Soil conservation is a set of practices that protect the soil from degradation. Viewing the soil as a living ecosystem is essential for soil conservation, which involves returning organic matter to the soil continuously. Soil conservation is similar to preventive maintenance for a car.
Deforestation often leads to large-scale erosion, soil nutrient loss, and, in some cases, total desertification. Techniques such as crop rotation, cover crops, conservation tillage, and planted windbreaks can improve soil conservation, impacting erosion and fertility.
African cultivators use various techniques like crop rotation, crop mixtures, manure application, protection of nitrogen-fixing trees, terrace building, pitting systems, drainage ditches, and small dams in valley floors to conserve soil and water and prevent soil degradation.
Similarly, Ethiopians employ indigenous techniques to prevent soil degradation. Terracing, contour ploughing, crop rotation, fallowing, mixed cropping, surface mulching, weed heap, manure, agroforestry, and field boundaries are essential physical and biological indigenous soil water conservation mechanisms.
Implementing best management practices (BMPs) such as agronomy, organic fertilizers, agroforestry practices, minimum soil disturbance, area closure, water management, hillside terraces, fanya-juu terraces, soil bunds, stone bunds, afforestation, and reforestation are crucial mitigation measures.
Various conservation techniques like bench terraces, soil bunds, stone bunds, check dams, trenches, preserving area enclosure, and re-afforestation are critical in preventing soil erosion and protecting soil fertility in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia has various Indigenous Knowledge systems across different regions. The Konso people, in particular, have unique indigenous knowledge that they use for weather forecasting, traditional medicine, soil conservation, and environmental protection to increase productivity.
Knoso terracing is one of several indigenous soil conservation practices found in Ethiopia. The Konso people live on the outskirts of the Rift Valley in southern Ethiopia. Konso farmers have developed a terracing system in which they build walls or steps on the slopes of hills to create level areas for cultivation. This practice slows down the flow of water and reduces soil erosion.
In Konso, soil and water conservation practices include terracing, agroforestry, intercropping, crop rotation, and conservation agriculture. Konso farmers have developed a system of terracing that includes building walls steps on the slopes of hills to create level areas for cultivation.
The Konso Cultural Landscape is an arid property in Ethiopia’s Konso highlands that includes stone walled terraces and fortified settlements. It is a spectacular example of a living cultural tradition that has endured for 21 generations (more than 400 years) and has adapted to its dry, hostile environment.
This indigenous soil conservation practice has gained worldwide recognition. The town and surrounding villages were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011 as a cultural landscape due to their unique cultural traditions and significance to the Konso people.
Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative has fostered an environment conducive to the dissemination of indigenous knowledge on soil preservation across the country. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, along with First Lady Zinash Tayachew, recently planted trees as part of this initiative.
Community members from Harar and Konso also took part in the planting activity on the terrace they built inside the Chaka Project, using their indigenous skills to preserve soil. In this regard, the eucalyptus trees in the area have been replaced with indigenous tree seedlings.
During the planting, the premier stated that this year’s Green Legacy program will be conducted differently than previous ones. Individuals from Harar and Konso worked on terraces within the Chaka Project to prevent soil erosion in the surrounding area. According to the premier, this has helped to address the challenges that had previously made it difficult to plant seedlings in the area due to soil erosion.
He also emphasized the importance of expanding similar indigenous knowledge that exist in other parts of the country, praising Harar and Konso farmers for completing the terrace work in such a short period of time. Activities are underway to increase Addis Ababa’s forest coverage to 30%, with the goal of changing the city’s image.
Ethiopia has been conducting extensive seedling planting activities for the past five years. The country has so far planted 32.5 billion seedlings. The country’s goal for this year is to reach 40 billion seedlings out of a total target of 50 billion. As a result, the nation is aiming to plant 7.5 billion seedlings this planting season.
Ethiopia’s forest cover increased from 17.2 percent in 2019 to 23.6 percent by 2023.
People worldwide, especially in Africa, should learn from Ethiopian ingenious soil conservation practices to preserve the earth we live on. By replicating these practices globally, we can work towards a sustainable future.
BY GIRMACHEW GASHAW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 17 JULY 2024
