ADDIS ABABA– Government’s green economy development in particular the ongoing tree planting campaigns are extremely important to curb Ethiopia’s vulnerability to flooding as a hilly country, an agroforestry researcher said.
Speaking to The Ethiopian Herald, Researcher at Forestry Research Center (Ret.), Dechasa Jiru said that the country’s extremely elevated topography necessitates 30-40 percent of the land mass to be covered by deep-rooted trees and plants that are effectively resisting erosion and allow water percolation. Tree planting has special benefit to Ethiopia’s vast highlands and extensive steep slopes not to be eroded by water.
As highlands constitute 40 percent of Ethiopia’s total land mass and the country is ranked second in the number of rivers and level of rainfall precipitation in Africa, the elevated geography expose Ethiopia to flooding and make tree planting mandatory, he added.
“Even though Congo is the first country in terms of rainfall precipitation in Africa, flatland comprises the majority of its geography and the amount of rain water infiltrate to the ground is higher compared to Ethiopia.”
According to Dechasa, the widespread archaic mode of farming has also been contributed to increase the volume of surface water and inhabit water infiltration thereby making Ethiopia extremely prone to flooding compared with flat countries in Africa.
He said the tremendous expansion of farmlands in Ethiopia in general and on sloppy lands in particular increases the erosive power and the flooding incident becomes extremely higher. In terms of land use land cover, footpaths are the most exposed part of the land for erosion. The widespread overgrazing decreases the amount of water infiltrate to the ground and aggravates the problem, as to him.
Noting that Ethiopia’s trees are more efficient to grow compared with many flat countries,the scholar pointed out that maintaining tree planting campaigns would enable the country to become among the most densely forested nations in the world.
“Sweden is one of the flat countries in the globe and 75 percent of its landmass has been covered by trees whilst the trees require 150 years to grow to harvestable size. Ethiopia, despite being a hilly country, could achieve that high in 15 years to produce the same size so long as capitalizing on the current massive ecological drive.”
Dechasa pointed out that livestock development has to be under proper management to mitigate flooding and the sector should implement appropriate grazing system such as padocking and hay making as well as other modern techniques to improve grass growth, quality improvement and suitability.
Equal attention should also be given to implement agricultural mechanization on flat lands that would enhance the infiltration of surface water to recharge underground water thereby effectively preventing flooding and sustaining a normal flow of river water, he noted.
The scholar warned that incidents of optimum flooding level would be expected at the end the coming week and the people who reside at the bank of the river have to evacuate and simultaneously to take precautionary measures of life saving procedures.
The Ethiopian Herald, August 20/2019
BY BILAL DERSO
