Ethiopia including the study area are faced with deforestation, land degradation, soil erosion problems primarily caused by anthropogenic activities such as clearing vegetation for the purpose of agricultural use, fuel wood, Charcoal, construction and the reaction of conservation measures to restore deforested vegetation is too weak. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of soil and water conservation (SWC) measures on plant species diversity by comparing between treated plot areas and non-treated plot areas. The data collection method was mainly drawn through plant measurements, inventory, GPS, household servey, key informant interview, focus group discussion, Office reports. To analyze the collected data, Shannon – wiener diversity index (H1) and Sorensen similarity coefficient indices (Is) calculation methods was employed. Based on the interview, direct observation, shannon’s diversity analysis and GPS results, the findings revealed that noticeable vegetation cover and plant species diversity have been observed in treated plot areas than non-treated plot areas in the last 10 years period.. This implies that well managed and protected homegardens and area exclosures have better plant species diversity than open grazing fields and communal lands. With these findings, it is rational to conclude that SWC measures have a positive effect on vegetation cover, Plant species diversity, richness and restoration. Thus, it is worth to recommend that conservation priority should be given to the more affected open grazing and communal lands.

Ethiopia has more than 58 different types of natural and manmade wetland lake resources which provide enormous socioeconomic and environmental values. However, nowadays these Ethiopian wetland lake resources are under severe problems such as population pressure, aquatic biodiversity loss; drying up, pollution, and degradation. These severe problems are created due to improper extraction, over use, weak management, improper policy and misconceptions forward to wetlands. Consequently the health of the wetland lake resources of the country is continuously decreasing from year to year and from time to time. Therefore, the objective of the study was aimed: 1) to appreciate the wet land lake resources of Ethiopia for their unlimited benefit to local communities and National GDP growth 2) to identify the major threats and challenges of the country' wetland lake resources and 3) forward the possible correction measures to tackle their problems. Regarding methodology to collect the relevant data, qualitative (descriptive) research methods were used. The data were obtained through interview, field survey, observation, reviewing relevant secondary sources and organized using tables, Graphs, charts then analyzed qualitatively. Among the 100,000 total populations of the wetland lake resource users only 200 sample respondents were selected and interviewed to collect the relevant information regarding the benefit of wetland resources, conservation practices, their attitude towards them and the challenges they faced. The results of this study was expected to have a positive impacts on wetland conservation, to local users, national level, in identifying the challenges and point out the remedial correction measures to solve the problems. The study will have significance in solving problems through realizing the collaboration of relevant stockholders from policy maker's level to grassroots communities and it is the best opportunity to increase the conservation methods of Ethiopian wetland lake resources.

Most of agricultural producers in the study area still use the traditional approach in crop production with technological change very slow. In view of this, Agricultural Extension Services have been adopted by the government as a major agricultural transformation strategy. Nevertheless, the expected impact from the intervention has not been realized due to inadequate funding, lack of logistics, insufficient field Staffs and non-participatory modes of technology transfer. This is the problem which the study investigated taking in the study District as a case study. A case study method was adopted in which Wolayta Sodo Zuria Woreda (District) was chosen to facilitate the ease of data collection. Respondents were selected through a simple random sampling technique to gather data from the farmers using structured questionnaires from a total of 50 respondents of which 25 were extension service users and 25 were non-users purposively. It was also revealed that the complete survey of the study was administered on 50 respondents for the major data collection through questionnaire. To strengthen the study personal observation was also employed and then the respondents were selected by using both purposive and simple random sampling techniques from the list available at each local office. In addition to this there were 10 Development Agents, 6 woreda agriculture office experts and 5 local administrative councils. The data analysis method was qualitative approach. Recommendations were made to help provide solutions to the challenges of extension services provision in the country. Some of these include disseminating technology to farmers in manageable groups of a maximum of twenty, increasing logistical and motivating.