Rangeland Ecology & Management

Get reliable science

DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A PARTICIPATORY COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN FOR BORANA PASTORALISTS IN SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
Author
Kannenberg, Derek
Xu, Lan
Boe, Arvid
Johnson, Patricia
Gates, Roger
Weiser, Axel
Doyo, Jeldessa
Ejo, Asfaw
Kebede, Obomssa
Miyo, Hussein
Mustefa, Aliyu
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2014
Body

Two USDA -FS (International Programs) missions to Ethiopia were completed in 2012. The primary objective of the first mission was to provide support in the development of a Community Action Plan (CAP) for the pastoralists. The planning process used in the development of the CAP followed a participatory natural resource management process. The CAP was unique in that it identified natural resource issues and also addressed social infrastructure concerns. A vision statement was developed from management activities (both natural resource and social) along with Management Objectives (MO) identified during stakeholder meetings. A draft monitoring plan was developed that identified indicators and monitoring methods that could be used to assess each MO. The primary objective of the second mission was the collection of resource data and an assessment and evaluation of grazed, ungrazed and prescribed burn areas within and outside two enclosures (kallos) on two ecological sites. Our sampling was also considered baseline information that could be used for comparison to future monitoring data. Our initial data showed that plant cover was significantly reduced and bare ground was significantly increased in the grazed areas as compared to the ungrazed areas within the kallos. Percent gaps were also higher in the grazed areas including presence of water flow patterns. Within the kallos, the recently burned areas generally showed fewer shrubs and slightly less plant and litter cover as compared to the unburned. The exception occurred where there was re-sprouting of Acacia drepanopolium. A grazing strategy was recommended for the kallo to suppress re-sprouting shrubs and promote plant diversity. It was also recommended that prescribed fire return intervals could be more frequent on the deep soil, relatively flat terrain ecological site as compared to the shallow soil site.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Orlando, FL