The role of Indigenous Knowledge in Land Management for Carbon Sequestration and Ecological Services in Southern Ethiopia

The significance of Indigenous Knowledge [IK] systems in management of sustainable ecosystems has long been recognized. This study reflects the role of IK in sustaining ecosystem services and contributing to carbon sequestration among the Wolayta people in Damot-Sore District, Southern Ethiopia. The study applied an ethno-ecological approach using key informants, group discussions, village-dialogues and validation methods. Expert rating of land management practices and comparison of land suitability classifications systems was also used. Although past development has overlooked IK, this study reflects the significance and wealth of IK as exhibited in the diversity of practices, terminology, and land suitability classification system. Among the nine land management practices observed, indigenous agro-forestry has the highest potential in contributing to carbon sequestration, mitigating climate change and sustaining soil ecosystem services. Croplands have the most diverse and widely used indigenous land management practices compared with forests and grass lands. The study recommends further quantitative valuation and integration of appropriate practices in development intervention. Key words: Ecological services, Ethiopia, Indigenous Knowledge, Land management, Soil carbon

A Review on Soil Carbon Sequestration in Ethiopia to Mitigate Land Degradation and Climate Change

Land degradation in Ethiopia leads, inter alia, to a decline in soil quality and depletion of soil organic carbon (SOC). Sequestration of SOC, in turn, is a practical option not only to increase the SOC stock and quality, but also to decrease soil degradation, increase productivity, and mitigate climate change. The objective of this review is to show gaps and priorities in research and development related to SOC sequestration in Ethiopia. The review focuses at the SOC pool, distribution, its relation with degradation, progress achieved and future direction in SOC sequestration. The review shows that land degradation in Ethiopia also implies a historic loss of the SOC pool. A preliminary estimate in this study shows that the SOC pool in Ethiopia is 14 billion tons of C. Reviewed figures ( from plot to large scale study) implied erosion-induced SOC depletion values from 0.02 to 0.97 tonnes/ha/yr. Accelerated carbon depletion ( in both biomass and soils) occurs on an estimated 0.2 million ha of forest land and on 8 million ha of croplands in two cropping seasons. Review of eight year Ministry of Agriculture report shows that the current national estimate of SOC building practices, sustainable land management, is covering about 2 million ha per year, with an investment of 150 million USD/yr. In spite of such development efforts in natural resources management since the mid-1970s, still about 50 million ha of land has depleted SOC. Based on the review, the paper outlines research and development priorities and recommends establishing carbon network and linking SOC financing with efforts to mitigate land degradation and climate change. Key words: Climate Change, Ethiopia, Soil, Carbon Sequestration

Transdisciplinarity in Practice. Experience from a Concept-based Research Programme Addressing Global Change and Sustainable Development

Our twelve-year North-South research programme aimed at better understanding global change and contributing to sustainable development in local to regional contexts. As this required collaboration among numerous disciplines, work with non-scientific stakeholders, and time for learning, we designed a long-term, flexible, and participatory research approach that followed a clear concept, was responsive to changing environments and theories, allowed us to translate findings for policy and practice, and produced effective outcomes. For us, these qualities are the main elements of transdisciplinarity.</jats:p

Tracing glacier wastage in the Northern Tien Shan (Kyrgyzstan/Central Asia) over the last 40years

The status and dynamics of glaciers are crucial for agriculture in semiarid parts of Central Asia, since river flow is characterized by major runoff in spring and summer, supplied by glacier- and snowmelt. Ideally, this coincides with the critical period of water demand for irrigation. The present study shows a clear trend in glacier retreat between 1963 and 2000 in the Sokoluk watershed, a catchment of the Northern Tien Shan mountain range in Kyrgyzstan. The overall area loss of 28% observed for the period 1963-2000, and a clear acceleration of wastage since the 1980s, correlate with the results of previous studies in other regions of the Tien Shan as well as the Alps. In particular, glaciers smaller than 0.5km2 have exhibited this phenomenon most starkly. While they registered a medium decrease of only 9.1% for 1963-1986, they lost 41.5% of their surface area between 1986 and 2000. Furthermore, a general increase in the minimum glacier elevation of 78m has been observed over the last three decades. This corresponds to about one-third of the entire retreat of the minimum glacier elevation in the Northern Tien Shan since the Little Ice Age maximu