledge to rank the encroachment status of six legume tree species previously known as Acacia, and correlated this rank to a dendrometric proxy of canopy density. Vegetation releves (1 m(2)) were placed in sub-canopy and adjacent inter-canopy habitats of four legume tree species that differed in canopy density and encroachment status (Vachellia bussei, V. drepanolobium, V. seyal, V. tortilis). Using mixed-effects ANOVA, we evaluated effects of tree species and habitat (sub-canopy or inter-canopy) on total, forb and grass biomass, and on species diversity, comparing results for lowland and upland sites. Effects on floristic composition were assessed via PERMANOVA and NMDS. Results: Species' encroachment status and canopy density were negatively correlated. Most pronounced facilitative effects (more frequent and larger differences between sub-canopy and inter-canopy habitats) were found for a species with intermediate canopy density (V. bussei). Diversity in its understorey vegetation increased up to 32% (total biomass: 29%, forb biomass: 40%). In contrast, the species with the most open canopy (V. drepanolobium; also the most encroaching species) never exerted significant facilitative effects. In contrast to expectations, canopy effects were more frequent in (climatically less arid) upland environments, probably due to a redistribution of water within the landscape. Large differences in facilitative effects across tree individuals indicate that a high intraspecific variability of canopy traits and/or small-scale differences in abiotic site conditions have partly overridden species-specific differences in canopy architecture. Conclusion: Our study provides new insights on why encroaching legume tree species may decrease herbaceous production: they tend to have more open canopies, with small facilitative effects on sub-canopy herbaceous production. We thus recommend promoting an open savanna with the tree layer dominated by species with a high facilitative potential tomaintain forage provision and species diversity