Agriculture is an important economic sector in Ethiopia but sustainable agriculture is far from reality. The direct and indirect effects of environmental degradation are mainly to blame for low agricultural productivity and crop failures in the country and consequently, low quality of life. According to UNDP Report, Ethiopia’s Human Development Index, a measure of basic human development achievements in a country, is low at 173 out of 189 countries.
In the face of such startling facts of environmental degradation, this paper attempts to briefly describe the major social, economic and ecological consequences of environmental degradation. Such effects of environmental damage as drying rivers, recurring drought and famine, deforested mountains and repeated crop failures are severe consequences observed in Ethiopia today. It is also obvious that as environmental problems did not come by themselves, will not vanish by themselves.
We need to bear in mind that rehabilitating degraded ecosystems, protect fragile ecosystems, eroded agricultural areas, forests, woodlands and grazing lands, is central to solving our economic and social problems. Migration of young people to cities and other countries is increasing but the growing cities cannot provide jobs and other necessities for a fast growing urban population. Ethnic conflicts are on the increase essentially due to diminished natural resources. Though many people seem to believe that ethnic conflicts are political in nature, it is essentially the depletion of natural resources behind the cause of conflicts and displacement of people and communities.
The high level of poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition should not be allowed to live with us for long. The physical access and economic capability to sufficient food is still Ethiopia’s major challenge. We need to make a breakthrough. A breakthrough is possible because Ethiopia is diverse. In principle, diversity is strength as there is always choice in diversity. So, our major task is on deciding and making the right choices. The choices we make determine our ability to find solutions. Diversity is a blessing, if we are ready to uncover the opportunities by unlocking the essence contained in the physical, biological, human and social diversity of Ethiopia.
Variation in Ethiopia’s landscapes from high plateau 4620m above sea level,) to the Danakil Depression (125m below sea level) signifies how physically diverse Ethiopia is. Ethiopia’s diversity is amazing not only in the physical characteristics but also in biological and ecological diversity. We also have a multitude of choices by exploiting the human and cultural diversity of its people.
The fate of the region where humankind originated, the pre-human Ethiopian, Lucy, walked on two feet about 3 million years ago must have the characteristics good enough for making choices and thus we should hope and aspire for a much brighter future.
As people from the area of origin of humankind, about 200,000 years ago, Ethiopians are the people who lived the longest in this environment. Consequently, Ethiopians likely have the highest genetic diversity of all human groups on earth.
Ethiopia’s Ethno-linguistic diversity is result of biological and cultural evolution of modern humans and an expression of generations of co-evolution within the ecosystem they inhabited. By exploiting the long term adaptations we can revitalize and renew our present human to nature relationship,
It is a paradox, therefore, to accept the area with the longest human and nature interaction and high cultural diversity is in such a conflict with its immediate natural environment. Logically, we must have had the deepest intimacy with our natural environment and we should have been the most environmentally friendly of all people on the planet.
Ethiopia is one of the centers of domestication of plants and origin of agriculture. Ethiopians have a long history of agricultural practice. Agriculture developed in the highlands of Ethiopia approximately 6,000 years ago and Tef, for instance, has been cultivated for about 2,000 years. But many wild edible plants in our biodiversity could have been domesticated to diversify our traditional foods for better nutrition and alleviation of malnutrition. Ethiopia’s diverse agro-ecological zones provide an ample opportunity to grow a variety of crops.
How much do we know about tef farming, the staple food which most Ethiopians eat every day? How deep is this traditional knowledge in the present generation? How many of us can identify tef plant from grasses? This question is just to point out that there is a huge disconnection between the present, particularly urban, Ethiopians, the natural environment and traditional ecological and agricultural knowledge. How should school children be exposed to their natural environment of the past and the present? Undoubtedly, exploring, revitalizing and harnessing our traditional knowledge in a way that could pass to future generations should be taken as the fundamental basis for our efforts. Moreover, offering intensive and appropriate environmental education in our schools is clearly an important future action by our education system.
By empowering local communities that have been using biological resources throughout the human past will enable us to sustainably conserve natural resources. It is extremely important to recognize the central role played by local communities as best managers of biological resources. Unlocking traditional ecological knowledge harbored in each of our ethno-linguistic cultures, we will find traditional ecological knowledge useful for conservation and sustainable utilization of our natural resources. As traditional knowledge is passed from generation to generation by word of mouth, documentation may be a time taking task. Then, by introducing training (courses) in the formal and informal education system of the country, continuity of traditional knowledge can be assured.
The importance of introducing environmental education in early childhood has increasingly become evident. It is well known that early experience of young people about nature is important to produce environmentally conscious and responsible generation. Thus our school curriculum should have a strong focus on environmental education starting from early childhood.
We should also focus on fostering children’s comfort and pleasure in nature through outdoor activities so that young Ethiopians develop pro-environmental values, attitudes and knowledge. Moreover, the curriculum should be kept flexible enough to allow students be acquainted with their specific and immediate natural environment. Moreover, a variety of activities such as environmental clubs, wildlife clubs, gardening clubs etc need to be in place to foster practical environmental education. As a result, environmentally proactive, conscious and responsible generations would be produced.
Let us think of our school children and try to visualize where they can learn and interact with plants, animals and natural habitats? Addis Ababa Zoo Park, the only zoo in Addis Ababa, is not only small but also very badly managed. It was very tragic to learn that 8 lions of the zoo died recently. Where can young people get the chance to see wild animals alive? We need to do something.
In the absence of any noticeable city parks in the country including Addis Ababa, it is worth mentioning the Gulele Botanical Garden (GBG). It was established relatively recently by Addis Ababa City Administration and Addis Ababa University. It is the first of its kind in Ethiopia and its purpose is to rehabilitate Entoto Hills with native trees and vegetation, offer environmental education and serve as a public recreation center for Addis Ababa.
What about land use planning in Ethiopia? It is fairly apparent that some areas of land surfaces are more suitable for some types of human activity while others have negative impact on the environment. In-order to secure rational and orderly development of land in an environmentally sound manner, we must have a land use plan.
Such a plan will be a guide to the management of our country’s land resources in a manner that is environmentally sustainable, socially desirable and economically sound. Why shall we give a blind eye when a farmer ploughs a steep slope, while we know the area will be uncultivable bare rock in the coming few years?
Aware of the presence of high caliber proactive scientists, researchers and educators on the Ethiopian environment, this article is a modest call for experts to contribute ideas and opinions with policy implications on the Ethiopian Environment. The author of this article is interested to initiate and coordinate Ethiopian Environment Plus Education Initiative. The activities of the initiative would be to bring together all interested on Ethiopian environment and create a platform for discussion and debate useful for environment policy making.
Herald December 12/2018
BY Dawit Abate (PhD)
