Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Actions in Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Abstract

This paper evaluates the climate change impacts and adaptation actions in Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. The impact of climate change is the common phenomenon of the worldwide even though its vulnerability varies in place and time. Thus, Ethiopia has been considered as one of the countries highly susceptible to climate change. Because of the country’s economy heavily depends on traditional rain-fed agriculture within a fragile highland ecosystem, which has been threatened by population pressure and land degradation. Among other regions in the country, the Central Rift Valley has been adversely affected by climate variability and change, which manifested in the frequency and intensity of flood and drought. In addition to these weather extreme events, human activities like land use change and over exploitation of natural resources are also an alarming problem in the area. For example, forest land was decreased by 66.3% whilst agricultural land expanded by 84%, and organic carbon losses were amounted to 60-75% during 1973 to 2006. On one side land degradation, deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, flooding, waste disposal and sediment loads are the main threats of the lakes. On the other hand, increasing in temperature and varying in rainfall pattern leads to evaporation, salinity and water shortage; these create higher competition in water use for irrigation projects, floriculture industry, soda abstraction, fish farming, domestic and livestock consumption, which could have an adverse impact on lake quality, level, and river discharges. The prevalence of invasive species, diseases and parasites are also among the significant issues in the area.Meantime, mitigation and adaptation are used as the fundamental global responsive strategies to address climate change. Hence, Ethiopia has identified different adaptation options in Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy. Watershed based land and water resources management; forest development, energy options, capacity building etc. are among the actions have been used. Beside to this, various potential adaptive activities, including traditional and their effects were examined in the central rift valley. Such as: by adjusting sowing time, applying improved agricultural technologies/inputs,  crop rotation, mixed farming system, Agroforestry, afforestation/reforestation, rehabilitation of degraded land, physical soil and water conservation measures, capacity building, enhancing income generation and employment opportunities were among the most actions used to combat climate change impacts in the area. However, the impacts of climate change on the biophysical and social-economic of the area were beyond to adaptation capacity. So that, the author recommended that climate change adaptation should be addressed through ensuring the local community needs and participation in integrated approaches like Integrated Watershed Management. It should be also addressed by focusing on highly vulnerable sectors (agriculture and water resources) through effective cropping system, conservational agriculture, effective water application and use, diversification of crop and livestock species, mixed farming system, access to extensional services, access to improved farm technologies and crop varieties, access to information about weather conditions. Generally, any adaptation actions should be enhanced food security and water availability, combating land degradation, reducing loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Keywords: Vulnerability, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Integrated Watershed Management, Community Participation, Food Security